Opinion by Ernesto Portillo Jr.: Urban League's poet hopes kids will seek to walk in his footsteps - AZ Daily Star

The loud rumbling of traffic passing the Urban League Academy onSouth Park Avenue couldn't drown out George Rushing's voice. In acadence part preacher and part football coach, Rushing's poetryspilled out across the school's crowded courtyard.

'Man ... don't ask me for nothing that you ain't willing to give/Cause you see the pain you caused me, made me not want to live/Youleft us here to suffer & through a life full of trials/Me and Mamawalk barefoot through rocks and broken glass ... For what felt likemiles.'

Rushing's poem reflects his fractured feelings about his father,who wasn't around as Rushing grew up in Liberty City, a toughneighborhood in Miami, Fla.

The students listening to Rushing's rhythmic voice could hear thesame, hard steps they're taking today.

Rushing, 33, is the education director for the Tucson UrbanLeague. The educator-poet-role model tells students they too canovercome life's obstacles and there are people willing to help them.

'Our success works if we believe that we're the sum ofeverybody,' said Rushing, who works with many students from stressed-out homes and neighborhoods.

My colleague, transportation reporter Tim Ellis, and I went tothe charter school earlier this week to participate in the academy'sThird Annual African-American Read-In. The poetry of LangstonHughes, Maya Angelou and Tupac Shakur was read. Some students readtheir own poetry - composed on the spot.

Rushing read his unpublished creations, which he uses to teach orcounsel students.

The words are healing and inspiring. They express anger and hope.They express the students' reality, which was once his.

'I've been where they've been,' said Rushing, a big man with asoft, measured voice.

He was a troubled kid. His mother worked two or three jobs whilegoing to school.

In high school, his football coach began to set him straight. Hereceived a football scholarship to the University of Florida, but aninjury forced him to leave big-time college sports.

Rushing returned to Miami and enrolled in a small, black college.There, he met Annie Ruth Brown, a teacher who turned him on toreading, language and poetry.

He wrote his first poem, 'A Mile In My Shoes,' in her class.

Rushing graduated and joined the military to pay for his graduatestudies. He came to Tucson in 2002 and enrolled at the University ofArizona, where he earned a master's degree in education. Currentlyhe is a doctoral candidate.

Before joining the Urban League last year, Rushing worked for theTucson Unified School District in its African-American studiesdepartment.

Rushing's commitment and passion for education is genuine and isnot lost on students, said Kelly Langford, TUSD's Student Servicesdirector.

'He sees those kids have a capacity to be productive,' saidLangford, who worked with Rushing at TUSD.

In addition to teaching, Rushing preaches at a small South Tucsoncongregation, the Way Church International at East 37th Street andSouth Sixth Avenue.

Whether in church or the classroom, Rushing's message remains thesame.

'The kids just want to be loved,' he said.

'So maybe you'd see how/How bad it feels when raining days neverseem to end/How bad it hurts when a broken heart can't seem to mend/What it's like to birthed into a life sin ... and have no earthlydirection/No spiritual covering to provide protection ...'

MOTHERHOOD GIVES BIRTH TO BUSINESS LOUISVILLE FIRM BLOSSOMS INTO $2 MILLION ENTERPRISE PRODUCING AVA KIDS DUDS.(Business) - Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)

Byline: Michele Conklin Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

Some parents pen poems or paint pictures after having a baby.

Lauren Goldberg sewed baby clothes.

That spurt of creativity has since grown into a $2 million children's clothing manufacturing and retailing business. Fittingly, the Louisville-based company is named after the child who inspired the venture - Ava Kids.

``With my other children, I learned how to sew for kids but not enough to do designs,'' Goldberg said. ``With Ava, I knew immediately what to do and I started making her clothes. My friends wanted to know where I got them and it snowballed.''

The snowball rolled quickly. This weekend, Ava Kids - which recently decided to sell its clothing only at its own stores - will open its fourth Denver-area store at 2510 S. Colorado Blvd. The company is close to signing a deal to open its fifth local store this fall in the new Park Meadows mall.

Ava's clothing popularity stems largely from its fabrics and styling. All of the clothes are 100% cotton - a feature that was unique when the company started in 1986. The fabrics typically sport prints that are more common to junior clothing.

