New Releases by Renee Watson

Before we reach our breaking point, we can break free from a lifestyle that wrecks our mental health.

Follows a young girl enjoying fun and exciting activities on a perfect summer day.

During Black History Month, Ryan learns more about her ancestors and local Black pioneers, and their hopes for her generation.

A thoughtful celebration of Black girlhood by award-winning author and poet Renee Watson. In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renee Watson writes about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender. Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power. Black Girl You Are Atlas encourages young readers to embrace their future with a strong sense of sisterhood and celebration. With full-color art by celebrated fine artist Ekua Holmes throughout, this collection offers guidance and is a gift for anyone who reads it.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" In this life, we will face injustice at one point or another. The question is, what format that injustice will take. When our time comes, what do we do? How do we stand up against injustice while remaining hopeful and encouraged against pressure and pain? Persevering Under Pressure: Patiently Pursuing Justice by Pastor Brian Watson and Minister Renee Watson is a powerful book which takes readers on the authors' years-long battle with injustice from a former employer that led to forced unemployment and the difficult ordeal of fighting for their rights. Contrasting their personal life experiences with those of several biblical characters who also suffered injustice, such as Joseph, Abraham, and Job, Pastor and Minister Watson share wisdom and insight with readers on how they gained strength from Scripture to overcome their own battles and walk away stronger in their faith, marriage, and ministry. A timely topic in today's world, no matter what type of injustice you are currently facing, the authors are here to remind you that it is not too big for the Lord. Come along on the journey with the Watsons and be encouraged while you patiently pursue justice, learning strategies you can implement to win with the Word. You are an overcomer, and you will persevere! Pastor Brian Watson and Minister Renee Watson are native Washingtonians. Both were educated in the DC Public School System. They were called into the ministry in February 1990 and April 2015 respectively. Together, they serve the congregation of the Riggs Park Baptist Church in Washington, DC. In their spare time, they enjoy bike riding, traveling, taking walks together and fellowshipping with family and friends. They are the proud parents of two daughters, grandparents of five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Brokenness has become a buzzword. We wear it like a badge, proudly showing off the shattered pieces of our lives--while still fighting the same desperate battles. But brokenness was never meant to be the destination. Or your identity. It was meant to be the catalyst for breakthrough. Inspiring, vulnerable, and powerful, this new book from Jennifer Watson helps you take your eyes off the idol of brokenness and experience the God of breakthrough. She shows how breakthrough is really hope moving forward, even when life hurts. And she gives you practical, uncomplicated ways to: · stop feeling shame and emptiness · leave the victim mentality behind · experience lasting restoration in your story and your soul · and more It's okay to not be okay for a little while. But Jesus has a plan to see your scars become success stories that reflect his glory to the people around you.

Since the inception and the development of high power lasers, nonlinear spectroscopy and microscopy have been pushing the boundaries for optical techniques. These techniques have changed how we understand emerging materials and revolutionized imaging capabilities. Herein is presented work which aimed to produce electronic sum frequency generation (eSFG) using a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser as the light sources while using objective-based total internal reflectance within a microscope apparatus. The large aim of this work was to apply this instrument to study the surfaces of cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs). Quantum dots have emerged as a flexible and useful material for light harvesting and light emitting applications, including television screens, lighting diodes, biomedical imaging probes, catalytic substrates, and solar panel application. Despite the current applications of these QDs, the material still exhibits deleterious flaws mostly due to the lack of control over their surface properties. While there are continuous strides in this field of research, the work here aimed to provide a better understanding of these surfaces in order to incubate further advances. The instrument described above observed electronic structure within the mid-band gap region which has previously proven difficult to study. Since the electronic properties of CdSe QDs are so intricately connected to the ligand or shell attached to the nanocrystal surface, the study the CdSe QD surfaces was furthered by vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy (vSFG) to better understand the ordering and presence of ligands at the QD interface. This instrument has not only been applied to CdSe QDs but other light harvesting materials, specifically inorganic-organic lead based perovskite films. A two-photon total internal reflectance based microscopy was able to reveal dipole orientations of the perovskite film and shows sensitivity to the films topography. Together these studies show the flexibility of this instrument to study important electronic properties effecting the application of light sensitive materials.

Told in alternating voices, four friends from the same New Orleans neighborhood describe what happens to them and their community when they are separated, then reunited, as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

While several studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the eMINTS instructional methodology on student success, no research exists to determine veteran eMINTs teachers' perceptions of training methodology and leadership matriculation as related to systemic technology reform. This study investigated veteran eMINTS teachers' perceived value of the eMINTS instructional model of design. The study explored whether similarities exist between veteran eMINTS teacher perceptions and matriculation to a position of leadership or, conversely, burn out from the demands associated with training for and maintenance of instruction in the technology enhanced classroom. This study drew from the cross-sectional survey responses of 30 teachers. Comparative analysis of responses from veteran eMINTS teachers to their non-eMINTS colleagues allowed for consideration of variables in matriculation, leadership advancement, or "burn out" not related to the eMINTS training experience.