The Women’s National Book Association (WNBA), a professional literary organization that supports women and marginalized voices in the literary world, is awarding its annual Eastman Grant to Isabella Rowan, educational programs and volunteer coordinator at Delray Beach Library.
Founded in 1917, before women in America could vote, the WNBA has a strong history of fighting against book censorship, educating about books and the book industry, promoting literacy and providing professional development, as noted in a press release.
The nonprofit has ten chapters nationwide in cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, New Orleans, Atlanta and Washington D.C., where members participate in a wide range of activities, from learning about book publication to panels where writers discuss their work.
Andrea Baron, president of the WNBA South Florida chapter, moved to Florida from New York City in 2015. Previously involved in the city’s WNBA, she decided to create a much-needed South Florida chapter, along with her colleague Linda Rosen.
“We were hoping to continue the range of programs and meet the community of authors and book lovers in South Florida. We contacted local librarians, academics and writing groups and 12 people came to our first meeting. Our membership has grown to about 60 members,” says Baron, 74.
Since its inception, the WNBA’s South Florida chapter, which is based in Delray Beach, has held monthly programs and annual fundraisers for children’s literacy programs like the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach, the Florida Library Association fund for hurricane recovery and the Florida Freedom to Read project.
Says Baron, “We believe it’s important to support libraries and librarians because they play an essential role in the education of young people through the access of books. They allow children to attend programs that help them with reading and help everyone to find the great breadth of topics and material that the libraries have that would be beyond the ability of most people to play for.”
Among South Florida’s WNBA’s notable events, there’s the Historical Fiction and Novels of the Holocaust, Women and Film: Hitchcock’s Female Association, Romance Writing, How to Produce a Podcast and Older Women and Second Writing Careers.
“This year, we’re very happy to award the Eastman Grant to Isabella Rowan to continue her work in the library and community development programs. She’s been a great support of WNBA and children’s literary project,” says Baron.
Rowan, who’s been part of the Delray Beach Library for six years, has organized programs like “Americans and the Holocaust,” “Beethoven 250 Fest” and “Stories of Exile.” Moreover, she also organizes ESL programs and has secured more than $30,000 in grants for the library. Perhaps her most impressive work has been creating a community library in Kendu Bay, Kenya.
The Eastman Grant (named after Ann Heidbreder Eastman, former national WNBA president) will be presented at South Florida’s WNBA Holiday Party on Dec. 12 at 5 p.m.
Isabella Rowan
Where: 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach.
For more information, visit southflorida.wnba-books.org/ and delraylibrary.org.