Ourshelves Book Club is an Ottawa-based book club that I co-founded to enrich community engagement and representation through literacy with the theme of gender inclusion. It was formed by a group of 12 ambassadors of RISE, a Canada Service Corps-funded program from the nonpartisan organization Apathy is Boring. We created the virtual book club at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate learning and discussions about gender in an inclusive, and supportive environment with the opportunity to make new connections to combat social isolation.
Vision
To educate and encourage local youth to broaden their reading habits and remove barriers that keep marginalized community members from reaching their full potential.
Mission
To build support systems, to create a safe online space, and to make lasting connections and walk away impacted.
Values
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We designed the space to be a safe, accessible, and welcoming space for all. Instances of racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, ableism, or other types of discrimination are not tolerated.
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We respect the pronouns of others and share it with others if we are comfortable doing so.
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We use respectful and thoughtful language.
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We encourage everyone to participate if they feel comfortable to do so, while also encouraging the group to be mindful of leaving space for everyone.
We do this by reading books with diverse stories and characters from a variety of authors of different backgrounds and lived experiences, thereby, enhancing the representation of those who face the most barriers and have the least access to relevant services. Our virtual meet-ups facilitate learning and discussions about gender in an inclusive, supportive, affirming, and informative environment, while creating the opportunity to make new connections.
My significant contribution to the club involved creating the community survey to generate ideas for the project. Also, I collaborated with a team of social media experts to disseminate important information to the book club members. Most importantly, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing authors Kai Cheng Thom, Hazel Jane Plante, and working with like-minded folks who I will be my life-long friendship.