Prices are moderate (a jumper sells for $16.95) and the pieces mix and match within groupings. Most importantly, the pieces are functional. A baby jumper, for instance, features a zipper down the inside seams to allow for easy diaper changing.

``A priority for me is that the clothing work well,'' said Goldberg, the creator of the clothing, who leaves the business side of the company to her husband and business partner, Hershel.

``It has to fit the baby or the child comfortably because that makes them happier. And it has to be practical. Then I have fun making it cute. I try to have a sense of humor while achieving the other goals.''

Ava Kids stopped selling to other stores after its fall line. Wholesaling was getting too cumbersome and it put too much distance between the company and its customers, the Goldbergs said.

``Wholesale is a very tough game,'' said Hershel Goldberg. ``We realized we knew what the retailers wanted and what the reps wanted, but we didn't know what our customers wanted anymore. Our strength is getting goods into the hands of moms.''

An increasing number of children's clothing manufacturers are opening their own stores, said Jim Girone, editor of Earnshaw's, a trade publication that covers the apparel industry.

Children's clothing ranks third in sales behind women's and men's apparel, so retailers often don't give enough attention to this segment to please manufacturers. As retailers consolidate, manufacturers are finding fewer places to sell their products.

``Venues for wholesellers to sell goods are thinner because of consolidation,'' Girone said. ``As retail consolidates, it's forcing manufacturers to rethink the way they're doing business.''

Children's clothing rings up about $23 billion a year in sales in the United States. Like all apparel, it has slumped in recent years, barely keeping pace with inflation.

National manufacturers and retailers - such as Osh Kosh, GapKids and Gymboree - along with discount retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Target, dominate the industry. But the market is always ready to support a new idea, Girone said.

Ava Kids competes with stores such as GapKids, but the Goldbergs also see their products as complementary. Parents who buy Gap Kids and Gymboree clothing will most likely buy Ava Kids as well, they say.

``We're all different but compete for the same shopper,'' said Hershel Goldberg. ``Gymboree specializes in primary colors. Gap is basics and denim. Our niche is sophisticated fabrics mixed in fun ways.''

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Kids ages 6 and older can learn to play chess.(Neighbor) - Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)

Events specifically for children or teens as well as those for the whole family, including park and library programs, family-friendly performances, and holiday events. Deadline is two weeks before event date.

Chess and Cookies: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, Antioch Public Library District, 757 N. Main St., Antioch. For ages 6 and older; all levels of experience welcome. To sign up, call (847) 395-0874 or visit apld.info.

Star Party: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, Lake Villa District Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave., Lake Villa. Members from the Lake County Astronomical Society will be on hand with telescopes to view the nighttime sky. For all ages. No registration is necessary. Call (847) 356-7711 or visit lvdl.org.

Tween Yoga: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, Cook Park Library, 413 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Kids in grades 4-6 can come and stretch their worries away with relaxing yoga. No registration required. Call (847) 362-2330 or visit cooklib.org.

Jane Yolen storytime: 6 p.m. Thursday, April 14, Round Lake Area Public Library, 906 Hart Road, Round Lake. Storytime and book raffle for ages 4-7. For details, call (847) 546-7060 or visit rlalibrary.org.

Kids' Picks Advisory Committee: 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Students in grades 3 and 4 are invited to come for snacks and to discuss some of the books the library is considering for next year's Kids' Picks list. Free, but registration is required. Call (847) 438-3840.

Bedtime Story: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, Grayslake Area Public Library, 100 Library Lane, Grayslake. Children of all ages can wear their pajamas and bring a stuffed animal for a half-hour of bedtime stories, songs and crafts. For details or to register, call (847) 223-5313 or visit grayslake.info.

Teen Action Group: 4-5 p.m. Thursday, April 14, Wauconda Area Public Library, 801 N. Main St., Wauconda. Teens can share their ideas for programs, crafts or books the library should own. Free, but registration is required. Call (847) 526-6225 or visit wauclib.org.

Mystery of the Missing Manuscript: 5 p.m. Friday, April 15, Antioch Public Library District, 757 N. Main St., Antioch. A book of poems has been stolen and the thief wants a ransom for its return. Youth ages 12-19 can try their detection skills in this after-hours program. A pizza party will follow. Registration is required. Call (847) 395-0874 or visit apld.info.

