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Stardate: 03-04-08
A Few Things.......
Wow, we finally made it. We’re a fully functioning
website. It’s been a long, long journey. Two steps forward, and one step back is still one step forward.
I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone that has been involved over the last three years that made Unspoken
Love what it is today.
Our families and friends, too many to name, whose support, no matter how small, has helped us in ways we could
not have imagined at the time. From small words of encouragement to the babysitters that gave us the time to think
and work to the people who gave us contacts we could never have gotten ourselves and finally to the Academy, you
like us, you really like us!! J
And to all the people who let us pick their brains and in the process most likely drove them crazy, thank you for
your time and patience. We wouldn’t be here without you.
We also would like to thank Flying Colors of Westland for giving us some quality products.
And as always, Dan Beaton, our webmaster, who is truly talented at what he does.
What is Unspoken Love?
We’ve had a few people asking about our
company. What exactly is Unspoken Love about? Why is there little mention of the Deaf in your website, especially
since you are using sign language in your products?
To be clear:
Unspoken Love is not about the Deaf community or ASL.
It is about promoting awareness of Non Verbal communication, of which ASL leads the way in the United States.
As owners of this budding company, we would like to formally apologize to any who have felt slighted in the least.
We ask that you give our company and our website time to develop in both content and knowledge. We have many dreams
and ideas we wish to see to fruition. There are so many other products and thoughts we want to share with all of
you!
Please continue to visit Unspoken Love as our hope is that as new ideas and organizations come our way, we wish
to promote them in our newsletter and thus hopefully promoting the awareness of non verbal communication.
Please don’t hesitate to email us with any ideas, thoughts or suggestions.
If you have an event, a new product or need to bring awareness to a specific issue or concern, please contact us
via email, info@unspokenlove.com or by phone (313) 673-9030.
Signing In....
The history of sign language is complex
and beautiful to say the least. Looking over the centuries, we find that it has taken many forms and in recent
years has brought much to the table in performing arts.
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You’ll find this time around links you might
wish to take the time to explore.
A quick look on You Tube and one can find a number of videos created by artists who, by using their hands and body,
are able to express and interpret the lyrics to a song in a manner that is awe inspiring and fascinating to watch.
One of our favorites is, I've Seen It All, a signed performance of Bjork’s song from the Oscar nominated Dancer in the Dark, done by two students
in their American Sign Language class.
We greatly encourage the viewing of both the You Tube link and the movie itself.
Of course, we highly encourage all of our readers to spend some time on the internet looking into how they can
best support their local Deaf Theater group as that support goes a long in way in supporting Deaf artists.
And of course, we believe it is important for all who visit this site to know that by learning basic sign language
skills and deaf/blind communication we can slowly bridge the gap between worlds.
Human Kindness At It’s Finest
Laurie Pompelia wants women to know about
her wig bank associated with the American Cancer Society. Her 17 years as owner of Ultimate Image in West Bloomfield,
has given her a depth of both knowledge and compassion for dealing with hair loss. Laurie offers free wigs for
women going through treatment ie chemotherapy, radiation etc. Women who are interested may call to see the availability
of wigs. If a client doesn’t see the right one for her in stock, Laurie offers 30% off of a new wig, to help offset
the cost and make it accessible. She wants women to know that she’ll spend the time with them to help them make
the right decision and feel comfortable with their new look. The atmosphere of Ultimate Image has an incredible
aura of empathy and acceptance and all customers are truly made to feel at ease under Laurie’s care.
She also accepts wig donations, which she cleans and refurbishes and readies for a brand new owner, once again
at no cost. So those who would like to be a part of this wonderful show of human kindness can call Laurie at Ultimate
Image and discuss making this donation.
All inquiries can be made at (248) 855-9600 or go to www.theultimatehair.com to access more information.
Book Nook...
We know that she’s beautiful and that she
is talented. We also know that she is an Oscar winning actress for her role as a kitchen maid in a school for the
Deaf in the movie Children of a Lesser God.
Now, how many are aware that the lovely Marlee Matlin, who is starring on this season’s Dancing With The Stars,
is an author?
Her collaboration with Doug Cooney on a her series following Megan, a spunky, sometimes stubborn, elementary age
Deaf girl has proven to be a great success. Already 3 in the series, Deaf Child Crossing, Nobody’s Perfect and
Leading Ladies, Matlin tells a story that helps readers to understand both the challenges and unique perspective
that children and adults of
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the Deaf community are given and offer.
While written for the elementary school age group, we recommend this series to adults as well as youths. Coming
from the perspective of a mother with school age children, the series has given me a fresh look of the day to day
life of a child with hearing loss, as well as a keener understanding of how ASL has impacted the world today.
Deaf Child Crossing, the first in the series, introduces Megan to us. Her sharp awareness of the world around her
kicks off the book as she waits, as patiently as a child can, for her new neighbors. Finding out far enough in
advance that the new family has a daughter her age, allows Megan to keep an eye out for this girl, who, she hopes,
will become her friend. The book proceeds to detail a budding friendship and a summer that she will never forget.
The second in the series, Nobody’s Perfect, continues the story of Megan and her new friends. In this book, we
see how ASL can bring worlds, once so far apart, together at last.
The third book, Leading Ladies…..Well no review there yet as we have yet to check it out of our local library.
I have every confidence that Matlin and Cooney will have pulled another brilliant story out of their collective
hat!
As soon as we read it, we’ll get to work on our next review.
Also, in the next newsletter we will be reviewing a few other books that we are excited to share!
(psssst Redford Library
on 6 mile has a wonderful selection of books and an incredible staff who are more than willing to assist you in
finding the aforementioned selections).
Upcoming Events!!!
We've just caught this from the Freep.com....
The Downriver Italian American Club will be hosting "A Taste of Italy" to benefit the Penrickton Center for Blind Children. Featured
restaurants will be Andiamo, Fratello's as well as many other fine eateries. Downriver Italian American Banquet
Center 646 Biddle, Wyandotte, MI. It begins at 6pm and ends at 9 pm. Tickets are $35 and can be reserved at (734)
285-4044.
Stagecrafters will be presenting an ASL
interpreted performance of Urinetown
on April 10 at the beautiful Baldwin Theater in Downtown Royal Oak, MI. Call (248) 541- 6430 for further details.
Also, the Special Olympics of Michigan will be having their annual Superstars on April 20, 2008
at the Michigan State Fairgrounds (8 mile and Woodward.) From 2pm to 5pm. Local celebs and sponsors will
be competing with Athletes. This should be A LOT of fun!!
Upcoming Topics.....
Signing In: Explore the history of sign
language a little more with us!
Book Nook: Talking Hands by Margalit Fox.
Peace, pax and pace... until next time.....
The Davison Family
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