It is estimated that the multiracial population in the U.S. will reach 21 percent by 2050. Despite this shift, multiracial people are almost invisible in our healthcare system. While, thanks to knowledge of DNA, scientists now believe that race is social not scientific, there is still a great deal of debate over whether "race" is a meaningful factor in medicine. Therefore, I would like to study genetic health risks in the multiracial population.
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Each year thousands of multiracial and minority families with a loved one suffering from a life-threatening disease, such as leukemia, are unable to find a matching donor, who could potentially save their lives.

Here I am with Mike & Joanna, two of my TPR panelists at the Bone Marrow Drive

As president of Teen Project RACE, I was able to host a minority focused bone marrow drive on December 16th in Princeton, NJ through New Jersey Blood Services. Along with two of my panelists for TPR who volunteered at the drive with me, I learned how to get DNA samples from Donors and enter them into the National Marrow Donor Program. By the end of the day we had more fifty people join the registry. It was a very exciting and successful day.

If anyone is interested in hosting a drive in their area, please let me know, I'd be more than happy to walk you through it.

- Kayci

Teen Project RACE Founder Ryan Graham was involved in a very serious accident over the weekend and remains hospitalized. We ask that you please keep Ryan and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

There's a medical crisis facing multiracial individuals and you can help. Every 10 minutes someone dies from leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. 70% of patients who need a marrow transplant must turn to unrelated donors. But multiracial individuals are underrepresented in the registry of donors. Since it's more likely to find a match within the same heritage, it's toughest for multiracial patients.

As teens we can't join the donors registry yet. But we can still help save lives. You (and your family, friends, church, or club) can host a drive of your own or spread the word to get multiracial individuals ages 18-60 to register at www.marrow.org. I'm excited to be hosting a drive next month and I look forward to letting you all know how it goes!

At 17 years old, she is the youngest contestant to be crowned American Idol. Plus she's multiracial! Congratulations Jordin!

Hey everyone,

I just want to thank you all for your interest in Teen Project RACE. We'd love to hear from you with any ideas, poems, concerns... whatever is on your mind. If anything relating to our cause, or the multiracial community as a whole, is happening near you we'd love to hear about it and maybe post it on the site. For those of you on myspace, check out our new group: http://groups.myspace.com/teenprojectrace!

Kayci Baldwin

We asked our teen panelists what the presidential campaign of Barack Obama meant to them. Here are just a few of the responses:

Mia - I think it's great that Americans are seriously thinking about electing a multiracial president. I think it shows how America as a whole has matured...
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We asked our panelists why they believe in what Project RACE is trying to accomplish. Here are just a few of their answers: Kendall told us "America is changing. The number of multiracial people in this country is growing so much...
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"Kayci Baldwin, a 14-year-old from New Jersey who spent part of the summer studying at Texas A&M University, said she's struggled with the decision for years. Schools in New Jersey also don't provide a multiracial option -- leaving Baldwin, whose mother is white and father is black, with no accurate choice." Read more...

Recently I had the chance to hang with Stefanie Eulinburg, the wild drummer for superstar rap-rocker Kid Rock, whose albums have gone platinum more times than I can keep up with. She is majorly fun! I wanted to share our talk with all of you...

The nine awesome teens below have been selected from across the country as Teen Project RACE panelists. Most (but not all) are multiracial.

• Justus, New Jersey
• Kendall, New Jersey
• Mallory, California

• Mia, New Jersey
• Mike, Illinois
• Naduah, Washington

• Nico, New Jersey
• Paige, Ohio
• Tyler, New York

The panel includes a black belt in martial arts, church youth leaders, baseball players, a cheerleader, surfer, swimmer, actress, dancer, trumpet player, a medieval history buff, a soccer player and an All-American pentathlete.

The one thing they all have in common is that they support what Project RACE and TPR are trying to achieve. With a group like this, there's sure to be someone that YOU can relate to!

They'll be contributing their thoughts to our teen page and helping out with various projects so check back often to see what's up!

The leadership of Project RACE is very pleased to announce that Kayci Baldwin has been selected as the new President of Teen Project RACE, the organization leading the movement for a multiracial classification. Kayci is the multiracial daughter of Keith and Kelly Baldwin and sister of Kendall and Karson of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Kayci was chosen from candidates in three countries.

Kayci Baldwin is an accomplished scholar and was selected as a 2006 Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholar. She has won several national essay contests and has consistently maintained high honor roll status. Kayci also teaches art classes to inner-city children, plays field hockey and is studying acoustic guitar.

Kayci is looking forward to leading other teens in advocating for a multiracial classification, expanding the Teen Project RACE Web site with interactive activities, and holding bone marrow donor drives for the multiracial community. Kayci says, "I believe strongly that I am part of both of my parents and I believe strongly in what Teen Project RACE is trying to achieve."