rgz

readergirlz is a literacy and social media project for teens, awarded the National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize. The rgz blog serves as a depot for news and YA reviews from industry professionals and teens. As volunteers return full force to their own YA writing, the organization continues to hold one initiative a year to impact teen literacy. All are welcome to "like" us on Facebook!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Jana Mashonee

Yesterday, a friend was listening to A Change Is Gonna Come covered by Jana Mashonee, featuring Derek Miller, which immediately caught my ear:



When I looked at her list of recordings, I discovered that she had released a holiday album called American Indian Christmas featuring sung in ten different Native languages. I think her version of Amazing Grace, sung in Lumbee, is lovely.



After we watched that video, I journeyed over to her website, where I learned about Jana's Native Youth Motivational Presentation. She talks to kids and communities about culture pride and identity as well as big life choices, discussing alcohol, tobacco, and drug awareness. Her foundation, Jana's Kids, offers three different types of scholarships to Native American youth: academic, artistic, or athletic.

To learn more about the Jana's presentations, and available scholarships, please visit her website and click on Jana's Kids on the top menu.

Kudos to Jana for her work in her community, and best wishes for her career!

5 comments:

Lorie Ann Grover said...

Yay for Jana! She excels and represents.

Little Willow said...

Indeed. Hope she can drop by here...

MissA said...

Jana has such a gorgeous voice! Absoultely beautiful, I especially liked the Amazing Grace in Lumbee.
I love all the posts at readergirlz this month! so eye-opening :)

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