Jihan Woods is the real MVP. After struggling to find a Black Santa for her twins, the Texas mother created an app to help parents nationwide locate one with ease.
A self-proclaimed Christmas enthusiast, Woods launched a Kickstarter campaign last year called “Find Black Santa: A Mobile Black Santa Director.” The Kickstarter campaign was successful, raising $5,000 in 30 days, clearing the way for her to create the free app. According to the campaign’s page, Find Black Santa’s mission is to “present children with positive images of people of color in an effort to play a role in building self-esteem and improving overall wellbeing.”
Woods is a board-certified psychiatrist with a special interest in the mental health of children and adolescents. In creating the app she cited the research which concluded that positive racial identity leads to better school performance and less negative behavior.
“Christmas can be celebrated in more than one way. Find Black Santa gives families like mine access to Black Santas nationwide.”
If you’re looking for a Black Santa, you can find one in 35 states and Washington, D.C., thanks to Jihan! Download it for free on the App Store and Google Play.