Testimonials
"Wee the People is an amazing and inspiring organization. I have had the pleasure of bring them to my library twice--once for an Everywhere and Nowhere workshop on immigration and once for a Black Lives Matter workshop. I would have them back every week if I could. Tanya and Francie have a magic way of taking very complex subjects and making them accessible to children without watering them down."
-- Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri, parent and Children's Librarian, Boston Public Library
"I have attended several Wee The People events, including Loving Day Cambridge and R Is for Rulebreakers!: Celebrate Protest with Innosanto Nagara. Most recently, Wee The People helped facilitate a Community Conversation About Race at my children’s elementary school. While the grownups gathered in the library, the kids had their own session with Wee The People -- a thought-provoking, interactive, multi-media presentation using slides, art projects, picture books, and guiding discussion questions to engage a large group of young people across a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Wee The People gets kids involved in thinking critically about issues surrounding race and privilege at a child-friendly level – their work is vital, necessary, and appreciated!"
-- Elissa Gershowitz, Executive Editor, The Horn Book, Inc.
"Tanya and Francie put so much thought, care, love, and passion into their work. They broach the subjects that many people are afraid to discuss with youth, and they do it in a fun, accessible way. Their work is invaluable. I wish they could be at every school!"
-- Kay Gordon, Program Manager, OUT Metrowest
"My 10 year old participated in Anatomy of a Protest last summer at the Jamaica Plain Porchfest where Wee the People held their Protestival. It was an incredible way to learn - creative, interesting, impactful. We talked about the stages of change for days afterward."
-- Sarae Pacetta, parent and teacher at School for Young Children, Columbus, OH
"We have gone to a few Wee the People workshops, each one amazing! At the most recent one we attended we learned in a meaningful, embodied way about racism, and were graced with the presence of a founding member of the Combahee River Collective, Demita Frazier. I feel so blessed to be able to attend the events Wee the People produce. Everyone should go!"
-- Samara Grossman, parent and social workers, Brigham & Women's Hospital
"My three young kids and I have been regulars at Wee the People events since shortly after Francie and Tanya launched it in 2015. The workshops and marches are creative, engaging, informative, and fun for my kids! Definitely looking forward to more Wee the People events in the future!"
-- Jasmine Lainez, parent and literacy ambassador, Cambridge Book Bike
"Too often we tell young children half truths about racial and political injustice (or avoid the topics altogether). Wee the People tells children the truth. With honest discussion and hands-on art and play, Wee the People respects children's intelligence, sense of fairness, and creative problem solving. At the "Bridges Not Walls" workshop, children walked away having felt sadness and anger about families separated at the border, but also empowered by their ability to break down the wall and build a bridge for families (and themselves) to cross. I cannot stop talking about the experience. Francie Latour and Tanya Nixon-Silberg have an unprecedented gift for education."
-- Kirsten Cappy, director, Curious City/I'm Your Neighbor Books
"Wee the People created a welcoming, safe, celebratory space for kids and families of diverse backgrounds to ask questions, pop stereotypes, and make friends across the gender spectrum. WTP's visionary workshops are highly recommended for Greater Boston's youngest citizens!"
-- Roxanna Myhrum, Artistic Director, Puppet Showplace Theater
"Working with Francie and Tanya is a dream. They are decisive in their mission and in the processes and resources needed to fulfill it. They respect young people by sharing truth with them and acting as guides in their journeys to understanding inequity and injustice. While the material and work are deeply serious, Tanya and Francie manage to infuse their workshops with joy and humor and kindness - truly the perfect package for impact. I cannot say enough good things about them and about Wee The People."
-- Fanshen Cox, Writer/Producer/Performer One Drop of Love and Head of Strategic Outreach, Pearl Street Films
"Often times, (white) grownups will shirk the responsibility of addressing racism with children because they don't think a child can participate in a "difficult conversation" or it is "not developmentally appropriate." Wee The People proves this is not the case. Through thoughtful and expert use of books, activities, conversations, and role play, WTP engages children on their level and creates a space where children can begin to consider and unpack the question, "What is racism?" I can't recommend Wee The People enough!"
-- Liz Phipps-Soeiro, School Librarian, Cambridgeport
"Wee the People have visited many of the branches at the Boston Public Library with their social justice workshops for young children. The workshops have not only been a huge hit with the communities that hosted them, but have been highly praised by our Children’s Librarians who have praised Tanya and Francie for their professionalism and expertise. Their workshops are essential to every community that wants to empower their young people on how they can make their world a better a place."
-- Angela Veizaga, Assistant Manager of Youth Services, Boston Public Library
"The [R is for Resistance] workshop on MLK day at the Children’s Museum was interactive, dynamic, and powerful. I brought my 5 year old daughter who enjoyed the story time and activities. Her understanding of protests was deepened by the activities and she walked away with so many questions that led to valuable conversations between us about race, racism, and how to change and resist unfair rules. I found Tanya’s facilitation and leadership [of the Facing Race workshop] to be inspiring, authentic, and impactful. The stories she shared made it clear that she has honed a deep expertise in the power of young children's ability to make change and how to support them in doing so. The creativity that comes from Wee the People’s work is exciting to experience. I feel lucky to live in the Boston area."
--Ellie Axe, parent and Co-director, Story Starters
"I recently brought my children to another great workshop hosted by Wee The People, Hunny For All! Reimagining our own 100-Acre Boston. WTP does a great job of making their content relevant to current events, this workshop coinciding with the Winnie the Pooh exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. One thing I love is that their curriculum is always created so attendees learn about the subject matter through different styles of engagement such as creativity, stories, direct examples and working it through with their peers on the spot. On this day, they started with an equity game and and had the kids brainstorming ways to make the Hundred Acre Woods, and our city, a place where all had food, homes, love and acceptance. An art-making project followed with lots of opportunity for continued discussion. Conversations around us covered a broad range of topics from community-shared resources and the danger of labels to urban gardening and everyday kindness. One of the most impressive parts of WTP is the facilitators' ability to challenge each child to their own level of personal understanding about topics that many educators shy away from. My 5 year old and 7 year old both left with different things to think about and reflect on and we have continued the conversation at home. Highly recommend their events!"
--Elizabeth Tambascio, Parent, Jamaica Plain
"Tanya and Francie are visionary, brilliant, beautiful humans and a joy to work with. I've had the privilege of partnering with Wee the People twice now for two large scale events and I so appreciate the considered, clear, and warm way they operate. Conscientious and thoughtful, Tanya and Francie are direct communicators and always open and flexible. My favorite part of partnering with Wee the People is their commitment to and vision for creating spaces that warmly and artfully welcome folks in to explore and grapple with some of the most complex and difficult social issues of our time - racism, xenophobia, gentrification etc. Who knew these topics could be so fun?!?! Wee the People helps us to understand our world - and then helps us understand how to change it!"
-Elena Belle White, Associate Director, Center for Art and Community Partnerships at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)