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With the ongoing pandemic many children are not able to leave their homes/communities due to evening and weekend curfews and a stay at home order. Books for Diné Bikéyah is raising money to support Diné authors and children by buying Diné children’s books and sending them out to children for free through local COVID-19 Relief packages for families in Navajo Nation. These books will be a huge support to young Navajo children during these tough times by bringing light to their traditional stories of resilience.
Their goal is to raise $50k to send out as many books as possible to kids across the Navajo Nation for free. This support is important to both the authors and the children who may not receive these books otherwise.
To help them reach their goal and beyond, Salina Bookshelf has pledged to match each purchase of products made toward the $50k goal. Check out the Books for Diné Bikéyah GoFundMe campaign below and to help them reach their goal!
This fundraiser was started by two Indigenous educators and authors both dedicated to serving underrepresented populations, with a focus on children through everything from health to robotics. The fundraiser is also supported by Inclusive Story Time.
Joshuaa Allison-Burbank (Diné & Acoma Pueblo)
Little Moccasins Education Services
Joshuaa is a speech-language pathologist and early childhood researcher who works on the Navajo Nation. He is the founder of Little Moccasins Education Services (LMES) based in Waterflow, NM. Through LMES, Joshuaa provides culturally responsive early literacy instruction and consultation to tribal early childhood programs. His work focuses on culturally responsive teaching practices, parent coaching, and kindergarten readiness.
Danielle Boyer (Ojibwe)
The STEAM Connection
Danielle is a teen educator, author, inventor, and entrepreneur in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). She works to increase STEAM educational accessibility, affordability, and diversity through her nonprofit, The STEAM Connection, and her affordable robotics program Every Kid Gets a Robot. She is an award-winning speaker and volunteer who is currently studying both Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering in undergraduate school.
Inclusive Story Time
Inclusive Story Time is an organization dedicated to giving the spotlight to picture books with characters, authors, and illustrators who are Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, LGBTQ+, and Disabled.
Learn more about Inclusive Story Time on their website: https://inclusivestorytime.com/
Learn more about Books for Diné Bikéyah on their website:
https://www.steamconnection.org/booksfordinebikeyah
Donate to the fundraiser through their Go Fund me page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/booksfordinebikeyah