Here it is...my long-awaited book trailer!  I hope you like it as much as I do.. please share with your friends.....

 

"We all have one basic desire and goal: to belong and to feel significant."  Alfred Adler
People often ask what compelled me to write a book about belonging and inclusion.

I wrote 'The Big Buna Bash' because I believe in the acceptance that embraces diversity and lets people be themselves.

I want people who believe in this message to buy and read my book.

As a teacher I've heard many a complaining parent say that they don't want their child in the same class with a certain pupil that has behavior challenges.  That's easy to understand, no?
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Sometimes it has to do with skin color.
Or physical disabilities.

Author Jennifer Brown writes, "Inclusion means you are welcomed, valued, respected and heard."

The Ethiopian buna ceremony is inclusion at it's best.  Every guest is important; no one left out.  Buna is an exercise in bringing people together.

And maybe that's why Almaz chose to host a Big Buna Bash!

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Do you know how the coffee bean was first discovered?

The legend goes something like this!

In the northern region of Ethiopia there lived a young goat herder named Kaldi, who had very well-behaved goats.  He never had to worry about them.

One day some of his goats were behaving strangely.  They were prancing around, kicking in the air.....they looked like they were dancing.  This was highly unusual!

Curious, Kaldi explored the place where the goats had been grazing and discovered unique red berries growing on a bush with shiny leaves.  He had never seen a plant like this before!  He tasted the fruit and was SO energized that he danced excitedly alongside his goats.

Just then, a couple of monks passed by on their way to prayers.  Kaldi gave them some of the berries.  After nibbling on them, the monks found that they also felt a sense of elation.  They were able to stay awake all night, praying in ecstasy!

"These beans are useful," the monks thought.  "They are sent from heaven," they declared, and immediately began to harvest them.   

And the rest is history!