Diverse books for a diverse world, with Nicole Johnson of We Need Diverse Books

Diversity in book publishing begins with young readers finding books that speak to who they are and a diverse population of young professionals finding jobs in every aspect of the industry. Nicole Johnson, executive director of We Need Diverse Books, talks about programs and philosophies that are changing, literally, the face of book publishing in America today.

Topics Covered

• How We Need Diverse Books got its start
• Where does the real work in achieving a diverse industry have to be done?
• Advocating for diversity in publishing is nothing new
• The WNDB internship program
• What small indie publishers can do
• Resources for small presses and authors
• Creating stories that reflect a diversity of readers
• The importance of diversity in children’s books
o In education
o Leading the way in multiculturalism
o Creating a market for YA and adult books as they get older
• Getting representation right

Links

We Need Diverse Books media links
www.diversebooks.org
http://www.twitter.com/diversebooks
https://www.facebook.com/diversebooks
https://www.instagram.com/weneeddiversebooks

Resources for Writers
https://diversebooks.org/resources/resources-for-writers/

Participants

Nicole A. Johnson has over twenty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, program development, and resource development. Prior to joining WNDB, she launched Extraordinary Changes, an organizational development consulting firm, and she also served as Senior Director for Elev8 Baltimore, a full-service community schools initiative. In that role, she successfully planned a strategy to integrate learning, health, and family support services into the operations of four schools in East Baltimore. Over a seven-year period, she transitioned the initiative from start-up to sustainability, drawing upon her skills as a facilitator, strategic planner, grant writer, and youth worker.

Nicole has also worked as a director of after-school and summer programs across the country, including the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School. These programs became a platform for her to promote diverse books and literacy to children of color in cities like Oakland, San Francisco, and Baltimore. She is also the founder of Baltimore Read Aloud, a local campaign to introduce diverse books to Baltimore City children and youth.

Peter Goodman (host) is publisher of Stone Bridge Press (www.stonebridge.com) in Berkeley, California. He began his publishing career in Tokyo, Japan, in 1976. A longtime member of IBPA, he has served on the IBPA board and as IBPA board chair.

For more information, go to IBPA at https://www.ibpa-online.org/.