Sketchbook Teen Drawing Club: 4-5:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, Wauconda Area Public Library, 801 N. Main St., Wauconda. Teens of all ability levels can develop their creative flair with an art instructor on hand to answer questions and offer tips. Bring own supplies or use the library's. There is no charge for this program, but registration is required. Call (847) 526-6225 or visit wauclib.org.

Teen/Tween Just Dance 2 Tournament: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16, Antioch Public Library District, 757 N. Main St., Antioch. A teens vs. 'tweens' video game dance off. Registration is required. Call (847) 395-0874 or visit apld.info.

Hoppin' Holiday Hunt: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 16, Sullivan Community Center, 635 N. Aspen Drive, Vernon Hills. Children ages 3-8 and their parents will visit with the Bunny, see a magic show, have a continental breakfast and gather prizes at the egg hunt. The fee for Vernon Hills residents is $7 for adult, $5 for children; $9 for adults, $6 for children for nonresidents; free for kids ages 1 and younger. Registration is required. Visit vhparkdistrict.org.

Gaming Club: 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16, Round Lake Area Public Library, 906 Hart Road, Round Lake. Teens can play video games, board games and other console games brought in by members. For details, contact Israel Mateos at (847) 546-7060, ext. 114, or imateos@rlalibrary.org.

Create Your Own Story: 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16, Lake Villa District Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave., Lake Villa. Part of the library's 'The Write Stuff' series of creative writing workshops for kids in grades 3-6. To register, call (847) 356-7711 or visit lvdl.org.

A holiday shopping guide just for kids. (Originated from Orange County Register) - Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service

    Cool toy commercials fill the airwaves and weird Christmas trees play Jingle Bells in stores. It must be that time of year. Then it dawns on you that the piggy bank is kind of empty. And you're blanking out big-time on what to buy. Well, we say chill. If you're between 8 and 14, weve got some tips to make holiday shopping an easy scene. After all, who wants to be like grownups who just lose it this time of year? Relax, read on, and happy shopping.     _First, just because everyone else gets stressed out, you don't have to. ``Have fun with shopping,'' says Kristine Jablonski, a mother of three, and a psychiatric nurse therapist in Placentia. She helps people deal with stress.     ``The whole idea of the holidays is to connect with people we love,'' she says. ``That's what the real spirit is about.''     _Make a list _ that's one way to feel in control. Who are you giving gifts to? Write down their names. Think about what they'd like. What does that person like to do? Does he or she have hobbies? Collect certain things?     _Ask them for suggestions. Your parents probably have loads of ideas about what you can give them.     _Next, look at advertisements or ask your parents how much things will cost. Before you buy, ``it might be a good idea to look first,'' says Janet Bodnar, who just wrote a book called ``Kiplinger's Money-Smart Kids (And Parents, Too!)''     ``Otherwise, you might overspend and all of a sudden realize you don't have enough money,'' says Bodnar, who writes a newspaper column called ``Dr. Tightwad,'' where she answers questions from parents about kids and money. She has three kids.     _Count your money. You can ask your folks for some, but you know what? Money experts say you'll feel better if you spend your own.     Paul Richard is vice president of the National Center for Financial Education in San Diego, which publishes lots of books for parents about money and kids.     He recommends you don't spend all your money, just in case. Also, he says, ``start looking early for bargains.''     If you wait until a few days before Hanukkah or Christmas, you might not find real great prices. Or, lots of stuff might already be sold out.     By now you're ready to hit the stores. Where do you start? If you don't have a lot of money, try discount stores, the dollar-only stores in malls, ``off-price'' stores such as T.J. Maxx, Ross and Mashalls, even grocery stores and drug stores _ where sometimes you can find great little items. For variety, go with your parents or friends to the mall.     ``Compare and contrast. Don't settle for the first thing you see,'' says Robert Lipsett, who works with elementary school kids as a speech pathologist in Southern California.     Carry your money in your wallet, a pocket or other safe place where it won't get lost, says Katie Murphy, who manages a Sesame Street General Store in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif. She helps lots of kids make purchases.     ``And make sure to get your change back. Pay close attention,'' she says.     Don't be afraid to ask people who work in stores for help. That's what they get paid for. If you cant find a price or the item you want, or if you want ideas in your price range, ask! And find out if the store has free gift boxes.     What if you're broke?     There you are, turning your pockets inside-out, sad look on your face. Broke city. No bucks. Bummer.     So who says you have to buy gifts? You probably don't believe it, but parents really do like things you make. They'll keep them for years.     Think about some school project youre working on. Could that be a gift? Or hunt through your closet or desk. Betcha have some stuff there you could turn into cool gifts. What about writing a poem, letter or story? Or look for library books on crafts. ``Highlights for Children'' magazine always has a section called ``You Can Make It!''     ``People appreciate a gift made by hand, because they know you put your time and effort into it,'' the December issue of Highlights says.     You might get together with your friends and make stuff _ sometimes, you get more creative when you're with other people.     You also can give a gift of service, especially to someone such as a grandparent.     If youre really set on buying something, offer to do chores to make some extra money. No doubt your folks can find something for you to do.     WHAT TO GET WHOM     MOMS: Jewelry, such as pins or earrings; makeup, such as nail polish; candy; books, such as the little ones full of sayings usually found by the cash register; flowers or plants; fragrances; coffee or tea.     DADS: Books, socks, cologne, stuff for their cars, tapes and compact discs, golf balls or items for a sport they play.     BROTHERS and SISTERS: Toys, games, books, tapes, hair accessories, their favorite candy.     GRANDMAS and GRANDPAS: Stationery, books, a school picture of you in a frame, plants or flowers, candles, a game you could play with them.     FRIENDS: Things that fit their interests, or things you like that youre sure they'd like.     TEACHERS: Items that mention teachers,such as magnets, mugs, pins. Or find out a teachers hobby and give something that could be used for that.     COOL TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS     1. IT'S LIST TIME! Get organized! Take a couple of moments to write things down. Your job will be easier.     2. GET A MOVE ON IT! Don't wait. Stores get more crowded, and they run out of items the closer it gets to Christmas.     3. SNOOP, SNOOP, SNOOP. Be a detective. Ask people what they want. Figure out their likes and dislikes.     4. ASK FOR HELP. Have Mom help you with Dad's gift, or vice-versa. See if your brother or sister will split the cost of a gift .     5. WRAP, WRAP, WRAP IT UP. If you dont have money for wrap ... use comics from the newspaper, or tie a bow around a paper bag.     6. NO PEEKING! See if you can stash your presents at a friends house so a nosy brother or sister doesnt find them.     7. LIKE, AT THE MALL. If you go with your parents, ask if you can meet them somewhere in half an hour, so you can shop.     8. 'TIS THE SEASON. Don't worry about whos giving you what. Just give _ a gift, a card, a smile, or just some of your time.

