Public Talks Scheduled for Yonkers Students and Nationwide Audience
YONKERS, Wednesday, May 27 - On Wednesday, June 10, award-winning author Julia Alvarez, whose work includes the highly acclaimed novel In the Time of Butterflies, will speak to Yonkers Public School students and library lovers at two distinct events presented by The Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library. The events come as Alvarez launches two new works, Afterlife: A Novel, and Already a Butterfly: A Meditation Story, an illustrated book for younger readers.
The events spotlights the Foundation’s effort to bring world-renowned literary talents to the Yonkers Public Library, while also supporting the Yonkers School District. “Although the pandemic may have changed the logistics of our events, we are delighted to welcome Ms. Alvarez to Yonkers to virtually speak with our students during the day and open it up to a national audience for our Book Party that evening,” said Nancy Maron, President of the Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library.
Working closely with Yonkers Public School’s administration, the Foundation is set to host a live presentation by Ms. Alvarez to thousands of students in the district. Dr. Edwin M. Quezada, Superintendent of Schools noted, “This is an outstanding opportunity for our students to meet, albeit virtually, an award-winning author who is a woman of color and to be able to ask Ms. Alvarez questions. Over the past ten weeks, teaching and learning for Yonkers students, parents and teachers moved from the classroom into student’s homes. This e-learning experience aptly complements the work our learning community is accomplishing every day. Thank you to the Foundation for continuing these live author experiences for Yonkers’ children.”
The public evening event, Book Party: A Virtual Fundraiser with Julia Alvarez, will take place from 7:00 – 8:00pm and will be available to a nationwide audience. It will include a talk and reading by Alvarez with time for questions from registered participants. Tickets to the Book Party are free, but registration is required; autographed copies of Afterlife: A Novel and Already a Butterfly: A Meditation Story are available with a $50 or $30 donation to the Foundation, respectively. To register for this event and purchase autographed books visit http://weblink.donorperfect.com/AlvarezBookParty. Funds raised will help fund the Yonkers Public Library homebound service, delivering library materials to Yonkers residents who are unable to leave their homes.
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About Julia Alvarez
Born in New York City in 1950, Julia Alvarez's parents returned to their native country, Dominican Republic, shortly after her birth. Ten years later, the family was forced to flee to the United States because of her father’s involvement in a plot to overthrow the dictator, Trujillo.
Alvarez has written novels (How the García Girls Lost Their Accents, In the Time of the Butterflies, ¡Yo!, In the Name of Salomé, Saving the World, Afterlife), collections of poems (Homecoming, The Other Side/ El Otro Lado, The Woman I Kept to Myself), nonfiction (Something to Declare, Once Upon A Quinceañera, and A Wedding in Haiti), and numerous books for young readers (including the Tía Lola Stories series, Before We Were Free, finding miracles, Return to Sender and Where Do They Go?).
Alvarez’s awards include the Pura Belpré and Américas Awards for her books for young readers, the Hispanic Heritage Award, and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award. In 2013, she received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama.
About the Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library
The Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library is a not-for-profit organization created by the Trustees of the Yonkers Public Library to enhance the Library’s ability to provide outstanding programming, cutting-edge technology, and vibrant meeting places that best serve our diverse community. https://www.foundationforypl.org
About the Yonkers Public Library
Yonkers Public Library is the largest library in Westchester County and was established in 1893 to serve the citizens of the City of Yonkers. There are currently three branches; Riverfront Library, our main branch, in downtown Yonkers, the Grinton I. Will Library on Central Avenue, and the Crestwood Library in the Crestwood section of the city. Our mission is to change lives every day. Our expert, trusted staff help all the people of Yonkers find the information they need, the programs they enjoy, and the reading they love. In 2018, the library had over 825,000 visitors, checked out 795,000 items, held 7,200 programs for adults, teens, and youth and answered 364,479 reference questions. For more information about Yonkers Public Library, visit www.ypl.org