Dear APALA pamilya,
While the last few weeks have been particularly challenging for many of us, I want to take a moment to reflect on the variety of accomplishments our organization has achieved over the past few months. Together, we ensure that we promote the visibility and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander library staff and advance the interests of our communities.
In July, our Family Literacy Focus Committee released the Talk Story Prompt Cards, which aim to help people share stories and share cultures around Talk Story values. Talk Story encourages people to hold meaningful conversations about their culture, family history, and more.
We also awarded two grants to APALA members to attend the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM) conference in Palm Springs this November. Many congratulations to Leah Choi and Leialani Wihongi-Santos!
In August, APALA hosted a well-attended webinar with Pacific Islanders in Publishing titled “Supporting Pacific Island Book Creators: A Conversation w/ Pacific Islanders in Publishing.” The program highlighted current and upcoming Pacific Islander titles as well as taught us how to better support Pacific Islander creators.
And just last month, we kicked off this year’s APALA mentoring program slate with an online orientation that brought together many of our volunteer mentors and protégés.
We also published our first book review of Roaming, written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki.
And I would be remiss not to mention our statement reaffirming the values of our organization: APALA’s Commitment to Justice, Freedom and Resilience. The road ahead seems dark, but may we continue to create our own light.
Giving Tuesday is also on the horizon. Please share our link widely to support AANHPI voices in libraries! apala.wildapricot.org/donate
While this is a small sampling, APALA is committed to providing opportunities that empower our members and enhance their skills.
As we look forward to the winter months, I encourage you all to continue to share your stories and successes. Your voices are vital to our mission, and together, we can ensure that APALA remains a beacon of support and advocacy for AANHPI communities.
Maraming salamat for your hard work and dedication!
Jaena Rae Cabrera
APALA President