Embracing Diversity One Book at a Time
The CTL Mission
The banning of books and symbols of identity has increased at an alarming rate over the past few years. This culture of silencing voices creates assumptions and fear, promotes stereotypes and exclusion, and damages self-esteem. Lives are diminished and dismissed, increasing the risk and incidence of suicide. It breaks us.
In an effort to shift this downward spiral of compassion and empathy, Positive Charge! PDX is proud to have built a network of free book-sharing boxes devoted to featuring diverse books—encouraging everyone to "take a walk in someone else's shoes" by reading books by and about people who are different from us.
EXCITING NEWS
Compassion Through Literature
recently EXPANDED!
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a variety of businesses and groups and of people and businesses who wanted to steward a diverse little library, we gifted to the community 15 new CTL little libraries! With the expansion of our network into new neighborhoods, more and more Portlanders now have the opportunity to read and share stories that reflect diverse voices and lives—in service of cultivating compassion. See the map below for all the CTL locations.
October 2024 | The "Build"
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With sincere thanks to
Our Incredible 2024 Community Partners!
CTL's History
PC! PDX initiated Compassion Through Literature in 2022 — thanks to a partnership with the Portland Timbers, Children's Book Bank, and Third Eye Books. Since then, we've hosted a Grand Launch of our project and a city-wide Celebration of Diversity. With future CTL projects, we will continue to promote the power of books to cultivate awareness, understanding, and inclusion. Stay tuned for more!
CTL Little Library Locations
In response to real-life heinous acts of bigotry, anti-Semitism, and more, some kind-hearted souls came forward to steward CTL Little Free Libraries throughout the Portland area—from Newberg to Gresham. We're up to 25 locations and counting! Grab a book from one, read it with a CURIOUS and OPEN mind, SHARE it in another library for others, then TALK about what you learn while LISTENING and holding back assumptions!
Ideas for Books on Diversity
The CTL initiative is ultimately all about diversity literacy—expanding our knowledge, understanding, and celebration of all kinds of people including those of different ages, races, religions, physical and mental disabilities, gender identities and family structures, financial statuses, cultures, traditions, countries of origin, and more. To find such books on your own, check out these great resources.
Our History
It's amazing what an idea—and a group of committed people—can accomplish! First there was one CTL free book-sharing box, then another . . . and now 25 and counting. Truly, it takes a village! Positive Charge! PDX has been fortunate to partner with the international Little Free Library's organization, A Kids Book About Co., local book stores, and more to make this magic happen!
May 2022 | The Start
Timber Joey, a great advocate of reading and diversity literacy, joined us for inaugurating the Compassion Through Literature initiative with celebrations at Hayhurst Elementary and Robert Gray Middle schools. We were thrilled to partner with the Portland Timbers and Children's Book Bank at Smart Reading for these celebrations. We also are grateful to Frank Rodriguez who make a few CTL libraries and to the Berkovitch Family who helped with transportation—as well as to the Oregon Community Foundation for support.
November 2022 | Grand Launch at Leikam Brewing
To celebrate the expansion of the CTL network of free book-sharing boxes, we hosted a special event at Leikam Brewery, a family-friendly restaurant in East Portland—and the site of one of the new libraries! Guests enjoyed fabulous speakers including Valarie Pearce, Sister Shiso Panda, and Stephen Green; book giveaways; and getting to know even more incredible people in our community. This event also marked Portland being the thirteenth city to partner with the international Little Free Library and their Read in Color initiative.
August 2023 | Celebration of Diversity at Q Center
Oh, what a memorable day celebrating the power of books to cultivate awareness, understanding, and inclusion—with wonderful speakers, great displays of diverse books, and so much more. Some of the speakers included award-winning children's book authors Trudy Ludwig and Dane Liu, poet/educator Alex Dang, Unicorn Solutions' founder Elliott Hinkle, cartoonist and author
Jonathan Hill, Portland treasure and literacy advocate Nikki Brown Clown, American drag queen/Miss Gay Pride of Portland 2023 Flawless Shade, and more! The event could not have happened without the support of A Kids Company About, Belmont Books PDX, Maggie Mae's Bookshop,
Portland Events and Film, Little Free Library, and many dedicated Positive Charge! PDX volunteers.
Library Locations
SW Portland
Fairmont Loop (Residence)
Bridlemile (Residence)
Hayhurst (Residence)
5929 SW 48th Ave.
Multnomah Village (Residence)
Multnomah Village (Residence)
Multnomah Village (Residence)
RGMS (Residence)
So. Burlingame (Residence)
Ash Creek (Residence)
SE Portland
Milieu Collective
(relocating to new address)
Residence
Residence
Intersection
Sustainable NW Wood
Residence
Mt. Scott Park Presbyterian Church
North Portland
Tigard
Bull Mountain (Residence)
NE Portland
Residence
Verson/Concordia (Residence)
Beaumont/Wilshire/Concordia (Residence)
Residence
Brentwood/Darlington (Residence)
NW Portland
Congregation Shaarie Torah
East Burnside
Leikam Brewing
Beaverton
Revel & Gather Event Space
Forest Grove
Green Grove Cohousing Community
Gresham
Gresham Fire Dept. Station 72
Newberg
Canby
Ivy Ridge Estates (Residence)
1912 S Holly St.
Troutdale
Hampton Point (Residence)
Resources
Diverse Book Lists
Little Free Libraries "Read in Color" list
Where to Find Diverse Books (WFDB) list
Children's Book Bank Book list
Multnomah Co. Library K-12 Equity & Social Justice Book list
DiverseBooks.org list
Curated Book Lists from Libraries Around the CountrAmazon Fiction & Non-fiction list
Used Book Options
New Book Options
Resources
Diverse Book Lists
Little Free Libraries "Read in Color" list
Where to Find Diverse Books (WFDB) list
Children's Book Bank Book list
Multnomah Co. Library K-12 Equity & Social Justice Book list
DiverseBooks.org list
Curated Book Lists from Libraries Around the CountrAmazon Fiction & Non-fiction list
Used Book Options
New Book Options
Today's World Literature Spotlight
She's a Mensch! Ten Amazing Jewish Women by Anne Dublin
The Breaking News by Sarah Lynne Reul
In My Mosque by M. O. Yuksel
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Linked by Gordon Korman
Gifts from the Enemy by Trudy Ludwig
The Promise by Bridget Hodder & Fawzia Gilani-Williams
Arab Arab All Year Long by Cathy Camper
Testimonials
"This has been a life-changing experience for me, experiencing the excitement and positive feedback with others when discussing the CTL project and our effort to help increase knowledge and compassion through education.”
Sallie, SW Portland CTL LFL steward
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