“We’re setting a vibe and it’s feeling good,” is how Estelita’s Library Co-Founder Edwin Lindo described the Seattle Urban Book Expo book drive at The Station on Saturday, which featured a book drive for children's and young adult books featuring BIPOC characters and written by BIPOC authors.

“I know how important it is for the kids in my community to see themselves in stories,” Author and the CEO of the Seattle Urban Book Expo Jeffery Cheatham said. “This event is my part.”

Speaker and Author Josias Jean-Pierre re-affirmed the importance of representation in his support of the event, saying “We’re putting our roots in this ground and telling people, ‘we’re not moving’.”

“When you’re a kid and you see something in a book, you say ‘hey, I can do whatever I want in my life too,” Jean-Pierre said. “I believe that’s the beginning of hope and transformation.”

Watch the video to hear more about why this event is important to the community and how Estelita's Library and The Seattle Urban Book Expo are supporting the youth.