Timothy D. Bellavia

Biography

Timothy D. Bellavia is an award winning children's author, illustrator and educator with a M.F.A. from Pratt Institute. He is an alumnus of Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Bellavia's art has hung in museums and galleries around the United States. He has also worked as an independent curator at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, has appeared on the runways of several alternative fashion shows, and has danced back-up for the pop star Cyndi Lauper. On November 17, 2003, Mr. Bellavia presented his doll making curriculum on the International Day of Tolerance at the United Nations on behalf of the We Are Family Foundation. The New York City Department of Education realized the value of the curriculum and awarded Mr. Bellavia's T.I.M.M.E. Company a contract. This contract has allowed Bellavia to amplify the company's mission to teach tolerance to New York City's school children while integrating the arts into the literacy curriculum. He teaches in the School of Education & Psychology, Graduate Division at Touro College, in New York.

Awards

• Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture - Fellowship Grant -1997

• Christopher Award Nomination – Best Children’s Book 2001

• Principal for a Day - April 19, 2002

• LEAP Recognition Award – 2003

• Young Adult Institute – 2004

Bibliography

• We Are All The Same Inside (2000)

• Come and Abide (2002)

• Theo and the Sisters of Sage! (2003)

• Sage Goes to Kindergarten (2006)

• Sage 2007-08 School Calendar with The Elias Howe School (2007)

• Sage 2008 Calendar with Single Parent Resource Center (2007)

• Operation Labcoat (2008)

T.I.M.M.-E. Company, Inc.

The T.I.M.M.-E. Company. Inc. (Tolerance in Multi Media Education) was founded in 2000 by Timothy D. Bellavia to promote peace, tolerance and acceptance for our common humanity. With the success of Bellavia’s first publication, "We Are All The Same Inside", The T.I.M.M.-E. Company, Inc. has since developed an early childhood human diversity school curriculum with tolerance-teaching dolls featured in Bellavia’s published children’s picture books. The primary purpose of the We Are All The Same Inside line of products is to help young individuals develop, understand and appreciate the various aspects of cultural diversity and gender differences.

In 2003, Bellavia presented his curriculum at the United Nations on the International day of Tolerance on behalf of the Anti Defamation League and the We Are Family Foundation. The theme of his address was Educating Our Children For A Safer World. His presentation to the UN Council was also later broadcast by Court TV/Tru TV.

In 2004, the New York City Department of Education realized the value of the curriculum and awarded the company a contract. This contract has allowed Bellavia to amplify the company’s mission to teach tolerance to New York City’s school children while integrating the arts into the literacy curriculum. As a result of Bellavia’s dedication and the enthusiastic response from teachers, parents and school children, it is evident that the workshops promote and reinforce the message that indeed, We Are All The Same Inside.

Continuing a partnership that began in 2004 with Sesame Reads Annual Literacy Day - The T.I.M.M.-E. Company, Inc., participated in September 2007 in celebrating the 105th anniversary of CLC (The Children's Learning Center) in Stamford, CT. The highlight of the event was an appearance by Rosita, Abby Cadabby and some Honkers. Other Sesame Workshop speakers besides Mr. Bellavia, included the award winning animator Jim Jinkins, creator of "Global Thingy" and "Pinky Dinky Doo".

External links

* [http://www.weareallthesameinside.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/timothydbellavia Timothy D. Bellavia on MySpace]
* [http://www.courttv.com/saferworld/video_highlights.html Cable in the Classroom]
* [http://www.adl.org/education/courttv/we_are_family.pdf We Are Family: /Educating Our Children For A Safer World]
* [http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/DCP/ListingApplication/Catalog/TIMM.htm The City of New York Contract / Department of Education]
* [http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamford_templates/stamford_story/289812878872517.php]
* [http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Sesame_Reads_Family_Literacy_Workshop]