DIVERSIFY BOOKEXPO/BOOKCON
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DIVERSIFY BOOKEXPO/BOOKCON
This campaign is to assist with funding for minority bloggers, educators, librarians, and booksellers to attend BookExpo & BookCon in 2019. We hope to provide PoC, LGBTQ+, and disabled book lovers with the opportunity to connect with each other and with the publishing industry as a whole at next year’s BookExpo & BookCon.
Funds raised will go towards tickets, travel, and accommodation for interested parties who want to come to BookExpo to network, attend conference panels & educational opportunities, discover new books, and support authors they love. This will work like a scholarship program - anyone interested can apply for funding, and we’ll give as much as we can!
Are you a minority (PoC, LGBTQ+, disabled) blogger, educator, librarian, or bookseller interested in attending BookExpo/BookCon 2019? Click here!
WHAT IS BOOKEXPO/BOOKCON?
BookExpo is a national conference for the publishing industry that takes place in New York City every year. BookExpo is primarily a trade show, during which publishers reveal upcoming publications for the rest of the year, which includes author signings and ARC (advance reader copy) giveaways. There are also panels and educational sessions, networking opportunities, and more. BookExpo is geared towards those within the publishing industry with the intent of helping businesses grow and thrive. There are opportunities for booksellers, librarians, educators, book reviewers, and more to connect and learn something new.
BookCon is a two-day conference for readers and fans, in the same vein as Comic Con. It is marketed as an event where “storytelling and pop culture collide”. Readers can meet authors, buy books, and connect with each other.
Both BookExpo and BookCon are opportunities for book lovers to connect with their community and celebrate literature.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT DIVERSITY AT BOOKEXPO/BOOKCON?
BookExpo & BookCon are both places for book lovers to connect and be immersed in the publishing industry. However, there has been a consistent problem with representation at these events. While there has been an increase in the discussion around diversity and the support of marginalized voices within the publishing industry, these discussions need to be put into action. This includes supporting people of color, LGBTQ+, and disabled booksellers, bloggers/reviewers, educators, and librarians.
Part of BookExpo & BookCon includes access to upcoming publications. Booksellers, bloggers/reviewers, educators, and librarians are the people who put these books into the hands of readers that need to see themselves reflected in media the most. The importance of #ownvoices stories being read and reviewed by people within those communities is immense, and can serve to inspire a new generation of readers, writers, and book lovers.
We live in a world where privileged (white, able-bodied, cishet) voices remain the loudest - this is perpetuated by all forms of media, including literature. Upholding this status quo can make people who don’t fall into those categories feel undervalued and invisible. If we value art and culture, we must support all voices no matter what their income level, gender, sexuality, race, or religious affiliation. We must to everything we can to provide people with opportunities to engage and feel seen.
HOW WILL THIS WORK?
Like a scholarship program. Bloggers/reviewers, booksellers, librarians, and educators who self-identify as a minority can fill out a quick google form to apply for funding to attend BookExpo, BookCon, or both. Funding will go towards tickets, travel, and accommodation for the conference in 2019, and will be given to as many applicants as possible.
There is a full year until the next BookExpo/BookCon so this campaign will be open for as long as possible, with an attempt to raise as much as possible to help people of color, LGBTQ+, and disbled book lovers attend and have access to books and educational opportunities.
If you’re interested in attending next year, please apply here!
ABOUT ME
My name is Christina, I’m a queer nonbinary latinx from NYC/NJ. I work with CLMP (a nonprofit that supports small presses & literary magazines) as communications/marketing manager. I also am a BookRiot contributor, 1/3 of the planning committee for the BookExpo Latinx Fiesta, and the former owner of Muse Monthly, a subscription box for diverse books and tea.
I am passionate about supporting marginalized voices across the publishing industry, and will continue to support diversity in everything I do.
Thank you for your donations, and thank you for supporting diversity in the publishing industry!
This campaign is to assist with funding for minority bloggers, educators, librarians, and booksellers to attend BookExpo & BookCon in 2019. We hope to provide PoC, LGBTQ+, and disabled book lovers with the opportunity to connect with each other and with the publishing industry as a whole at next year’s BookExpo & BookCon.
Funds raised will go towards tickets, travel, and accommodation for interested parties who want to come to BookExpo to network, attend conference panels & educational opportunities, discover new books, and support authors they love. This will work like a scholarship program - anyone interested can apply for funding, and we’ll give as much as we can!
Are you a minority (PoC, LGBTQ+, disabled) blogger, educator, librarian, or bookseller interested in attending BookExpo/BookCon 2019? Click here!
WHAT IS BOOKEXPO/BOOKCON?
BookExpo is a national conference for the publishing industry that takes place in New York City every year. BookExpo is primarily a trade show, during which publishers reveal upcoming publications for the rest of the year, which includes author signings and ARC (advance reader copy) giveaways. There are also panels and educational sessions, networking opportunities, and more. BookExpo is geared towards those within the publishing industry with the intent of helping businesses grow and thrive. There are opportunities for booksellers, librarians, educators, book reviewers, and more to connect and learn something new.
BookCon is a two-day conference for readers and fans, in the same vein as Comic Con. It is marketed as an event where “storytelling and pop culture collide”. Readers can meet authors, buy books, and connect with each other.
Both BookExpo and BookCon are opportunities for book lovers to connect with their community and celebrate literature.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT DIVERSITY AT BOOKEXPO/BOOKCON?
BookExpo & BookCon are both places for book lovers to connect and be immersed in the publishing industry. However, there has been a consistent problem with representation at these events. While there has been an increase in the discussion around diversity and the support of marginalized voices within the publishing industry, these discussions need to be put into action. This includes supporting people of color, LGBTQ+, and disabled booksellers, bloggers/reviewers, educators, and librarians.
Part of BookExpo & BookCon includes access to upcoming publications. Booksellers, bloggers/reviewers, educators, and librarians are the people who put these books into the hands of readers that need to see themselves reflected in media the most. The importance of #ownvoices stories being read and reviewed by people within those communities is immense, and can serve to inspire a new generation of readers, writers, and book lovers.
We live in a world where privileged (white, able-bodied, cishet) voices remain the loudest - this is perpetuated by all forms of media, including literature. Upholding this status quo can make people who don’t fall into those categories feel undervalued and invisible. If we value art and culture, we must support all voices no matter what their income level, gender, sexuality, race, or religious affiliation. We must to everything we can to provide people with opportunities to engage and feel seen.
HOW WILL THIS WORK?
Like a scholarship program. Bloggers/reviewers, booksellers, librarians, and educators who self-identify as a minority can fill out a quick google form to apply for funding to attend BookExpo, BookCon, or both. Funding will go towards tickets, travel, and accommodation for the conference in 2019, and will be given to as many applicants as possible.
There is a full year until the next BookExpo/BookCon so this campaign will be open for as long as possible, with an attempt to raise as much as possible to help people of color, LGBTQ+, and disbled book lovers attend and have access to books and educational opportunities.
If you’re interested in attending next year, please apply here!
ABOUT ME
My name is Christina, I’m a queer nonbinary latinx from NYC/NJ. I work with CLMP (a nonprofit that supports small presses & literary magazines) as communications/marketing manager. I also am a BookRiot contributor, 1/3 of the planning committee for the BookExpo Latinx Fiesta, and the former owner of Muse Monthly, a subscription box for diverse books and tea.
I am passionate about supporting marginalized voices across the publishing industry, and will continue to support diversity in everything I do.
Thank you for your donations, and thank you for supporting diversity in the publishing industry!
Organizer
Christina Orlando
Organizer
Hightstown, NJ
