LATINX KIDLIT BOOK FESTIVAL INC
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival, Inc is to foster a love of story and literacy as well as increase empathy and conversation among educators, students, and book lovers while uplifting the voices of Latinx kidlit book creators.
About This Cause
The Latinx KidLit Book Festival was created in 2020 during the COVID pandemic by members of Las Musas Books. Our aim was to connect Latinx authors and illustrators with readers and educators in classrooms around the globe. Since then, and with the help of countless volunteers, the festival has continued to foster a love of story and literacy as well as increase empathy and conversation among educators, students, and book lovers while uplifting the voices of Latinx kidlit book creators. The Latinx Kidlit Book Festival is a FREE virtual celebration of Latinx KidLit authors, illustrators, and books for all students, educators and book lovers around the globe. The Festival offers a combination of educational materials and virtual literary content in the form of interactive panels, craft sessions and illustrator draw-offs with best-selling and award-winning Latinx authors and illustrators of picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, comic books and poetry. The sessions are geared toward all schools, educators, students and book lovers, not just those identifying as Latinx. Everyone is welcome! The Latinx Kidlit Book Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 2024 Annual Report: Our festival celebrated its fourth year in 2023! It’s been a year of wonderful growth, thanks to the continued support from educators, book creators, sponsors, community partners, donors, leadership team and volunteers. In 2023, the festival received the GuideStar and Candid Platinum seal of transparency. Here is a roundup of our 2023 accomplishments: Extended Educator Outreach This year we brought the festival to TLA in Austin, ALA’s Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, the Utah Council of Teachers of English Conference, the Arizona English Teachers Association Conference, and the NCTE Annual Convention in Columbus, OH. We met with thousands of teachers, librarians and advocates for children, sharing our mission and inviting them to bring our unique programing and educational content into their spaces. Improved Latinx Book, Authors and Illustrators Database Our Education Team worked tirelessly to launch our new and improved Latinx Kidlit Book Database on Airtable. This free database allows users to sort books by age category, genre, theme, representation featured, and more—making it easier for teachers, librarians, and book lovers to find books by Latinx creators. We also launched a school visit database for schools and libraries that wish to host and pay for a Latinx author or illustrator visit. These resources live on the festival’s website. School Visits Fund Our School Visit Fund is back in partnership with Penguin Random House. This special fund, grants schools the opportunity to bring Latinx authors and illustrators into their classroom or library. Educator Advisory Council In 2023 we welcomed our Educator Advisory Council, a volunteer group working with the festival’s Executive Team and Board of Directors to advise and guide on topics centering education and curriculum. Writer Conference and Incubator Program Planning has begun for an in-person, writer conference to increase access between historically marginalized Latinx book creators and industry professionals. Details will be announced in 2024. Future Plans In 2024, our plans for sustainable growth and expanded reach include: - increase the festival’s funding through donations, fundraising and grants - increase funding for our school visits program continue to build and diversify our board of directors - pay festival honorariums to participating Latinx authors and illustrators to recognize the value of their shared skills, time, and knowledge - increase our outreach activities to connect with more teachers and librarians and promote Latinx book creators in schools and libraries everywhere! As we close 2023, we are grateful for the dedication and support of our team and volunteers who have worked long hours to build an organization that celebrates Latinx voices and inspires kids of all backgrounds through the power of story. We are equally grateful for the contributions of our sponsors, community partners and donors, who have invested their resources to amplify Latinx creators.