Sisters, Brothers, and Kin,
Yes, we are living in challenging times, but if we listen to young voices — in the labor movement, movements for racial and gender justice, movements for immigrant rights, creators of art — we can’t help but be inspired. At the East Side Freedom Library, we work to provide a platform for young people to share with the wider community the ways they see our world and how they — and all of us together — can shape it.
We encourage you to explore these recent expressions by young members of our community. In a blog on ESFL’s website, Max Yang, a new graduate of Central High School, wrote eloquently of his engagement with Cy Thao’s visual art. On our YouTube page, you can access videos of two presentations about poetry by young women of color — Anni Liu, author of BORDER VISTA POEMS, in conversation with Sophia Epony Kim and Sagira Shahid and Mai Neng Vang’s new book, DEJSIAB: FROM MY LIVER TO YOURS. Both of these are brilliant and insightful conversations. Please take a look!
We are inspired by the young people who are leading ESFL’s Housing Justice Program. We are sad to see Ben Werner leave us to begin graduate school in New York City, but he has built a solid foundation for this work, which he is leaving in the capable hands of Sidney Stuart and Ismail Khadar. With contributions from college interns, they have produced a beautiful and useful zine which details the resources available to our neighbors as they wrestle with housing issues. You can download a copy. You’ll just need to fold it yourself.
Speaking of interns, we are excited by the young people who are joining us this summer. They are bringing well-developed skills as well as a youthful perspective to our work. Linda Lor, an East Sider and Johnson High School grad, will focus on convening an Asian-American and African American solidarity youth group. Zhihao Liu, who hails from China, will develop video content with us. Hilary Kaufman, a New Yorker, will develop a podcast series with us. Additional interns will work with Bailey Ethier on our new East Side Unified Housing Justice Newsletter.
and will work with Sid and Ismail on educational programming about rights and resources in the housing arena. They will make a difference.
So, please, look at our upcoming programs in the second half of June, but place them in the context of ESFL’s commitment to listening to young voices.
Love and Solidarity,
Beth Cleary and Peter Rachleff
Co-Executive Directors