“Freedom Through Literacy”
Est. 2010 in memory of Judith F. Krug
Grand Prize Award – $2,500 Fayola Fair – “Reading for Black Lives Project”JAMAICA, QUEENS, NEW YORK “Literacy is an essential aspect of social change and liberation.” So declares 24-year-old Fayola Fair, educator, community organizer, and our 2022 Freedom Through Literacy Grand Prize Winner. Fair’s “Reading for Black Lives Project” aims to promote this belief by…
“Judith’s Award” awarded to the champion of literacy teacher, librarian or author Judith’s Award – $1,500 Dominique Zara – “Ready for Life”RESITA, ROMANIA If you meet librarian Dominique Zara, winner of our 2022 Judith’s Award, you will marvel at her humility and enthusiasm. Committed to supporting the more vulnerable members of her community, she is…
Board Option Award – $200 Dr. Lisette Caesar – “Book Vending Machine” EAST HARLEM, NEW YORK A Judith’s Reading Room Honorable Mention awardee in 2021, Lisette Caesar is recognized with a Board Option Award for her unrelenting optimism and passion to build a reading culture during her tenure as principal at Mosaic Prep Academy. Her…
Board Option Award – $200 Lisa Tedeschi Vergara – “Literacy Through Art of the Book” NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS Walk into a place that Lisa Tedeschi Vergara’s work has touched, and you’ll understand why we have given her a Board Option Award. Her beautifully crafted decoupage book-themed chairs, commissioned for public spaces, give children the chance to…
Board Option Award – $200 Jennifer Williams – “Second Chance Book Club” DANVILLE, VIRGINIA Back in 2019, Jennifer Williams founded the Second Chance Book Club with the goal of spreading the love of reading and getting books into the hands of people in need; in this case, incarcerated women at the Danville City Jail. Since…
Board Option Award – $200 Pamela Laskin – “Poetry at the Border” NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK Pamela Laskin, a lecturer at City College, established “Poetry at the Border” to encourage children whose families are seeking asylum to write poetry about their experiences. Poetry enables children to understand trauma following horrible events like hurricanes (Puerto…
Board Option Award – $200 Lisa Gerard – “Little Read Wagon” NORMAN, OKLAHOMA No matter where you look in Norman, Oklahoma, you’re likely to find Lisa Gerard and her Little Read Wagon. Gerard has offered free books at community free events, establishes “libraries” in laundromats and hides books in 65 public parks. For her efforts,…
Finally, Honorable Mention Awards (no cash award) are given to those applicants who the judges want to acknowledge and think deserve encouragement. The idea behind the Honorable Mention Awards is to propel the applicants to continue their literacy efforts and to apply for future Freedom Through Literacy Awards. Toti Jean Marc Yale – “Reading First”…