St. Paul's first Kids' Link hot off press - Post-Tribune (IN)

THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM PRINTED VERSION

Students at St. Paul Catholic School in Valparaiso have published their first 2005 color issue of Kids' Link, a mini-magazine, under the guidance of school parents Dee Gruszka and Alice Meyer.Fourth-grader Jack Sommer interviewed Valparaiso Police Chief Michael Brickner at his office. Brickner said he loves his job because he 'works with good people.'

Seventh-graders published fiction pieces. Joe Kaminski's 'Ruby Madness,' Peter Nicksic's 'The Barbie Attack' and Katie Sommer's 'Zap!' provide fun reading.

Second-grader Marisa Negrelli-German is the designated joke collector for the kids' magazine. At any time of day, Marisa can be seen stopping students and asking them to tell her a joke, as she researches new material.

Kids' Link is also peppered with a variety of jokes from other writers.

Second-grader Marie Wirsing, the travel reporter for the publication, wrote about her recent family trip to Paris.

Cartoonist and fourth-grader Laura Gruszka created a witty Valentine dilemma, and Stephanie Krol, also a fourth-grader, listed the Top 10 Web sites for kids.

Fourth-grader Natalie Wirsing wrote about pandas.

Avid reader and book reviewer Hannah Scupham, grade 8, established a five-star rating system for books and named her recommendations in her 'Great Teen Reads.'

Ana Nicksic, grade 5, wrote about Mission Week at SPCS and asked her classmates, Sara and Carrie Clark, what they learned about Peru during the school project.

Second-graders Mary Cobble, Jennifer Gough, Erin Thomas and Emma Mazurek also contributed to the piece. Cobble wrote 'School Families;' Gough created a word search. Thomas wrote about her favorite pet, and Mazurek wrote about her love of tae kwon do.

