In the past year, more than 2,500 books were subject to challenges and bans in the United States (PBS). As parents, policymakers, teachers and librarians battle it out, how can we better listen to youth voices? How do students feel about censorship in the classroom and the decline of creative writing, visual arts, and performing arts opportunities in education?
Join us for an intergenerational conversation about how we can not only protect our freedom to read diverse literature but also prioritize creative expression for people of all ages. Our youth speakers will be Harnoor Nagra, who is a graduating senior at Fremont High School, an alum of Novelly’s SPEAK program and an incoming freshman at Reed College, and Caroline De La Cruz, an alum of Novelly’s SPEAK program and a rising sophomore at San Francisco University High School.
This event is free to attend and open to the public. It is hosted by Novelly, a non-profit on a mission to get e-books by underrepresented youth published and taught in the English classroom, so that every student can feel seen and inspired by what they read in school.
About Our Panelists
Harnoor Nagra (she/her) is an incoming freshman at Reed College and a Novelly Youth Ambassador. She proudly identifies as Indian American and Queer. She is passionate about diversity in media, social justice, and the arts. Her past activism work includes hosting voter registration drives and volunteering at a local worker’s center. She is always down for a conversation about the history of media and art. In her spare time, she likes to make zines, watch video essays, do puzzles, and go on long walks.
Caroline De la Cruz is a rising sophomore at San Francisco University High School. She’s the proud daughter of two Peruvian immigrants and an only child. Caroline’s life revolves around books from a young age, her parents sparked in her the love of books and until now she is reading at all times. Not always seeing herself represented in the books she read, Caroline became very interested in advocating for diverse libraries, creating a social media campaign alongside Novelly’s SPEAK program. When she isn’t reading or learning more about banned books, Caroline can usually be found outside taking hikes, swimming, playing volleyball, and spending time with her family!
Anna Gabriella Casalme is the proud daughter of Filipino immigrants and is dedicated to designing youth-driven learning experiences. She is the founder of Novelly, a nonprofit on a mission to get e-books by underrepresented youth published and taught in the English classroom, so that every student can feel seen and inspired by what they read in school. As a Rotary Scholar and a Scottish Saltire Scholar, Anna completed an MSc in Childhood Studies at the University of Edinburgh. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Human Biology and honors in Education from Stanford University. She is on the Forbes 30 under 30 list in Education for 2023.