Eleanor Roosevelt Center and Fisher Center at Bard present
The Eleanor Roosevelt Banned Book Awards
Join Us For an Evening Celebrating This Year's Winners
February 17
The Eleanor Roosevelt Center and the Fisher Center at Bard College announce the first Eleanor Roosevelt Banned Book Awards Ceremony.
The ceremony will celebrate the inaugural winners of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Bravery in Literature, authors who have championed intellectual freedom and the fight against censorship.
The Bravery in Literature awards are given to authors whose works focus on racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender equity.
Winners & Speakers
Judy Blume
Lifetime Achievement Award
Laurie Halse Anderson
Mike Curato
Alex Gino
George M. Johnson
Maia Kobabe
Jelani Memory
Emily Drabinski
Keynote Speaker
Matt Nosanchuk
Keynote Speaker
The Ceremony
The legendary Judy Blume will receive a lifetime achievement award and will join the celebration by livestream.
Speakers for the evening include Emily Drabinski, President of the American Library Association, and Matt Nosanchuk, the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, who is often referred to as the Biden Administration’s “Banned Book Czar.”
The award seal is designed by artist, author, and creative director George McCalman.
Copies of all featured titles will be available for purchase in the lobby courtesy of Oblong Books.
History
For over three decades, the prestigious Eleanor Roosevelt Medal has honored individuals who embraced Eleanor Roosevelt’s call to build a better world through humanitarian efforts in education, advocacy, social justice, and civil and human rights. Eleanor was a fierce and effective advocate for civil and human rights and the chief architect of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Her work lives on today, inspiring a new generation to use their voice to protect and advance the rights of those who have been marginalized and oppressed.
In 2024, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center launches the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Bravery in Literature in direct response to the alarming rise of book banning in the U.S. and as an extension of its historic medals honoring leaders who advance human rights. Eleanor was a prolific author in her own right, authoring 27 books in her lifetime. The award reflects Eleanor’s love for literature and hopes to elevate works by authors who embody her values.
The Fisher Center at Bard has a long-standing track record in developing and supporting performance and cultural events at the intersection of the arts and social justice, producing innovative programming in the Hudson Valley, and supporting artists at critical career junctures. The Fisher Center is an anchor institution in the cultural community of New York’s Hudson Valley and is thrilled to partner with the Eleanor Roosevelt Center to present the first annual award for Bravery In Literature.
Collaborators
• Penguin Random House
• Freedom To Read Foundation
• The Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center
• Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area
• Mid-Hudson Library System
• National Coalition Against Censorship
• Oblong Books
Bard College
• Center for Civic Engagement
• Center for Ethics and Writing
• Community Arts Collective
• Community Partner Gender Equity Initiative
• Office of the Dean of Inclusive Excellence
• Stevenson Library
Support
Special support for this event has been provided by Barbara & Sven Huseby and the Ettinger Foundation, Penguin Random House, Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, and The Freedom to Read Foundation.
About the Eleanor Roosevelt Center
The Eleanor Roosevelt Center continues Eleanor’s work in advancing human rights and civil rights in the face of modern challenges. The non-profit organization, based at Eleanor’s former residence in Hyde Park, NY, is dedicated to breathing new life into the precedents set and the legacies left behind by the First Lady of the World. We strive to be Eleanor Roosevelt’s heart, mind, and voice in realizing a better world—a world of acceptance, opportunity, dignity, and respect for all.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s passion for civil rights and human rights changed the world and inspired generations. To learn more, to donate, or to get involved, visit us at www.ervk.org.
Photo of Eleanor Roosevelt: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Estrellita Karsh in memory of Yousuf Karsh
Plan Your Visit
Eat & Stay
Nearby villages and towns in the Hudson Valley boast a large selection of restaurants, as well as a variety of hotels, motels, inns, and bed & breakfasts.
Eat & StayDirections
Bard College’s main campus is located in Annandale-on-Hudson (a hamlet of Red Hook), New York, on the east bank of the Hudson River, about 90 miles north of New York City and 220 miles southwest of Boston. The Taconic State Parkway and the New York State Thruway provide the most direct routes to our campus. Click the Google map below, or get directions by entering the following address into your GPS: 60 Manor Avenue, Red Hook, NY 12571.
From the East
If you are traveling from east of the Hudson River in New York State, take the Taconic State Parkway to the Red Hook / Route 199 exit, drive west on Route 199 through the village of Red Hook to Route 9G, turn right onto Route 9G, drive north 1.9 miles, turn left onto Annandale Road, then turn right onto Manor Ave.
From the West
If you are traveling from west of the Hudson River, take the New York State Thruway (I-87) to exit 19 (Kingston), take Route 209 (changes to Route 199 at the Hudson River) over the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge to Route 9G, turn left onto Route 9G, drive north 3.5 miles, turn left onto Annandale Road, then turn right onto Manor Ave.
About the Venue
Sosnoff Theater
Accessible Seating
Wheelchair-accessible seating is available in all seating areas for patrons in wheelchairs and their companions. There is an elevator to all levels of the Sosnoff Theater and a wheelchair lift is used to access front-row wheelchair seating.
Wheelchair-Accessible Restrooms
Restrooms at all locations are wheelchair accessible. Single-use restrooms are available at most locations.
All-Gender Restrooms
Bard College and the Fisher Center support guests of any gender identity/expression in using the restroom of their choice. Additionally, all-gender restrooms are available at all venues.
More Info
Our driving principle is to operate with a duty of care for all our community—artists, audiences, and staff alike.
In order to share performances with as many audience members as possible, we ask that you read our Health and Safety Protocols on the FAQs page and commit to participating in our community of care.
Read the FAQs and Safety Protocols