Sports also are a big part of the Kids' Link. Mary Bobos, grade 4, wrote 'Competitive Gymnastics,' informing readers about the successes of SPCS students in the Horizon Gymnastics program.

Fifth-grader Sara Clark wrote about the fifth-grade boys' CYO victory, and third-grader Mikaela Meyer authored 'Steelhead Basketball.'

Seventh-grader Joey Funk and third-graders Theresa Kay and Daniel Azar reviewed movies. Seventh-graders T.J. Horn and Joe Kaminski and Paul Sanoyavich, a mysterious pen name for an anonymous student, critiqued video games.

Madeline Buynak, grade 3, and Kaitie Bragg, grade 5, created crossword puzzles.

Livy Crim, grade 2, submitted her poem called 'Flowers,' and Elisabeth Parroquin and Brittany Sabol, grade 4, published their artwork entitled 'A Study in Contrasts: Country Life versus City Life.'

Sierra Cole, Carrie Clark, Gabby Healy, Ryan Thomas, Alex Rastovski and Nina Diana Hartman interviewed teachers.

James Kaminski shared his insights about fun things to do in the winter in his piece, 'Snow Much Fun.'

With spring around the corner, the SPCS community looks forward to the next amazing issue of Kids' Link.

KIDS + AILEY + CAL PERFORMANCES = MAGIC. - States News Service

BERKELEY, Calif. -- The following information was released by the University of California - Berkeley:

By Amy Cranch

In a vast changing room for Zellerbach Hall, all is empty and still, except for a handful of volunteers whispering in pairs. Children's costumes are strewn chaotically across the floor, and occasional cheers waft in from the auditorium. A young girl runs in, distress in her eyes and sweat cutting paths through the rosy blush on her cheeks. She has just stumbled during a West African dance number, but has gotten right back up and stepped up her technique and stage presence as the piece progressed. Her teacher catches her shoulders, looks proudly into her eyes, and says, 'You're a dancer now.'

The girl is a member of the 2012 Berkeley/Oakland AileyCamp at Cal Performances - an arts education program for underserved youth that was conceived by legendary 20th century dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey and is produced and managed by Cal Performances. The date is Aug. 2, and the occasion is the culminating performance for nearly 1,700 family members, friends and fans of the camp's 51 participants. And that moment epitomizes what I think the camp is all about - not to train professional dancers, but to empower kids to discover who they are, even when they fall.

As a dance and theater artist, usher at Cal Performances and UC Berkeley staff editor, I had wanted to volunteer with AileyCamp for years. What a privilege it was, then, to finally help out however I could - gluing shells onto costumes, doing hair and makeup before the finale, picking up pizza. While I was part of the 'Ailey family' for only three days, I can say with certainty that the camp is nothing short of transformational.

In its 11th season at Berkeley - the only West Coast site among 10 nationwide - the free six-week camp brings 11- to 14-year-olds from Richmond, Berkeley, and Oakland to the UC Berkeley campus daily. Cal Performances manages the program, which provides the children with transportation, dance clothing, food and field trips, in addition to rigorous dance training and opportunities for personal development. Many of the campers have never taken a dance class because they lack either the means or the opportunity. But they are not chosen for their technical abilities; they are selected for their interest and enthusiasm.

While the campers may not go on to pursue an artistic career, the skills

they learn apply far beyond the dance floor. Coordination could improve a girl's performance on the soccer field. Learning how to listen and focus could help a boy get better grades. Working together with respect and kindness instills the value of teamwork. Being encouraged to express anger in a healthy way, to write a poem about what they believe in or to take responsibility for misbehavior teaches them that their feelings, thoughts and actions matter. Such life skills are critical at an age when questions such as 'Who am I?' and 'Where do I fit in?' loom large, especially for kids who face tough challenges in their homes, neighborhoods and schools.

At the final dress rehearsal in Cal Performances' primary performing arts venue, I witnessed the results of an affirmation that the campers repeated daily: 'I will not use the word 'can't' to define my possibilities.' The children performed excerpts inspired by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's actual repertoire, including Night Creature, a tribute to jazz music, and Revelations, the company's most famous piece, set to the black spirituals of Ailey's Texas upbringing. The kids aced these technically precise pieces, bringing me to tears as I realized how powerful it was that they were carrying on Ailey's vision and legacy.

