Five Texas teenagers have been selected to join the inaugural Leadership Circle of Save the Books Social, a statewide youth network dedicated to defending the freedom to read. This dynamic group of young leaders, representing diverse communities across Texas, has taken up the challenge to stand against the rising tide of book bans and censorship.
Meet the trailblazers:
- Oyin Akintola, Houston
- Simran Amin, Round Rock
- Marygrace Beinke, Austin
- Hudson Locke, San Antonio
- Annika Singh, Austin
Each of these teens has been awarded a $1,000 stipend from The Library Foundation to support their work during a five-month term. Throughout this period, they will be at the forefront of organizing and leading monthly virtual meet-ups, where teens from across the state can collaborate and share their voices.
These young leaders don’t just meet up — they make things happen. The Leadership Circle is spearheading several ambitious projects, including the creation of a Save the Books Social website, the launch of a podcast, an op-ed writing contest, and a zine project that will showcase the creativity and perspectives of teens committed to protecting the right to read.
Already, Akintola and Locke have begun developing the Save the Books Podcast, a platform they hope will cut through the “political noise” and provide listeners with the information and resources they need to make informed decisions.
“The largest barrier to sweeping change in our world is a lack of access to information,” says Locke. “It’s a difficult task to keep up with the constant political noise, and it’s our goal with the Save the Books Podcast to assist in bridging that gap. If we give people the resources and information they need, change will come naturally.”
Akintola adds, “Whether it’s teachers, students, or librarians, many people are contributing to counter the spread of book bans. The podcast serves to educate on how and why they do what they do.” Kathleen Houlihan, a Teen Librarian at Austin Public Library and the program’s guiding force, has been inspired by the dedication and creativity of these teens.
“Since its launch, Save the Books Social has seen participation from teens all over Texas, including Katy, Conroe, Dallas, and San Antonio,” Houlihan shares. “It’s been incredible to work with suchprotecting the right to read — for themselves, and other teens across Texas.”
Save the Books Social is facilitated by the Austin Public Library with the support of The Library Foundation, the Children’s Defense Fund, BookPeople, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas and other organizations who care about keeping books unbanned.
