The University at Buffalo Libraries and Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) have been selected to take part in the Great Stories Club, a reading and discussion program for underserved teens. This competitive grant, offered by the American Library Association (ALA) with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), is designed to engage young adults with accessible, thought-provoking literature.
As part of the Great Stories Club, UB Student Support and Engagement Librarian Mary Kamela and staff from EOP will work with a small group of teens to read and discuss stories that explore questions of race, equity, identity and history. UB Libraries and EOP are among 58 libraries nationwide selected to facilitate and run this grant-funded program during the 2023-2024 academic year.
The books — curated for the theme “Finding Your Voice: Speaking Truth to Power” — will include “The Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo; “I Am Alfonso Jones” by Tony Medina; “Piecing Me Together” by Renée Watson; and “Anger Is a Gift” by Mark Oshiro. The titles were selected to inspire young people — especially those facing difficult circumstances or challenges — to consider “big questions” about the world around them and their place in it.
The University at Buffalo Libraries and EOP will receive a $500 programming stipend and 11 copies of each of the selected books, which will be gifted to the book club participants. Online training and an array of program resources and support throughout the grant term will also be provided by ALA.
For more information please contact Mary Kamela at 716-645-8587 or mkamela@buffalo.edu
To learn more about the Great Stories Club, please visit ala.org/greatstories