Everyone Needs Help

A Gift From the Universe to Change the World

coffee shop

My son, Marcus, and I have had many writing sessions and meetings with collaborators at our neighborhood coffee shop, particularly while we were working on his first book for children and the accompanying animated short. We also wrote the speech we gave at the United Nations building there earlier this year. Today I write solo and the notebook to my right has the lyric, “The universe is resting in my arms” (from Nina Gordan’s song “Tonight”) written and

2020-06-16T07:17:43-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |5 Comments
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Marcus Makes the Most of Every Meeting

On Tuesday, March 21st, we met people from around the world. Marcus gave copies of Black Day: The Monster Rock Band to a person with, or a family member of a person, with Down syndrome from Italy, Algeria, Mexico, Canada, and the US. 

World Down Syndrome Day at The United Nations

We listened to the advocacy challenges and wins of our worldwide Down syndrome community. The mom from Kyrgyzstan, and her brave story.  Advocates from Romania and Palestine and more. and Always, my favorite part of the WDSD at the UN is hearing from the self-advocates,

2017-08-30T11:17:05-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , , , , |4 Comments
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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, Mardra. She’s a writer, too.

2019-06-16T10:01:10-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs, In the News|Tags: , , , |6 Comments
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Marcus’ Big Announcement #1

You know what didn’t cross my mind in those hours after my son was born and nurses spoke in hushed tones while a social service worker hovered outside my hospital room…when certain family members chose to scoff at certain other family member’s expression of love over doom?

The United Nations.

WDSD16On June 20th, 1990, I did not once think of the UN. And yet, yesterday I received an email from Down Syndrome International inviting Marcus and I to speak at

2017-03-20T18:51:52-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |11 Comments
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