THE GOLDEN STATE READERS comprise of alumni from several Next Gen PEN America programs across California who are committed to defending the Freedom to Read and making diverse literature available to students who lack access, especially those impacted directly by book bans and educational censorship. Together, they have come together to create the 1000 Books Fund to raise books and monetary donations for schools and libraries in California and across. Founding members include:
The Beatrice Martin Foundation (including Anais and Mirabelle Lee and Abby Assefa)
The Mira Costa High School Banned Books Club (lead by Gianna Goodman-Bhyat)
Teens for Press Freedom (lead by Sofia Williams)
New Roads School PEN America Student Alumni (including Sam Cozolino, Alexandra Brookes, Siri Rosenblatt, and Grenley Little)
Bay Area PEN America Student Alumni (including Margo Weber and Leela Hensler)
1000 Books Fund
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The 1000 Books Fund is an initiative by the Golden State Readers to collect diverse books for distribution within California, as well as monetary donations to fund books for partner organizations to provide students impacted by book bans and educational censorship. By the end of the 2023 school year, students hope to collect and raise money for a total of over 1000 books to reach students in the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. The 1000 Books Fund consists of two efforts: The California Book Drive and A National Monetary Donations Box.
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The Golden State Readers will curate a list of books, authors, and subject matter sought to be donated. After collection, physical book distribution logistics will be coordinated prioritizing partners impacted by educational censorship in California, including partners in Temecula, Glendale, Huntington Beach, and elsewhere. Additional priority partners will include schools looking to build libraries on their campuses, or organizations looking to provide books to students with less access to literature in their communities.
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The Golden State Readers will also receive monetary donations to their 1000 Books Fund that will be distributed to partner organizations across the country for the purpose of purchasing and delivering book copies to students especially impacted by book bans and educational censorship. Priority areas to consider for book distribution may include PEN America chapter cities in Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Detroit, Salt Lake City, Birmingham, and other states majorly impacted by book bans including in Texas, Florida, Missouri, South Carolina, and Utah. Potential Partner Organizations for book distribution also include Diversify Our Narrative and/or the Florida Freedom to Read Project.
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You can donate to our 1000 Books Fund by this link here: https://donorbox.org/1000-books-fund
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During Banned Books Week 2023, the Golden State Readers planned a Caution Tape campaign to spread awareness to students in California and across the country about the book ban crisis sweeping the United States. Starting at several schools in California on Monday, October 2, students organized to wrap their backpacks in caution tape, and print informational cards to hand out to other students with vital book ban data from PEN America’s research, alongside several action items which included donating books or money to their 1000 Books Fund.
