FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
We Need Diverse Books Announces 2023 WNDB Internship Grant Winners
June 13, 2023
Bethesda, MD — We Need Diverse Books is pleased to announce the 24 recipients of the 2023 WNDB Internship Grant, a $3,000 grant to support diverse interns during their summer internship with a program-partnered publishing house or literary agency. This is the third year the Internship Grant Program will cover awards for interns working in either children’s book publishing or adult publishing.
Children’s 2023 Internship Grant Recipients
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Olivia Blackmer Candlewick Press |
Sophia Malak Andrea Brown Literary Agency |
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Emilio Cabral Simon and Schuster |
Viviana Morales Penguin Random House |
| Tamara Grace Davis Barefoot Books |
Jennifer Pineda Bloomsbury Publishing |
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Nathanie Doralus Simon and Schuster |
Stephanie Ulloa Sahagun Hachette Book Group |
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Jenna German Barefoot Books |
Stacey Watson Lee & Low Books |
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Elizabeth Li Chronicle Books |
Valeyn Watson Barefoot Books |
| “The Internship Grant Program is one of WNDB’s flagship initiatives and an incredibly vital pillar of our nonprofit’s efforts to diversify the publishing industry and make our bookshelves more equitable. We are honored to welcome the 2023 grantees into our community and to provide them with stepping stones at the beginning of their publishing career path. That being said, we cannot support this program without the coordination and effort of all our publishing partners. Thank you so much to all of those who have interfaced with the program over the past eight years, who have hired diversely, and who remain supportive of their interns and WNDB.” — Caroline Richmond, Executive Director, We Need Diverse Books |
Adult 2023 Internship Grant Recipients
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Lauren Abesames BookEnds Literary Agency |
Julianna Kim Macmillan |
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Ilse Alva Hachette Book Group |
Stella Kim Chronicle Books |
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Gaang Choi Hachette Book Group |
Zoe Lafontant InkWell Management Literary Agency |
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Janay Draughn Simon & Schuster |
Aaditya Rakheja Hachette Book Group |
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Sofia Echeverry Simon and Schuster |
Cindy Tran Simon & Schuster |
|
Katherine Holt Macmillan |
Yating Wang Simon & Schuster |
| “I am beyond proud of all of our former 108 grantees and am ecstatic to hear when they send me updates of major career milestones as they continue to grow on a myriad of levels. That’s why I can’t wait for this 2023 cohort — each year, this program continues to meet and support incredibly talented young folks interested in pursuing their dreams in publishing. I appreciate their grit, excitement, and passion to change this industry. It’s truly a remarkable experience to behold, and I am so privileged to see them shine brighter every year.” — Chelsea Villareal, Senior Program Manager, We Need Diverse Books |
This year, WNDB will again connect grantees from all over the country via a virtual Internship Grant Boot Camp. This two-day event will provide the grantees with tools to confront and disrupt conditions in the publishing industry that have led to a lack of representation for LGBTQIA+ people, Native peoples, people of color, people with disabilities, and underrepresented ethnic, cultural, and religious groups. Our virtual programming will include key stakeholders from both children’s and adult publishing.
In addition to the Boot Camp, the Internship Grant Program will again host virtual events where the grantees can discuss topics such as professional development and industry retention with professionals who are active in the publishing field. Grant recipients will also be able to connect with editors, literary agents, creators, and librarians through intimate, focused conversations.
In conjunction with this programming, the grantees will be provided with continued support once their internships have been completed. They will have access to WNDB’s extensive resources and will have the opportunity to join a powerful network of Internship Grant alumnx.
The program’s first eight years have been very successful, with over 100 grants awarded. Of the 89 grantees who have graduated, 77 are now employed in the publishing industry, with many of our grantees now becoming leaders within the industry.
Special thank you to all our participating publishing partners for 2023: Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Astra Publishing House, Barefoot Books, Beacon Press, Bloomsbury Publishing, BookEnds Literary Agency, Candlewick Press, Charlesbridge, Chronicle Books, Fabled Films Press, Hachette Book Group, InkWell Management Literary Agency, Lee & Low Books, Lerner Publishing, Macmillan, North Star Editions, Simon & Schuster, and Teacher Created Materials Publishing.
Many thanks to the New York Community Trust/LJTJ Fund, Federal Farm Credit Banks and Tracey McCabe, Celeste Ng, and Laurie Abkemeier for their generous contributions to support the adult and children’s internship grants for the 2023 season.
Program Contact
Chelsea Villareal
Senior Program Manager
chelseavillareal@diversebooks.org
We Need Diverse Books is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that runs twelve exciting initiatives united under one goal—to create a world where everyone can find themselves in the pages of a book. Established in 2014, WNDB strives to support and amplify diverse literature by mentoring marginalized creators, providing resources to diverse publishing professionals, and donating diverse books to schools and libraries nationwide. Learn more at diversebooks.org.
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Press Contact: elissapetruzzi@diversebooks.org
