Goddard Riverside’s Annual Book Fair Gala Goes Virtual

It’s that time of year when Goddard Riverside holds its annual book fair gala. This year’s edition is titled Social Justice Never Sleeps: The 2020 Goddard Riverside Book Fair Gala.

For the first time, due to precautions that need to be taken to prevent the spread of the pandemic, this event will be held virtually. It will be taking place on Thursday, October 29 at 6:30pm.

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″] “Because of the incredible generosity of our community, Goddard Riverside was able to rapidly respond to the evolving situation during the earliest days of COVID-19. We didn’t have to worry about what we could afford to do – we could simply do what needed to be done …
… In May, we launched a $250,000 Direct Relief Fund to provide material assistance to current Goddard Riverside program participants and to residents of eight NYCHA housing developments with whom we collaborate. We created a structure, staffing, and a process to administer the fund, which is designed to help individuals and families cover one-time, COVID-19-related emergency expenses such as emergency food or personal care items; utility, internet or telephone bills; prescription delivery or transportation to a medical appointment; and technology needed to maintain education. This fund is especially crucial for our immigrant neighbors who aren’t eligible for government assistance programs. We can be responsive because of our donors’ generosity.”
– Beth Dunphe, Goddard Riverside’s Deputy Executive Director of Resource Development and Engagement
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The host of the event is G. Angela Henry, also known as Angela Flemister. She grew up around the corner from the 92nd Street Goddard Riverside site, and has been an active participant at Goddard classes and an eager consumer at its book fairs.

Trish Anderton, Director of Public Relations, told us that Angela makes her own dresses based on the theme of each year’s Gala. Last year she used a custom-printed fabric with books on it.

It will be interesting to see what Angela comes up with for a dress design for this year’s “Social Justice Never Sleeps” theme!

This year’s event will be a culmination of a series of virtual Q & As that were held with various speakers throughout the month of October (Jeffrey Toobin, Arva Rice, Gale Brewer and Dr. Irwin Redlener).

In addition to this event capping those series, the virtual gala will include (as it has in previous years) a performance from the Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC of NYC). They’ve been rehearsing virtually and it should be exciting to hear them perform.

Here are some photos from the group’s performance last year:

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And as they’ve done since 2017, there will be an announcement of the winners for their Fourth Annual Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice.

This year’s contenders:

• Abandoned: America’s Lost Youth and the Crisis Of Disconnection, by Anne Kim (The New Press)
• Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (Crown
• Big Dirty Money: The Shocking Injustice and Unseen Cost of White Collar Crime, by Jennifer Taub (Viking)
• Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America, by Conor Dougherty (Penguin Press)
• Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People, by Ben Crump (Amistad)
• The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having—or Being Denied—an Abortion, by Diana Greene Foster (Scribner)

Goddard is also thrilled to announce that in 2020 they’ve added a prize for children’s and youth books in partnership with the Children’s Book Council. The contenders and winners will be announced at the gala.

Individual tickets for the gala are $30.00 each and are available here.