Tag Archives: Word Up Community Bookshop

Word Up: Kiara Valdez’s STEPPING UP with Lethy Liriano

Word Up welcomes Kiara Valdez on her forthcoming graphic novel, STEPPING UP (on sale 8/4/26), a timely and vibrant teen graphic memoir about community, friendship, and self-discovery told through the eyes of a high school freshman Kiara, one of the few Black students at her predominantly white boarding school—perfect for fans of Almost American Girl and Brownstone!

In conversation with Kiara Valdez will be Lethy Liriano, executive director of the Bride’s March.

This event is in collaboration with Dominican Writers Association.

“Valdez’s graphic novel debut provides thoughtful glimpses into her attempts to settle into a new environment that wasn’t designed with her in mind. Readers will identify with the outsider perspective explored throughout the narrative.” – Kirkus Reviews

This event is a $5 suggested donation ticket with a maximum of 100 attendees. Please register in advance. 

In compliance with Word Up Community Safety guidelines, all attendees are encouraged to stay masked at all time.

Word Up Community Bookshop/Libreria Communitaria is located at 2113 Amsterdam Avenue (corner of 165th Street) in Manhattan. Subways: A, C or #1 train to 168th Street (walk south to 165th St, turn left, then walk east to Amsterdam Avenue).

ABOUT THE BOOK

Kiara is a long way from Washington Heights. She’s at Phillips Academy Andover—the prestigious school of her dreams. But her bulky financial aid laptop in a room full of brand-new Macs, her classmates’ endless chatter about overseas vacations, and everyone’s pristine North Face jackets have her feeling like she’ll never fit in.

Then she discovers the all-star step team, SLAM. Kiara will gladly endure long practices, sore muscles, and chafed palms to finally find her place on campus. That is, until tragedy strikes and those closest to her are hurt, and she realizes exactly what it means to be an Andover student.

Because at a school where her wealthy white classmates can get away with almost anything and students like her are made to feel lucky to even be at the academy to begin with, is belonging really what Kiara wants? And is she brave enough to step up—for herself and her friends?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kiara Valdez is an Afro-Dominican writer and graphic novel editor from New York City (shout out to Washington Heights). She graduated from Williams College with a double major in English Literature and Japanese, and spends her free time reading, writing, and enjoying a long list of other hobbies she can’t keep up with. She writes graphic novels, pictures books, and story books that include titles such as Dear Dad (with Jay Jay Patton and Markia Jenai), Marvel’s Little Groot, Big Feelings and We Are Groot (both with Wendy Tan), and Mami’s Magic Words (Richy Sánchez Ayala). Stepping Up is her debut original graphic novel.

Word Up: Nicholas Freudenberg’s FIGHTING FOR NEW YORK with Merlin Chowkwanyun

Word Up welcomes Nicholas Freudenberg to discuss his new book, Fighting for New York: Activism for Health and Social Justice Since the 1960s, with Merlin Chowkwanyun, author of All Health Politics Is Local.

“A roadmap for health activists, Fighting for New York illustrates each step needed for successful advocacy through campaigns conducted by a wide range of city-based community organizations since the 1960s. These stories should inspire any reader to join the movement to make health justice a reality.” Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters

ABOUT THE BOOK
What would New York City look like without the hard-won victories of social movements? From the Young Lords campaigns to prevent lead poisoning and tuberculosis in the late 1960s to ACT UP’s fight for people affected by AIDS in the early 1990s through Housing Justice for All’s recent advocacy for tenants, generations of activists have struggled to make the city a healthier and more equal place for all.

Fighting for New York is a pragmatic account of health-focused social movements over the past several decades. Nicholas Freudenberg–a longtime public health professional, researcher, and activist–examines a variety of cases, from campaigns for reproductive rights, environmental justice, and free school lunch to the Close Rikers Island and Fight for $15 movements. He analyzes how activist leaders, members, and organizations approach injustices, build coalitions, frame their messages, and define success, considering which strategies worked and which failed to achieve their goals.

Fighting for New York synthesizes the lessons of these campaigns into practical guidance for the activists, health professionals, and policy makers of today and tomorrow, suggesting specific strategies gleaned from decades of experience. Highlighting the voices of activists, this book is a riveting account of struggles to improve living conditions and uphold human dignity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicholas Freudenberg is distinguished professor emeritus of public health at the City University of New York School of Public Health. He has studied, evaluated, and participated in activism on childhood lead poisoning, AIDS prevention, urban food policy, environmental justice, and mass incarceration. Freudenberg is the author of several books, most recently At What Cost: Modern Capitalism and the Future of Health (2021).

Word Up Community Bookshop: (Re)present Reading Series by No, Dear Magazine – Poetry

(Re)Present Reading Series seeks to pay homage to the New York City poets whose voices are now absent from our lives, especially those voices whose indelible imprint has sustained a revolutionary poetics by connecting us to a history prior to, and in opposition to, mass gentrification and corporate takeover. By collaborating with local poets, our intention is to represent and re-present those poets who are gone and honor how their voices continue to live on within the revolutionary spirit of New York City poetry.

Featuring:
Tauyo Na
Kenning JP Garcia
Safia Jama
Zakia Henderson Brown

This event is a $5 suggested donation ticket with 30 max attendees. Please register in advance.

Word Up Community Bookshop’s Quinceañera

Word Up Community Bookshop / Librería Comunitaria turns 15! Please join us to celebrate our Quinceañera.

  • Poetry from Sheila Maldonado, Araceli Flores, and Miriam Flores.
  • Music from DJ Michou, Collective for Arts Music and Dance, and Academia de Mariachi Nuevo Amanecer.
  • Face painting, magic, and art activities for children.
  • Dance lessons.

Afterparty at Word Up Community Bookshop with DJ Delaceiba starting at 8pm.

¡La Librería Comunitaria Word Up cumple 15 años! Acompáñanos para celebrar nuestra Quinceañera.

  • Poesía de Sheila Maldonado, Araceli Flores y Miriam Flores.
  • Música a cargo de DJ Michou, Collective for Arts Music and Dance y Academia de Mariachi Nuevo Amanecer.
  • Pintura facial, magia y actividades artísticas para niños
  • Clases de baile.

Fiesta posterior en la Librería Comunitaria Word Up con DJ Delaceiba a partir de las 8 p. m.

Word Up Community Quinceañera After Party

Word Up Community Bookshop / Librería Comunitaria turns 15! Please join us to celebrate our Quinceañera.

Afterparty at Word Up Community Bookshop with DJ Delaceiba starting at 8pm.

¡La Librería Comunitaria Word Up cumple 15 años! Acompáñanos para celebrar nuestra Quinceañera.

Fiesta posterior en la Librería Comunitaria Word Up con DJ Delaceiba a partir de las 8 p. m.