Children's Institute of Cultural Appreciation and Understanding

10/27/2026

Grateful to partner with Empowering Community Leaders Network, Inc.- ECLN, Monica Saigal, and DC Central Kitchen through our grant from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. to create opportunities for young people to learn, connect, and make a difference in their communities.

Yesterday’s session was especially heartwarming as we watched our middle school girls engage with passion, ask thoughtful questions, and show a genuine desire to help others. Seeing their enthusiasm for volunteering and their commitment to making a difference was a powerful reminder of why this work matters! Students also had an opportunity to hear from Monica Saigal, author of Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken, a book based in India. Hearing Monica's perspective on how food insecurity is tackled by one person in India, gave students a window into another cultural and to learn to look beyond their own experiences, understand the diverse challenges people face, and recognize the importance of empathy, compassion, and community care. These experiences help turn awareness into action and inspire the next generation to become thoughtful, engaged global citizens.

This collaboration among three nonprofits, CICAU, ECLN, and DC Central Kitchen, is a wonderful example of what we can accomplish when we work together toward a shared purpose. Each organization brings unique strengths and perspectives, demonstrating that building a better world takes all of us working together, learning from one another, and empowering young people to make a difference.

10/19/2026

Every step you take supports children’s cultural education! 🌎📖

Join the and walk to empower the next generation.

Sign up at https://give.gofundme.com/2026CICAUwalkathon!

10/15/2026

📚🌎 Books open windows into the world!

Children’s books do more than teach reading! They help children see themselves reflected in stories, discover experiences different from their own, and develop empathy and understanding.

In our latest CICAU Insights feature, reading specialist Alexia Friedberg explores how books can serve as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors, helping young readers build connections across cultures and communities.

✨ Every child deserves to see their story represented and the opportunity to explore someone else’s.

Let’s build bookshelves that spark curiosity, celebrate our differences, and bring us closer together, one story at a time!

📖 Read the full blog here:

Think back to the books you loved as a child. Maybe you saw yourself in a particular character; the way they looked, the way they felt or viewed the world, perhaps even experiences they had throughout the story. This character may have even had the same family traditions or norms as your own. Often,...

10/01/2026

🚶‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Ready to make a difference? Registration is OPEN for the CICAU 2026 Virtual Walk-A-Thon! 🌍

Join us from anywhere and take steps to support children’s cultural education. Sign up today at https://give.gofundme.com/2026CICAUwalkathon

09/24/2026

A meaningful day of storytelling, creativity, and connection! 📚✨

Thank you to Huda Al-Marashi for joining UMS students and sharing her creative writing process, along with her young readers novel Hail Mariam, a story about the only Muslim student in her Catholic school. Huda left the students with powerful insights, including the “burden of representation,” the importance of “opening doors to feedback when you are ready,” and a reminder that “when we are genuinely curious about something…we can all really get along.”

We’re grateful for authors who invite young people to ask questions, listen, create, and discover the common ground that connects us all and to librarians and independent book stores who support diverse authors in their storytelling. ❤️🌎📖

Huda Al-Marashi Kathy Domboski Curious Iguana

09/20/2026

🌎✨ Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!

Honoring the rich cultures, traditions, stories, and contributions of Hispanic communities. At CICAU, we believe that learning about one another helps build understanding, appreciation, and connection. Let’s learn, celebrate, and appreciate the diversity that makes our communities stronger! 💛

08/13/2026

📖 CICAU’s Annual Report Is Here! 🌎💙

We’re proud to share our latest Annual Report, highlighting the impact we’ve made and the progress we continue to achieve in advancing cultural appreciation and understanding among children and youth. Inside, you’ll find a look at our programs, partnerships, accomplishments, and the people who help make our mission possible. Every story reflects our commitment to fostering cultural appreciation today for better understanding tomorrow.

We are incredibly grateful to our students, families, educators, community partners, volunteers, donors, and supporters. Your dedication helps us create opportunities for children to learn about, appreciate, and celebrate cultures from around the world. 🌍

📚 Read the CICAU Annual Report: https://www.cicau.org/annual-report

Thank you for being part of the CICAU community and for helping us build a more culturally understanding world, one child at a time. ❤️

Transparency, accountability, and meaningful impact are at the heart of everything we do. Our Annual Reports provide a comprehensive look at our organization's accomplishments, financial stewardship, and the communities we serve throughout each year.

06/19/2026

Today, CICAU joins communities across the nation in recognizing Juneteenth, a day that celebrates freedom, resilience, and the enduring pursuit of equality.

At CICAU, we believe that fostering cultural awareness and understanding begins with learning about our shared history. Juneteenth serves as an important reminder of the ongoing journey toward equality and the value of honoring the diverse experiences and contributions that have shaped our nation.

By educating ourselves and future generations, we can build stronger communities rooted in empathy, respect, and inclusion.

We encourage families, educators, and community members to take time today to reflect, learn, and celebrate the rich history, culture, and achievements of Black Americans.

❤️💚🖤

06/18/2026

🌟 Welcome to the CICAU Board of Directors, Alexia Friedberg!

We are thrilled to welcome Alexia Friedberg to the CICAU Board of Directors. Alexia brings more than 17 years of experience in public education, serving Montgomery County Public Schools as both a classroom teacher and Reading Specialist. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with students and families from diverse cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and learning backgrounds.

Her experiences have strengthened her belief that education is a powerful tool for building understanding, fostering empathy, and creating stronger communities, values that align closely with CICAU’s mission to promote cultural awareness, understanding, and acceptance among young people.

Please join us in welcoming Alexia to the CICAU family! We look forward to the knowledge, passion, and perspective she will bring as we continue empowering children to celebrate diversity and become engaged global citizens.

05/21/2026

🌍✨ Celebrating World Culture Day!

At CICAU, we are dedicated to helping children explore and appreciate the rich diversity of cultures that shape our world. Through engaging literature, storytelling, arts, and hands-on learning experiences, we support young people in understanding their own identities while developing respect and appreciation for others.🌐

Join us in honoring the traditions, voices, and experiences that bring our communities together and make them stronger. ❤️

Get involved with CICAU and support our mission by partnering, volunteering, or learning more about our cultural education programs. Click here to learn more 👉 cicau.org