![]()
After 15+ years, I have stepped down from my role as USBBY Executive Director.
As of January this year, Junko Yokota, long time leader in USBBY and IBBY, has assumed the position. Junko has asked me to stay on in two important roles: As USBBY liaison to our twinning partners, El Salvador, Haiti, Lebanon and Palestine, and to lead fundraising for Children in Crisis Projects. Both of these are "very near and dear to my heart." As you may know, USBBY has been paying the national section dues of our twinning partners. Without our help, they would not be able to continue as national sections in IBBY. You, our members and friends, have been very generous in your donations and these donations continue to be needed and are much appreciated. Beginning this year, I have asked our twinning partners to send reports and photos of their very important work with children in their countries. Sent three times a year, they will be shared with you on the USBBY website so that you can see the important work they are doing. If you go to the USBBY website donations link, you can always find the donation opportunities for our supported Children in Crisis Projects. As the new director of fundraising for these projects, I will be identifying the most critical needs and these regular updates will also be on our website. Given that, my first plea for very urgent needed donations is for the Refugee Children on the U.S. Southern Border in cooperation with ALA's REFORMA. Fleeing violence and extreme poverty in their home countries, large numbers of Central American children and families are seeking asylum at our southern border, including thousands of unaccompanied children. It is estimated there are currently 152,000 unaccompanied minors at our near the U.S.-Mexican border. I have always been in awe of your generosity, our USBBY members and friends. Much has already been donated to this cause, but the need continues to be great. You may wonder what these funds are used for? Your generous donations pay for children's books in Spanish and English, the shipping costs of donated books, backpacks with paper, pencils, crayons, as well as motivational activities, and the printing of library cards that children can use to check out library books in U,S. Public Libraries. For more information about this important work and how your donations are used, please watch the YouTube presentation provided by one of the local sheroes, Dr. Melba Salazar-Lucio, Team Brownsville Escuelita de la Banqueta. Last, dear friends, I look forward to keeping you up to date on a regular basis about USBBY's important work with children! And thank you for all you do! Ellis |
The United States Board on Books for Young People
The U.S. National Section of International Board on Books for Young People
Building Bridges Through Children's and Young Adult Books |
Contact Us
USBBY Secretariat
Center for Teaching through Children´s Books National Louis University 1000 Capitol Drive Wheeling, IL 60090 USA Junko Yokota, Executive Director [email protected] |
Connect With Us
© COPYRIGHT 2024.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. |