Aminata Jalloh ’10, American studies, recently published her first children’s book titled The Biggest Little Brother, a story about the complexities of sibling relationships and immigrant families. Here, the first-generation Sierra Leonean-American shares how her time at UMBC shaped her career in teaching and writing for children.

– Allison Cruz ’18

How did your education at UMBC impact your career in teaching and now writing children’s books?

I was always interested in the experiences of first and second generation Americans, so attending UMBC and majoring in American studies was a natural fit. It was an interdisciplinary area of study which allowed me the scope to go both deep and wide on issues of how race, ethnicity, national origin, and class intersect.

I also opted to add an Africana studies minor to further explore the construction of racial identity by and for people of African descent, and how both shapes their experiences. My studies at UMBC gave me the theoretical framework and the language to articulate the unique experiences many people from black immigrant background have.

The Biggest Little Brother is loosely based on your own childhood experiences as a first-generation Sierra Leonean-American. In what ways is this book based on your experiences and in what ways is it a story you created?

I was the first in my family to be born in the United States. When my parents moved to the U.S.  – my father came first and later my mother came – they were unable to bring my sister. Unfortunately, family separation is more common than it should be in immigrant communities. It was through this lens that I wrote The Biggest Little Brother, through this experience of adjusting to a new family member moving in, and the complexities it brings. I also wanted to normalize family structures like my own.

Why did you choose children as your audience for this story? Have you always had a passion to write for children?

After graduating from UMBC, I began my career in education as a classroom teacher for kindergarten to 3rd grade in Washington, D.C.! Many of my students were first- and second-generation Americans from Central America and East and West Africa. I loved teaching reading and wanted to supplement the core curricular materials with stories that not only reflected their own experiences but also provided opportunities to learn about other cultures.

However, there was an absence in children’s literature with immigrant themes, particularly in stories with African lead characters. I struggled to find children’s stories that captured the unique complexities of immigrant families in a way that was authentic, relatable, and enjoyable to read. This absence inspired me to write The Biggest Little Brother because I believe that every child has the right to see themselves in the books they read.

What do you want your child audience to learn from your book, and what lessons should they come away with?

Children’s literature has the remarkable ability to reinforce and change narratives. I hope with The Biggest Little Brother children will see that every family is unique and special and that we are more alike than we are different.

What goals do you have for the future? Would you like to write more children’s books?

Yes, I would love to continue the story of Sowa and his family! Also, I want to continue promoting children’s literature with dynamic African lead characters! I curated a list of really great titles on my website www.readersinspired.com and I post related content on Instagram via www.instagram.com/readersinspired.

Students who participate in this program will spend each day thinking, writing, and sharing ideas about their doctoral dissertations. Students will learn effective time-management skills; learn how to set small manageable goals, and will meet with a dissertation coach in one-on-one consultations to discuss and address obstacles that might prevent them completing their degrees.

The Dissertation House period is a Tuesday – Friday (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) commitment to focus on the doctoral dissertation.  The Dissertation House activities focus on areas where students typically have difficulty: conceptualizing a topic, writing a literature review, transitioning from a proposal to a dissertation, analyzing data, writing the last chapter, and editing.

Hosted by the Graduate School at UMBC for UMBC students only.  Please go to their website to apply.

The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), the State of Maryland's social services agency, is looking for people interested joining them in their mission to pursue opportunities to assist people in economic need, provide prevention services, and protect vulnerable children and adults.

They have several introductory level job classifications for which we are currently conducting statewide recruitments and accepting applications, including the Family Services Caseworker Trainee (work providing direct social services to troubled individuals or families in Maryland and requires no experience, just a bachelor’s degree with a major in an appropriate behavioral science such as Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Family Studies, etc. to apply), Family Investment Specialist I (work assisting State residents in determining the State assistance programs for which they qualify), Child Support Specialist Trainee and Child Support Specialist I (work involving investigating and analyzing child support cases and initiating appropriate actions to establish, maintain and enforce support payments for dependent children).

These recruitments will remain open through July 2, 2018, allowing everyone, including students nearing graduation with their bachelor's degrees, ample time to submit an application. (Anyone, including students within six months of graduating with an appropriate bachelor's degree towards meeting minimum qualifications may apply.) The resulting lists of eligible candidates will be used to fill vacancies in our Local Departments of Social Services and regional Offices of Child Support Enforcement throughout the state.

 Please visit our Maryland Department of Human Services recruitment page at the State of Maryland’s Job Openings website, workformaryland.com, to review the job postings for Family Services Caseworker Trainee, Family Investment Specialist I, Child Support Specialist Trainee and Child Support Specialist I, as well as information on State employment benefits and how to apply electronically. Here is the link:

 https://www.jobaps.com/MD/?Keyword=&amp ;Loc=&DeptNumber=33&OccList=&JobType=&KeywordFullText=0

 Thank you for considering employment with the State of Maryland!

“I have had the opportunity to closely observe Mrs. Nottingham’s work performance in my capacity as a member of the CAHSS Black Faculty Committee and as an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Africana Studies. Her administrative and organizational skills are the common denominators that contribute to the Department’s consistency and stability. She is highly knowledgeable about university policies and procedures; her technical expertise is trusted and respected by colleagues both inside of and beyond her Department. She brings a diverse set of management skills that allow her to operate beyond her typical job description" (Shawn Bediako Ph.D.).

“During my time at UMBC Africana Studies (2012-2014), I found Mrs. Nottingham to be a consummate problem-solver. Without her help throughout my first days and months, I would have failed miserably. She helped me set up my office, introduced me to colleagues, and schooled me on all of the systems pertinent to working there as a teacher and colleague. I developed not only a respect for her proficiency and professionalism, but a fondness for her ability to effectively communicate with all people who crossed her path from students in need of guidance to department heads and distinguished guests" (Ama Boakyewa Ph.D.).

“I have spent the last twenty-five years teaching in various academic institutions in the U.S. and, to this day, I have never witnessed an administrative assistant, let alone an administrator, to be as giving of their time without extra compensation as I have seen with Mrs. Nottingham. This “unsung hero”, as I am affectionately calling her, displays an unrelenting level of commitment in every capacity imaginable in the building, maintaining, financing, and growing of Africana Studies at UMBC” (Kibibi V Mack-Shelton Ph.D.).