The Intellectual Freedom Teen Meetup's May meeting will feature a spotlight on student advocacy on the frontlines of state legislatures, the federal administration, and the Supreme Court. With a constant flow of new challenges affecting libraries and schools, participants will hear valuable insights from students who have been advocating for inclusive curriculum and pushing back against discriminatory censorship. This conversation will help teens deepen their understanding of the current political and legal landscape of book bans, along with a clear pathway forward on how students and communities can defend the freedom to read. The participants for May 20th will be Azeemah Sadiq, Shiva Rajbhandari, and Oyindamola Akintola.
Join us to discuss intellectual freedom issues, your favorite books, and all things BPL's Books Unbanned initiative. Connect with peers across the country and learn how you can support youth in protecting the right to read whatever they choose.
Please register by 4 pm EST to receive a Zoom link the day of the meetup.
Find out more about Books Unbanned here and upcoming meetings here!
Shiva Rajbhandari is a community organizer from Boise, Idaho. In 2022, as a senior in high school, he became the first student ever elected to the Boise School District board, campaigning on climate action and standing up to right-wing extremism. He has gone on to organize students across the country for a Green New Deal for Public Schools with Sunrise Movement and to co-found the Eve Devitt Fund, which supports Idaho trans and non-binary youth. He also serves on the board of BABE VOTE, which seeks to empower young people to organize their communities for democracy. He currently attends UNC-Chapel Hill where he studies public policy and sociology.
Azeemah Sadiq is a Nigerian-American student passionate about addressing censorship and book banning, bridging the disparities that marginalized communities face, tackling the scarcity of mental health resources, and making political information and voter education more accessible. She is the founder of Generation Vote Alief, a youth-led initiative focused on electoral justice and restoring democracy in the Houston area. She also serves as a State Policy Associate for Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) and has honed grassroots organizing skills through AliefVotes. Beyond civic work, Azeemah combats censorship with Save the Books and promotes mental health awareness through Where Emotions Flow. With a deep-rooted passion for social justice, she continues to inspire those around her and work toward building a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
This program is made possible through support by the Long Ridge Foundation and The Destina Foundation.
