Giving Tuesday! SCBWI Impact & Legacy Fund, Awards & Grants, etc.

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate. 

To close out our month of activism, community action, and celebration, I want to invite you to check out some of SCBWI's charitable programs, awards, and grants as well as our book ban champions. In the spirit of gratitude, and with Giving Tuesday around the corner, please consider donating to help the KidLit community survive and thrive.

Impact and Legacy Fund

The SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund, launched in 2022, is a division of SCBWI created to support the charitable activities and community purposes of SCBWI. Its programs and initiatives are not limited to SCBWI members but are available to the entire children’s book community.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Impact and Legacy Fund is committed to creating, implementing, and supporting programs that center children’s books and their creators as a driving force behind equity, literacy, and freedom of expression for readers and storytellers alike.

Amber Brown Grant

The Amber Brown Grant commemorates author and beloved school speaker Paula Danziger. One school is awarded each year with an author or illustrator visit and new books to continue Paula’s love of connecting children with creative influences.

Disability Fund Application

The SCBWI Disability Fund gives grants to disabled members for anything that would help them create children’s literature. For nonmembers with disabilities, the funds may support memberships and/or registration to events.

Emergency Fund

The SCBWI Emergency Fund provides a grant of up to $1,500 to a member for anything that would help them create children’s literature. For nonmembers with disabilities, the funds may support memberships and/or registration to events.

Banned Book Resources

Here are some resources to continue the fight beyond Banned Book Week!

• Banned and Challenged Books Bookshop 
• A expansive list of banned books that you can purchase to help support creators

• SCBWI Banned Book Video Playlists
• Check out SCBWI's Banned Book Playlist, full of panel discussions with industry professional, censorship activists and more!

• Consider joining organizations that are on the front line of the fight!
• Unite Against Book Bans
• Pen America
• Authors Against Book Bans
• National Coalition Against Censorship

Anti-Censorship PSAs with Student Advocates for Speech

Paying attention to and fighting book banning isn't just something to do during Banned Books Week -- this is an ongoing effort for young readers to have access to books that can be life-saving and life-changing.

Watch the video where teens tell us in their own words how important some of these challenged books have been for them

From the press release:

In the face of escalating challenges to our freedom to read, student voices are both crucial and often unheard. That’s why the SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund (SCBWI ILF) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) have joined forces to create this powerful new resource in our shared fight against book banning.

Facing this challenge to our intellectual freedom has never been more important. So we couldn’t be more excited to present this 11-minute PSA featuring thoughtful, well-informed testimonials from high school students across the country. These students share how banned books like The Color Purple, Maus, This Book is Gay, All Boys Aren’t Blue, and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret have impacted their lives—and inspired them to use their voices to fight for the freedom to read. Their stories underscore why the right to read diverse literature is vital for a thriving democratic society.

This video is more than just a collection of testimonials—it's a tool for you to use in conversations, promotions, and educational settings to highlight the profound impact of banned books. SCBWI hopes you use it to champion the intellectual rights of young readers in your own communities.

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

Teen Freedom-to-Read Advocates Talk with Lesléa Newman, Ellen Hopkins, and Mike Curato: "Are You Free to Read What You Want?"

Watch this 90 minute discussion, hosted by both SCBWI's Impact and Legacy Fund and the National Coalition Against Censorship.

Clockwise from top left: Lesléa Newman, Ellen Hopkins, Mike Curato, and Lin Oliver

Here's the official synopsis of the discussion:

Books play an essential role in how young people develop their identities and core values. Yet tensions around book-banning and censorship in public schools and libraries have limited their right to read what they want and need, without having to face down school boards, aggressive lobbying groups, and adults who want to control their right to information. Recorded on Wednesday November 30th the SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund partnered with the National Coalition Against Censorship to host a critical and timely discussion: Are You Free to Read What You Want?

 Hear directly from the people most affected by attacks on intellectual freedom—high school student advocates for free speech and banned authors—as they discuss the impact of book banning on education and freedom of speech. Our renowned author panelists include Lesléa Newman, Mike Curato, and Ellen Hopkins, in conversation with high school student leaders representing the youth movement.

 It’s a frank and essential conversation. Tune in to hear the personal stories of three prominent banned authors and to participate in their interaction with outstanding student leaders.

Publishers Weekly covered the panel here, and you can watch the full recording here.

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

Explore the SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund

 

Have you heard about the SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund? Launched in 2022, it is a division of SCBWI created to support charitable activities and community purposes. Its programs and initiatives are not limited to SCBWI members but are available to the entire children’s book community!

Its mission: to provide and administer specific endowments, grants, awards, and programs that enhance the effectiveness and reach of the children’s book community. Pretty cool, huh?

The have four programs up and running:

The Russell Freedman Award

National Coalition Against Censorship

Stephen Fraser Encouragement Fund

Tomie dePaola Professional Development Award

Future programs will include the establishment of a grant to support endangered animals and species and the creation of a program to advance global publishing and works in translation

Their projects aim to highlight the important role of children’s books and their creators (that's us!), support quality children’s literature for all communities and audiences (awesome!), and provide education, financial support, and public information for children’s book creators, their programs, and good works.

Check out the full information page, with details on the four projects above, at the SCBWI website here.

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee