National Book Foundation, InsideOut Literaray Arts Project Partner on BookUp

The National Book Foundation (NBF), presenter of the National Book Awards, is expanding BookUp, it’s after-school reading program, to Detroit, MI in partnership with locally-based InsideOut Literary Arts Project (iO). 

BookUp works in underserved communities throughout New York City to put books into the hands of middle school students and inspire them to become lifelong readers, while InsideOut helps strengthen the voices of more than 50,000 of Detroit’s youth through writing workshops and mentorships. Detroit is the NBF’s first partner city, and the BookUp iO Detroit site represents the first step in an ongoing expansion effort. 

Each BookUp site is led by acclaimed local writers, helping to bring new depth and excitement to reading lists and books selected by students. To date, BookUp has given away over 25,000 books to its students, often establishing their first home library. Shawntai Brown, a playwright, poet, and iO writer-in-residence living in Detroit, will be BookUp iO Detroit’s instructor, meeting weekly with a group of approximately 20 students at the Garvey Academy.

The launch of the BookUp iO Detroit site will be celebrated with a book giveaway at 11 a.m. on October 19 at Garvey Academy.