Timothy D. Bellavia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Timothy Bellavia
Timothy photographed by Lola Flash in December 2019
Born	(1971-05-01) May 1, 1971 (age 55) Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Roberts Wesleyan University Pratt Institute (MFA) Fashion Institute of Technology
Occupation	Author, illustrator, educator, producer, dancer, fabric artist, doll-maker

Timothy Bellavia (born 1971) is an American author, artist, and teacher. He is well-known for his children's book series, We Are All the Same Inside, and the special Sage doll that goes with it. His work helps kids learn important lessons about being kind and understanding others.

Timothy Bellavia's Career

Timothy Bellavia first wanted to be a fashion designer. But then, he decided to focus on teaching art using dolls. He has worked with many groups like Sesame Workshop and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.

Teaching and Research

Timothy won an award for being an "Outstanding Educator of the Year." He also helped with a big five-year project called Young Academic Music (YAM). This project showed how important it is to add STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) topics into lessons for younger students.

Today, Timothy is a professor at Touro University in New York City. He teaches about different ways to learn and work with schools.

Awards and Recognitions

Timothy Bellavia has received many awards for his work in education and art. These awards celebrate his books, his teaching, and his creative projects.

Timothy Bellavia's Life Story

Timothy Bellavia was born on May 1, 1971, in Buffalo, New York. He grew up in a town called Waterport, New York. He is one of four children. His brother, David Bellavia, received the Congressional Medal of Honour for his bravery.

Education and Early Career

Timothy went to Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, New York. He then earned a special art degree (MFA) from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. After that, he moved to Manhattan. He worked as an art teacher, a model, and even a backup dancer for the famous singer Cyndi Lauper. Later, he became a curator at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.

In 1997, Timothy received a scholarship to attend the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. He also wrote several children's books, including Treble Leads the Class, Paper Scissors and Magic: 7 Ways to Get your Kids to LOVE Books, and his award-winning book, We Are All the Same Inside.

T.I.M.M.-E. Company

Timothy Bellavia started The T.I.M.M.-E. Company, INC. in 2000. This company publishes his book We Are All the Same Inside. It also creates learning materials and dolls that go along with his children's books.

Promoting Tolerance and Learning

In 2003, Timothy shared his teaching ideas at the United Nations on the International Day of Tolerance. He worked with the Anti-Defamation League and the We Are Family Foundation. His talk was about "Educating Our Children For A Safer World." His presentation was even shown on TV channels like Court TV and TruTV.

The T.I.M.M.-E. Company has also held workshops with the New York City Department of Education. These workshops help New York City students celebrate what makes us all human. They also combine art with reading and writing lessons. The company has worked with Sesame Workshop and its characters like Rosita and Abby Cadabby.

We Are All the Same Inside Book

We Are All the Same Inside is a children's picture book written by Timothy Bellavia in 2000. It was even nominated for a Christopher Award for Best Children's Picture Book.

In 2010, a special 10th-anniversary version of the book was released. This new version included paper doll patterns, teaching guides, and rare photos. To celebrate, singer and producer Sherlie Matthews helped create a special children's music CD for the book. The Brooklyn Historical Society also hosted a workshop where kids could make the Sage doll.

The Sage Doll

The Sage doll is a special doll that Timothy Bellavia invented in 1998. It has a unique design with changeable covers. These covers can show different characters with various skin colors, hair, or clothing.

The main part of the Sage doll shows the human body's internal organs, like the heart and lungs. It doesn't have any outside features like skin or hair. When you add the different covers, they show how people look on the outside. The Sage doll teaches that even though we might look different on the outside, we are all very much the same on the inside. It's a great tool for learning about how we are all connected.

Young Academic Music Research

The Young Academic Music and Computational Thinking (YAM) project was a five-year research study. It was funded by the United States Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. This project showed how important it is to include STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) topics in elementary school lessons.

This project created a series of children's books and animated videos. These include "Treble Leads the Class" (2021), "Treble Catches the Rhythm Train" (2021), and "Treble Goes A 'Go-Go" (2022). Timothy Bellavia worked with Touro University and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz on these. The famous musician Herbie Hancock narrates these fun stories about music notes that go to school. Many talented people helped create this award-winning series, including animators, singers, and musicians.

Diana Ross #Star80+ Celebration

Timothy Bellavia created, produced, and directed a special online celebration for the singer Diana Ross. It was called "#Star80+ A Celebration of 80 Gowns, Dolls & Years!" This digital event honored Diana Ross as she turned 80 years old.

The YouTube web series featured interviews, tributes from fans, and fashion content. Timothy Bellavia made over 80 We Are All the Same Inside Sage dolls, each dressed in a tiny replica of one of Ms. Ross's famous gowns. The project became very popular on social media. Fans and celebrities shared their love for the legendary Motown artist. Many notable people, including gossip columnist Michael Musto and Grammy-winning songwriter Frannie Golde, took part in the web series.

Music Recordings

• We Are All the Same Inside ® 10th Anniversary - with Sherlie Matthews (2010)
• The Grass is Stone - with Dan Giangiobbe (2024) Demo Recording

Videos and Films