Sarah Kamya Explained

Sarah Kamya
Nationality:American
Occupation:School counselor
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Sarah Kamya is an African-American school counselor in New York City who started the Little Free Diverse Library project.[1] [2]

Early life and education

Kamya was raised in "largely white and affluent" Arlington, Massachusetts, "without often being exposed to books with characters who looked like her", according to School Library Journal.[3] She graduated from Arlington High School in 2013. She received degrees from Syracuse University (2017)[4] and New York University.[5] [6]

Little Free Diverse Library

Kamya launched the Little Free Diverse Library initiative, which seeks to add books written by Black authors or featuring Black characters to Little Free Libraries throughout New York City. She started the project in Massachusetts in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and following the murder of George Floyd.[7] After she moved to Manhattan, she added books to the Little Free Library at Freeman Plaza West in July 2020; by September, she had raised $16,000 for the initiative and purchased approximately 1,500 books from Black-owned bookstores. The Little Free Diverse Library project became active in all fifty U.S. states.[8] Kamya has raised thousands of dollars for the project, including $5,000 from Live with Kelly and Ryan, when she was featured as a "helping hero" on the program.[9] NY1 named Kamya a "New Yorker of the Week" in 2020 for her efforts. She also received the Little Free Library's Todd H. Bol Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2021.[10]

Personal life

Originally from Arlington,[11] Kamya lives in Hudson Square, as of 2020.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Yorker of the Week: Sarah Kamya . 2024-01-24 . ny1.com . en . 2022-08-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220807172751/https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/09/07/new-yorker-of-the-week--sarah-kamya- . live .
  2. Web site: Vaughn . Alyssa . 2020-06-30 . How Arlington's Sarah Kamya Is Diversifying Little Free Libraries Across the Country . 2024-01-24 . Boston Magazine . en-US . 2022-12-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221211063156/https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2020/06/30/sarah-kamya-little-free-diverse-libraries/ . live .
  3. Web site: Himmelstein . Drew . NYC School Counselor Launches Little Free Diverse Libraries During Pandemic . 2024-01-24 . School Library Journal.
  4. Web site: 2020-07-16 . Alumna Elevates Black Authors and Illustrators One Little Library at a Time - Syracuse.edu . 2024-01-24 . www.syracuse.edu . en . 2022-12-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221201235548/https://www.syracuse.edu/stories/black-authors-little-libraries/ . live .
  5. Web site: Hass . Trevor . Arlington's Sarah Kamya spearheads Little Free Diverse Library Project to amplify Black voices through books . 2024-01-24 . www.boston.com . en-US . 2023-10-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002181312/https://www.boston.com/culture/local-news/2020/06/13/little-free-diverse-library-project-amplify-black-voices-through-books/ . live .
  6. Web site: Sarah Kamya CNGU Alumni NYU Steinhardt . 2024-01-24 . steinhardt.nyu.edu . en.
  7. Web site: Oliver . David . 'Decolonize your bookshelf': Little libraries, book boxes promote conversation about race in America . 2024-01-24 . Taunton Daily Gazette . en-US . 2022-05-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220523082714/https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/lifestyle/2020/08/29/decolonize-your-bookshelf-little-libraries-book-boxes-promote-conversation-about-race-in-america/42900111/ . live .
  8. Web site: 2021-02-17 . Unifying America: Arlington Native's Diverse Library Project Reaches All 50 States - CBS Boston . 2024-01-24 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US . 2022-07-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220701042625/https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/unifying-america-arlington-natives-diverse-library-project-reaches-all-50-states/ . live .
  9. Web site: Kirch . Claire . Booklover Diversifies Little Free Libraries with BIPOC Books . 2024-01-24 . PublishersWeekly.com . en . 2023-03-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322161047/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/83792-booklover-diversifies-little-free-libraries-with-bipoc-books.html . live .
  10. Web site: Aldrich . Margret . 2021-05-19 . Resident's diverse free library draws award . 2024-01-24 . www.yourarlington.com . en-gb . 2023-10-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231009020045/https://yourarlington.com/arlington-archives/residents/people/current/18855-kamya-051921.html . live .
  11. Web site: Meet the founder of Little Free Diverse Libraries . 2024-01-24 . TODAY.com . en . 2021-11-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211128125401/https://www.today.com/video/meet-the-founder-of-little-free-diverse-libraries-90260037563 . live .

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