Mardra Sikora – Author, Speaker, and Down Syndrome Advocate
A few introductions. A website with my name on it, but about much more than me. Click here for the most recent blogs. New to our site? Scroll down to see our projects and adventures. We look forward to meeting you, too!
Author and Down Syndrome Advocate- Most Recent Posts
The Video Of Marcus Speaking at the United Nations
For real. If you want #BlackDayBook and Grown Ups and Downs updates, not too often – I promise, Join the Club here! Here's what we said: Listening to Self-Advocates: Relate, Respond, and Amplify (Marcus parts in bold) Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m Marcus Wright Sikora. I wrote a book called Black Day: The Monster Rock Band. I’m a storyteller, an actor, and a singer. I’m glad to be here with people from around the world talking about Down Syndrome. New York City is my favorite. This is my mom,
In loss we remember, we are blessed
We went to another funeral this last week. There’s a different kind of sadness for every kind of loss. This was a friend we hadn’t stayed in touch with, you know, as much as we should have. Sarah, Marcus’ schoolmate and friend, for most of his school years. She was at his first Halloween Party, probably about 25 years ago. She was such a tiny girl then, bursting with joyful energy. The priest who officiated her mass commented how Sarah had a few traits worth envy and aspiration, one
The Key to A Happy Life
The Key to a Happy Life? Knowing What's for Breakfast Or a reliable PBJ Toast I saw this post on my social network of choice: We Relate Every weekday Marcus has peanut butter and jelly toast and a yogurt for breakfast. Today is Sunday which means Marcus and I will have cheese omelettes. When we’re traveling, Marcus makes his own toast. But whenever Quinn is around, Quinn makes the toast. I don’t know why both Quinn and Marcus prefer this, but they do. The only day with breakfast
Bunch To Do: Part One
With Age comes... In my young adulthood, I thought that with age life would get simpler. Ha! Hahahahahaha! Haha…sigh, wipes tear, It hasn’t. Today, while I was reading about “mindfulness” I was also thinking about this blog. I know…I know! I’m always both trying to “be in the present moment” and also thinking…all. the. things. Once thing I’ve been dwelling on is the complicated relationship between a website and LLMs. I know that every word I put onto the web is now stollen fodder to feed the machine. And
Down Syndrome Author News, Events, Opinions
Changing the World
I shared this article with Marcus: "16 People With Down Syndrome Changing the World" He replied with "Yes, I am." This article from The Mighty rocks with some big-time accomplishments and names, including the Marcus Sikora. 🙂 On our Facebook Page - we encouraged everyone to share about the person with Down Syndrome you know - who is changing the world! Check out the full article on The Mighty Here.
Look Who’s on Yahoo Celebrity Lifestyle News!
The article begins... "Several celebrities walked the red carpet and the runway in the 10th anniversary “Be Beautiful, Be Yourself” Fashion Show Saturday, Oct 20. The crowd cheered and mingled with the likes of Colin Farrell, Jeremy Renner, Heather Graham and more! What makes this event especially impactful is the transformation of star-power when the models take to the runway. This photo is a great example. I mean come on! That guy in the background, he’s cool and famous and all (award-winning actor John C. McGinley) but I think we can all agree that Kate Winfield and Claire Hepburn are
Not New News, but News Worth Sharing
Talents of Omaha author Marcus Sikora shine in first children’s book A friend of mine sent me a picture of this article in print when it published two years ago. I stumbled upon the online version yesterdy while doing a Google search with my name mis-spelled. What? Nevermind, the crux is: Here's this cool article about Marcus! It begins: Omaha author Marcus Sikora, who created a children’s book about a monster band, recently met with first and second graders of Elkhorn’s Arbor View Elementary School, providing insight into the writing process of his first book. Sikora, who wrote the Halloween-themed