We Are All The Same Inside + Sage Doll-making Workshop

08/29/2026

Our animation short, “The Grass is Stone” - has been shortlisted yet again, this time making the shortlist at the Cal Film Festival! Huge congrats to the team as we move onto the final Dolby mix and sound design. FUN FACT: See the “laurel” which is that nifty logo / signifer that we are shortlisted and get to put on the poster!

08/23/2026

Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of legendary songwriter & Motown executive Janie Bradford. I had the absolute honor of meeting Janie through my doll work, creating mini replicas of Motown legends—including who else, Diana Ross—for her and her wonderful Heroes and Legends (H.A.L.) Awards. Through Janie, I met so many incredible people, but her spirit, warm encouragement, and unmatched musical legacy are what I will cherish most. Thank you, Janie, for gracing our lives through song and dedication to the arts. Rest in power.

06/18/2026

The magic doesn’t stop! 10 students at Jettie S Tisdale School independently stepped up to complete our leftover We Are All The Same Inside + Sage Doll-making Workshop kits in celebration of Deaf Pride.

Knowing this initiative is thriving on its own—even when I can’t be there—means the world to me.

This builds on our recent workshop where 25 participants honored MJ’s iconic career, using repurposed materials to craft dolls celebrating our shared humanity.

Thank you to Jim Pinkston, Andy Skurow, Frannie Falco, Nilda Soto Ruiz, and Liz Liberatore for the support and sustainable supplies that made this possible.

Want to make your own? FREE printable MJ Sage doll templates online - http://weareallthesameinside.org/doll-patterns-michael.html

06/12/2026

Proud to share the work of Shamya Hill, a former teacher candidate and now alumnus of our Touro GSE 7-12 Alternative Certification Program. While in my SEDN 617 course, Shamya designed a thoughtful unit plan examining the complexities of the caste system in India. By utilizing powerful, open-ended questions, she challenged her students to deeply ponder long-standing social patterns and structural barriers. As an inspired follow-up, students researched and wrote biographies on figures who successfully broke through rigid socioeconomic and / or identity politics and other obstacles. To celebrate their hard work, I was thrilled to fulfill my promise and volunteer classroom visits, guiding each participant in creating their own Sage doll puppet as a hands-on, metacognitive bonus to anchor their learning.

06/03/2026

Despite recent personal and health struggles, a dream manifested, and incredibly grateful to Jim Pinkston and Andy Skurow for their support in making it happen.

The MJ themed We Are All The Same Inside + Sage Doll-making Workshop took place at the Jettie S. Tisdale School in Bridgeport, CT! Following up on our Diana Ross celebration two years ago, 25 participants honored Michael Jackson’s iconic career by crafting dolls that celebrated his uniqueness and our shared humanity.

If you still want to join the celebration from home, you can download our FREE printable Sage doll templates to create your own MJ-inspired paper dolls:

https://www.weareallthesameinside.org/doll-patterns-michael.html

Special thanks to Frannie Falco, Nilda Soto Ruiz and Liz Liberatore for providing the repurposed, reused, and recycled materials.

SageDollMaking

05/15/2026

… SO excited to bring the We Are All the Same Inside Sage Doll-making Workshop doll-making back to Jettie S Tisdale School in Bridgeport, CT!

Following our Diana Ross celebration two years ago, this year 25 participants will honor Michael’s iconic career by crafting dolls that celebrate his uniqueness and our shared commonalities.

Want to join the celebration from home? Use the link below to download our FREE printable Sage doll templates and create your own MJ-inspired paper doll!

https://www.weareallthesameinside.org/doll-patterns-michael.html



Special thanks to Jim Pinkston

05/12/2026

… recently joined host Louie Ranieri’s podcast to discuss the legendary Ms Diana Ross, bridging the generation gap through "musical meanderings" and a showcase of my children’s books, dolls, and puppets.

Check out the YouTube Episode 2 HERE:

https://youtu.be/nqvzVe_kn40?feature=shared

+

Hosted by Diana Ross fan, Louie Ranieri, "Mirror Mirror Memories" is a series where Diana Ross fans come together from all around the world to discuss the le...

02/08/2026

T.I.M.M.-E. Co. INC. Animated LOGO in color was designed by Chloe Yung with Timothy Bellavia.

12/23/2025

NYC Teaching Fellow Ms Niaqua Woodley’s class didn't just read the Harry Potter series; they immersed themselves in it.

By pairing the text with the film adaptations, Ms Woodley helped her students visualize the world of Hogwarts, sparking a deeper level of engagement with the narrative.

And yes, I couldn't help but get into the mix when my colleague, Dr. Nilda Soto-Ruiz, generously donated fabric and official Harry Potter badges. We repurposed these materials today into something truly special Harry Potter characters as We Are All the Same Inside ® Sage dolls!

12/18/2025

Had the privilege of visiting 30 kindergarten and first-grade students at IS – PS 499 Queens (The Queens College School for Math, Science and Technology) at the Huan Yu Education Center in Flushing, NY.

Through the support of Flushing Town Hall shared the journey of the We Are All The Same Inside + Sage Doll-making Workshop. Looking back over the last 25 years, I can’t believe a quarter century has already gone by!?

Thank you to the staff and students for welcoming me into your after school program!