On July 27th, 2022, Young Authors Publishing (YAP) partnered with nonprofit education organization, Worldreader, and gaming platform, Cxmmunity, to host an immersive Literacy Day event for Atlanta’s young readers. Located at the Home Depot Backyard, youth, ages 4-11, attended various activation stations. Attendees received free books and access to the Worldreader’s Booksmart app, which provides hundreds of books in both English and Spanish. The following YAP books were featured in the event, two of which are now included in Worldreader’s digital library: Fatima the Activist , Trevon’s Globe-Trotting Adventures , Dinner Table Distractions, and Gameover.

The purpose of this event was to promote a love of literacy by creating several avenues for youth to interact with YAP’s books. From art & gaming stations to read-aloud segments, young readers were empowered to find their voice and recognize their worth as both producers and consumers of literature. And that only emphasizes our mission as a children’s and young adult book publisher: to close the existing reading gap.

It's partnerships like this that allow us to act as a resource for young readers. “Partnering with Worldreader allows us to expand our mission of diversifying the publishing industry through diverse books and making them accessible to readers everywhere,” says Leah Hernandez, Founder and CEO of Young Authors Publishing. “Because reading is the foundation of all learning, our partnership with YAP provides a vehicle to empower more Atlanta students with key reading skills that will only enhance their writing success,” added Rebecca Chandler Leege, Worldreader’s Chief Impact Officer.

“Partnering with Worldreader allows us to expand our mission of diversifying the publishing industry through diverse books and making them accessible to readers everywhere."

- Leah Hernandez

Founder and CEO of Young Authors Publishing

As a result of this partnership, we will be collaborating with Worldreader to pilot a program with local Atlanta school districts to encourage students to publish books. Our efforts continue to ensure that children of color are represented in literature from an early age. Through storylines and characters, their worlds are reflected in the books they read.

If you are interested in partnering with YAP or booking any of our young authors, contact our Marketing Manager, Salina Trahan.

About Worldreader | www.worldreader.org/

Worldreader is a nonprofit organization that works globally with partners to provide digital reading solutions to vulnerable and underserved communities. Their innovative platform makes reading accessible from school to home and has served 20 million readers worldwide since 2010. To learn more please visit worldreader.org. To read on the free BookSmart platform, visit bebooksmart.org.

About Cxmmunity | www.cxmmunity.co/

Gaming Cxmmunity Co.’s mission is to increase the representation of minorities within the esports and video game industries through STEAM and career development. Their programs include training in Information Technology, STEAM, Live Event Production, Business Management, Entrepreneurship, and Family/Parent Esports Education.

About the Home Depot Backyard | thehomedepotbackyard.com/

The Home Depot Backyard, Atlanta’s #BestBackyard, is an 11-acre multi-use green space in the heart of downtown, adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, that is full of unique opportunities for the local community and visitors alike. Serving the Atlanta community since 2018, the Home Depot Backyard provides a broad spectrum of programming for all audiences and has hosted a wide array of events that includes American Ninja Warrior, Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup championship parade, Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Hunger Run Walk, AMA Supercross FanFest, and the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame while also serving as the premier parking and tailgating destination for the Atlanta Falcons (NFL), Atlanta United (MLS), and other stadium events. The Home Depot Backyard focuses on three key pillars - Arts and Culture, Health and Wellness, and Inspired Learning - through offering a variety of activities from daily fitness classes to one-of-a-kind events focused on uplifting the community. To learn more about The Home Depot Backyard, visit thehomedepotbackyard.com or follow us at @thdbackyard on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

‍