My kids started fourth grade this year. Maybe it’s because the majority of my teaching years were spent at the second and third grade levels, but academically they seem big. Tajah and I are talking about exponents. Da’Jon says, with that slightly exasperated “Mom still thinks I’m a baby” tone, “Of course I know where Kenya is—it’s a country in Africa.”
When I look at Rainbow Rumpus, I sometimes have a similar, “Wow, since when did we get so grown up?” feeling. We’re in the process of bringing on many new writers, editors, board members, and volunteers. We’re seeking funding from more sources. As of last month the site was getting 260 visits a day, more than double the number of readers we had last year.
Sometimes, though, my kids still seem small, and Rainbow Rumpus does too. Our October and November issues are combined because our editor-in-chief, Beth Wallace, needed to spend the past few months helping take care of her mother, who is seriously ill. Authors and our volunteer staff have been wonderful about taking up the slack. Special thank-yous for patience go out to Rene Ohana, author of the young adult story “Knitting” and the children’s story “Grandpa Dragon," and to Sara Berger, who will soon be bringing you more interviews with Outtakes from the Smooch Project families. Rosen’Blue and Sassafras author/illustrator Leanne Franson is also on leave to welcome her new son, Ben. You can see their pictures and read a bit more about them in our Rosen’Blue and Sassafras section. Beth, Leanne, Ben, and families, we’re thinking of you all.
Growth and change come in all families and organizations. I am deeply grateful that we have the capacity to both absorb the difficulties and take advantage of the opportunities our growth brings. Our base of support includes donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, volunteer staff, project volunteers, other organizations, board members, writers, illustrators, and readers.
I’d like to recognize a few of the folks in these categories:
Donors: It’s hard to sufficiently express our gratitude. Your generosity enabled Rainbow Rumpus to come into being, and your continued support is the base from which we operate. I would particularly like to thank everyone who has donated yearly since 2005. I would also like to thank Mike Huber, the Ratliff Family, and Michelle Van Natta for their monthly donations made via credit card from our secure online donation site. Knowing that we have a steady funding stream to rely on helps enormously in our planning. Visit our newly updated donors page to see how long the list is getting!
Corporate Sponsors: Many thanks to Brian Severts, Twin Cities realtor extraordinaire, for his ongoing support.
Volunteer Staff: Congratulations to Cary Walski, who is celebrating her one-year anniversary as our webmaster. We’re also pleased to welcome Erica Schwanke and Joann Keder as new section editors.
Project Volunteers: Welcome to David Robitalle, who is working on improving our newsletter sign-up process, and Charles Miller, who is getting all the folks interested in Rainbow Rumpus entered into our database, and helping with proofreading. Thanks to David Seitz for leaping in to help us build relationships with a number of organizations.
Foundations: Thank you to the Philanthrofund Foundation, whose early support has been critical to our success.
Other Organizations: Springboard for the Arts has served as our fiscal sponsor since our inception, allowing you to make tax-deductible contributions and providing us with financial oversight and a wide variety of support services. Volunteer Match has provided us with many wonderful volunteers. Soul Essence, COLAGE, and Rainbow Families have connected us with youth and families. The Community Service Learning Department at the University of Minnesota has been wonderfully supportive.
Board Members: We say good-bye this month to Patt Ligman, one of our founding members. Her work and insights have brought us far. Thank you! We welcome Joan Higginbotham, who comes to Rainbow Rumpus with a thirty-year history in the nonprofit sector; Lane Macalester, whose background in intellectual property law and marketing will be a great benefit to us; and Patina Park Zink, who brings expertise in nonprofit governance and insight into the situation of youth living in rural areas. I’d also like to welcome Shannon Brumbaugh and Joan Higginbotham to their new roles as Rainbow Rumpus board cochairs.
Writers: We welcome Cindy Koy, Lauren Mulvey, and Jenny Walters as new writers. You’ll soon be seeing their work in our young adults’ politics, kids’ politics, and new interviews with youth sections. I’d also like to thank all the authors and illustrators who took the time to fill out our recent survey.
Readers: You are our reason for being. Thanks for being a part of Rainbow Rumpus.
