Lauren Allen

This was such a great conversation and I can’t wait to share it! I left feeling inspired to do more in my community and I hope you will too. #freedomtoread

Introducing Ourselves After six months, we felt it was finally time to share why we're here.

We decided it was time to introduce ourselves. 👋
www.onceuponaban.com/p/introducin...

The Huntington Beach City Council says there is explicit material in the children’s library, so we asked parents what their children checked out. #freedomtoread #libraries #bannedbooks

The volunteers organizing to protect the HB library are truly incredible. Their passion for the library shines through in everything they do and I think they offer a great example of how communities can organize to protect the freedom to read.

Summer is here and nostalgic memories of summer reading challenges as a kid are on my mind. I’m so excited to launch this summer reading challenge and carry on the tradition with my family.

The image is a blue square with white writing that says "Proud graduate of the Demand a Seat training program." It shows the Demand a Seat logo with the slogan "Demand. Run. Change.". It also lists the website demandaseat.org.

I'm ready to #DemandASeat! It's been an incredible experience being part of this training program and I've learned so much about campaigns. Thank you @momsdemand.bsky.social and @everytown.bsky.social for such a motivating experience. Now it's time to put it all into practice!

A Conversation with Author Rajani LaRocca Inspired by a book as a child, LaRocca now writes to encourage the next generation.

Inspired by a book as a child, @rajanilarocca.bsky.social now writes to encourage the next generation. Her book Your One and Only Heart was at one point restricted at the HB Library. She shared her take on censorship, why she writes for children, and her upcoming book.

#kidlit #freedomtoread

We had a chance to chat with this month’s featured author @rajanilarocca.bsky.social about what inspired her to write Your Only and Only Heart, why she believes access to nonfiction is important, and her upcoming book Some of Us. Can’t wait to share our May 19th newsletter! #kidlit #freedomtoread

Walk with me to the restricted section of the Huntington Beach library where health books for preteens are considered inappropriate. California has a law against book bans but that hasn’t stopped the Huntington Beach City Council from relocating content to achieve the same effect. #freedomtoread

We could have filled several newsletters with the story of what's happening in Huntington Beach. The way residents are rallying to protect their library from censorship is inspiring. Here's our interview with @ourlibrarymatters.bsky.social. We have much more to share with you on social this month!

Representation in stories matters. Children should be able to see themselves in the stories they read and have the opportunity to learn from other perspectives. Our interview with Author @cswild.bsky.social dives into this more. onceuponaban.com/p/once-upon-...

I had the opportunity to write for The Truth OC earlier this week about what’s going on at the Huntington Beach library. Check it out!

Mahmoud v. Taylor is being heard at the Supreme Court today and supporters of the freedom to read are holding a Rally for Inclusive Education. We stopped by to show our support! #freedomtoread #ireadbannedbooks #kidlit #booksnotbans #lgbtqkidlit

From the fednews community on Reddit Explore this post and more from the fednews community

I find this post from inside IMLS absolutely chilling.

www.reddit.com/r/fednews/s/...

This RFK confirmation is one of the most alarming and devastating yet. I worry for children. I worry for seniors. I worry for those who need the life saving research that will inevitably be stalled. I worry for all of America. This will make America sicker and innocent people will pay the price.

Tired of hearing “voicemail full”? Here’s another option.

I'm so honored to be part of the #DemandASeat Spring 2025 Cohort! The program kickoff was tonight and full of inspiring speakers from @momsdemand.bsky.social. I'm so excited to learn more about managing campaigns and running for office! @everytown.bsky.social

The days are long but the calls to your representatives are short. 5 calls has seriously made it so easy to call and speak out. This is my new routine in 2025.