EMBRACING UNIQUE FACES

Nonprofit myFace Celebrates beauty & Diversity

It’s safe to say that modern-day New Yorkers back the belief that our differences are what make us stronger as a city. As they say, New York is the ultimate Melting Pot; comprised of people from all walks of life, cultures, religions and geographies. Yet when it comes to unique, visual differences, stigmas persist. That is why myFace launched their most recent campaign, “myFace is Beautiful.”

For the last 73 years, myFace has been dedicated to transforming the lives of children and adults with craniofacial differences by providing access to comprehensive care, education, resources and support. The organization believes the world is stronger when every person is valued, respected, included, and empowered to achieve their greatest potential, regardless of how they look.

GETTING INVOLVED
It is that belief of inclusion and respect for all, as well as the need to educate the all-consuming public about craniofacial differences, which led to the “myFace is Beautiful” campaign. Featured on bus shelters and billboards in New York and New Jersey thanks to donations from JC Decaux and Lamar Outdoor, the campaign has been showcased in high traffic areas of Manhattan such as the Upper East Side, Penn Station district, Chelsea, and in areas of Brooklyn and the Bronx, as well as the New Jersey Interstates.

Having a craniofacial difference can mean living with painful scars; whether those are visible to all, or none, they are agonizing. Those scars, the emotional ones, are often the result of being isolated, or bullied. Believe it or not, despite the general consensus that our city is more inclusionary than it has ever been, there are still bullies out there who capitalize on even the most innocuous differences. 

Sadly though, it isn’t just these bullies that can make life uncomfortable or painful for those with craniofacial differences. It is human nature to stare at things we either don’t understand, or don’t recognize. We’ve all done it; seeing someone who looks very different from the norm, often you cannot help but stare, sometimes through a “side stare.” And while there is no ill-will or intent, it is still painful for those impacted by facial differences.

BREAKING STEROTYPES
It is difficult enough for an adult to address and be comfortable with their own craniofacial differences; imagine being a child not able to control your facial expressions or even to look someone in the eye. Think about how alone you might feel as an adolescent in New York without being able to show your emotions; be it the classic Big Apple raised eyebrow, a soulful glance across a room, or even a smile to that special someone you want to meet. Growing up is difficult enough with all the hormones and challenges life throws at us. But the idea of not having a friend to play with or not knowing a single person who could relate to your experience is even more daunting. This is just one example of where myFace steps in to make a difference; with the community and network they have created that is safe, informative and provides resources to help.

Today, there are more than 600,000 Americans living with facial differences. And each year thousands more join their ranks, sometimes from birth, sometimes due to an accident, and sometimes from disease. So, meeting someone else with a facial difference can be a life-changing experience for the good.  

They say, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and in the case of myFace’s Director of Family Programs, Dina Zuckerberg (who was born with a cleft lip, hearing loss, and blindness in one eye), she is a supermodel to everyone in the craniofacial difference community. Not only has Dina worked at myFace for over a decade, but she has also been the “face” of endless programs and community outreach to make a difference in the lives of those with craniofacial differences.  

According to Dina, “When I was a young girl, I only wish I had the community and psychosocial support myFace provides today. I know firsthand that finding the courage to step out and face the world with a facial difference isn’t always easy. Which is why I feel so strongly that the support and resources myFace offers are so critical to individuals successfully navigating their life journey.”  

Given the power of this campaign, and the importance of its message, don’t be surprised if we start seeing New Yorkers celebrate the beauty of these amazing people who have facial differences, every single day.  

For more information on myFace, visit myFace.org