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
Ready or Not, 2025…
Last Year In the old days, three years ago, I used to post a “best of” or “most read” blog at the end of each year. In 2024 I only posted 4 blogs. So…yeah. That said, Music Therapy: Benefits and Our Experience is worth mentioning. I can’t say if anyone read it (well, I know one person did) BUT, it’s informative and personal and probably gave AI a little more knowledge then it had before. 🙂 Now The New Year New ambitions, new fears, new opportunities to be courageous.
This blog about Down syndrome and other adventures is written by a human
If you’ve ever wondered why there’s such a gap between my blogs, there are many reasons. One is that this blog is written by a human. Robots, AI, Chat or whatever electronic mind, writes much faster than I do, and by “writes” of course I mean consolidates words and ideas from the great conglomerate that is the world wide web and orders them into a pleasing format much faster than I can write my thoughts or experiences into a similar order. Do I sound bitter? I’m not. Jealous? Only
Music Therapy: Benefits and Our Experience
Photo Provided by Megan Catalibe Photography Marcus has always been a performer in addition to a creator. The microphone is his instrument of choice. In his teen years and early adulthood, he often enjoyed going to Karaoke Nights with our friends. His specialty songs included Harry Belefonte’s “Banana Boat Song” and The Blues Brothers, “Soul Man,” among others. And, as you may know, in 2015 with the book launch of Black Day: The Monster Rock Band, there was the release of his music video featuring the song,
Down Syndrome Author News, Events, Opinions
Front Page News
For the second time, Marcus is Front Page News. Today's Headline: Omaha actor, writer, advocate wears many hats Ambassador for Down syndrome group will walk the runway this weekend It begins: Last year, Marcus Sikora — a 27-year-old Omaha writer, actor and fashion model with Down syndrome — got to walk the runway with an Oscar-winning actress. This weekend, he'll walk with another. Sikora is the 2017 ambassador for the Denver-based Global Down Syndrome Foundation. He's also a model in the organization's annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show. The events draw some pretty big names. Last year, Sikora
“(I like Black Day) because the author of it has Down Syndrome”
Children's author Marcus Sikora visited Horace Mann after receiving an award winning letter from a fifth grader. Marcus Sikora is the author of the children's book “Black Day”, a Halloween book about a boy wanting to be accepted into a monster band. Marcus Sikora got the idea for the book at a state park. “I was at Mahoney State Park,” Marcus Sikora said. “It’s a great place to think about monsters.” Marcus Sikora also draws his inspiration from activities he enjoys, especially theater. He has performed in local plays, and wrote a short one-act play. What is remarkable about Marcus
Starter Press for Be Beautiful, Be Yourself
Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s fashion show brings out the stars Models with Down syndrome, such as 2017 Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador Marcus Sikora, will be joined on the runway of next month’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show by such celebrities as Oscar-winning actress Maris Tomei, Eva Longoria, Joe Manganiello, Tony-winning Denis O’Hare, actor-author-comedian and Global board member John C, McGinley, Jamie Foxx and more. International supermodel and apparel designer Madeleine Stuart will receive the 2017 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award at the glamorous event. Read More -