They also performed original works that celebrated aspects of the African American experience - hip-hop culture, the infectious exuberance of West African dance and music, heroes such as Barack Obama or Nina Simone - or brought into raw focus some of the community's gravest concerns - racism, violence, murder. In one piece, the young dancers wore gray hoodies in honor of Trayvon Martin, a teen killed last February in Florida by a self-appointed neighborhood watchman. Some movements mimicked the action of being shot and falling to the ground; others evoked prison bars, as the kids scooted on their backs with footstools turned upside down on their chests. Inquiring how the teachers decided on such intense material, I learned that the youngsters help choose their subjects. They are active participants in the creative process, responding to what is most authentic and meaningful to them.

As demanding as camp is, the kids do know how to have fun. I escorted about 10 girls to the campus's Recreational Sports Facility to shower before the show. As a comparatively privileged, 40-something stranger, I felt awkward watching over them in such a self-conscious state. But as they played favorite songs on their phones in the dressing room, I started humming along and bobbing to the beat. When I told them I was a dancer, they begged me to show them some moves, but I asked them to teach me something instead. Not only did I sufficiently fake my way through the Gas Pedal, a popular hip-hop dance, my noble efforts had them laughing hysterically, proving to them that even outsiders care enough to try to connect.

Fifteen minutes before curtain time, the teachers rallied the campers for one final check-in. Smile, they said. Breathe. Take your time. Be your best. Be proud. Derrick Minter, the modern dance teacher, said he remembered Ailey's fascination with the elegance of dancers, the way they carried themselves both on and off stage. There's no doubt that what the campers lack in terms of life experience or the refined grace of a professional, they make up for with their courage, determination, ability to grow and sense of what is possible. Elegant creatures indeed.

Kids' magazine promotes a kinder Islam - Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg mom created the glossy publication

While Canadians ponder the arrest of so-called homegrown terror suspects, a mom in Linden Woods is publishing a kids' magazine promoting a kinder, gentler version of Islam.

'It's a labour of love,' says Rawia Azzahrawi, who has a master's degree in Arabic language and literature and three children aged 14, seven and five. 'We needed it... I scanned the Internet to subscribe to a magazine for my kids.'

Traditionally, print materials for kids about Islamic history and Arabic language instruction have been dry and 'boring,' she says. There was nothing appealing, or presented in a 'fun and attractive' format, so she decided to create something that was.

Her glossy, 16-page magazine, Sindibad, has puzzles and games, interviews with kids, features on Islamic history, nature and science and explores different cultures around the world. It costs $4 and is written in English. In the first edition, there is a primer on Welsh words and Arabic phrases, and a poem called Peace Begins with You. Her goal was to allow the new Muslim generation to be 'a positive part of this world and serve their community and other communities in a positive way by building the bridges between each other.'

Sindibad is the only English print magazine of its kind being distributed across North America, she said. Azzahrawi named and modelled the magazine after a cartoon character called Sindibad from her childhood in Kuwait. Sindibad was an adventurer who travelled the world, meeting people and learning things.

The magazine has a Jordanian designer, an Egyptian illustrator, Canadian contributors and is printed in Winnipeg.

'Muslim kids need to be a part of North America,' said the editor-in-chief, who's lived in North America for 15 years. The Arabic language instructor who has taught in Buffalo, N.Y. and Regina before coming to Winnipeg said she's worked with school kids on newspapers, who enjoyed seeing their writing in print. They need to see themselves reflected back in the media, she said.

In the first copy of Sindibad that came out this summer, her son, Bara, 14, interviewed a young provincial chess master about his sport.

'We're starting to get into the media more,' said Bara. 'It's nice.'

There is still a place for print publications because a magazine is easier to carry around than a laptop, said Bara who is starting at St. Paul's High School this fall.

His mom is hoping the quarterly publication will attract more readers and eventually advertisers so it can expand to 24 pages as well as the Internet.

'I believe it's worth the money, time and effort.' Azzahrawi said her husband, a pathologist at the Health Sciences Centre, backed the start-up of the magazine. Copies have been sent to Islamic schools across North America and Indigo bookstores are carrying it as well.

'It's open for everybody,' she said.

'My goal is to introduce Islamic knowledge in a fun way.'