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Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette Logo Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette

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Berlin children’s clothing, toy store advocates change

By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(June 25, 2020) Heart of Gold Kids, 27 N. Main Street in Berlin, has donated 10 percent of  its online sales from June 13 to June 20 to The Conscious Kid to support its anti-racist children’s books education fund.

“I’ve been looking for an organization to give back to during this time, and they really kind of fit our store and what we’re feeling right now as well,” said owner Emily Vocke. “They raise money to get children’s books about racism into schools.”

Emily Vocke

According to its website, The Conscious Kid is committed to encouraging positive racial identity development in children.

The nonprofit also promotes access to children’s books, focusing on underrepresented groups and authors.

As a mother of three, Vocke has researched the best way to talk to her own children about racism. She learned that reading books is the best method for starting conversations about discrimination and social justice.

Vocke discovered The Conscious Kid on social media.

“Different platforms that I follow tagged them, and then I started following them and just really loved their mission,” Vocke said.

The anti-racist children’s books education fund allows the organization to put books in its list of “41 Children’s Books to Support Conversations on Race, Racism, and Resistance” into classrooms across the U.S.

In addition, the books motivate youth to take action in the ongoing movement for racial justice.

Heart of Gold Kids, which sells children’s clothing, accessories and toys, was established in Downtown Berlin in September 2015.

The store is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, visit heartofgoldkids.com or call 443-513-4811.