[1][2] The organization's programming includes funding grants and internships for diverse authors and people interested in publishing, a mentorship program, providing lists of book recommendations for librarians, teachers, and parents on finding books with characters from marginalized backgrounds, and publishing an anthology of short stories featuring multiple authors from diverse backgrounds.
[1][3] The organizers asked Twitter followers to hold up a sign that said "We need diverse books because..." and insert their own personal reasons.
[19][20] In 2016 a program that allowed children of all ages, races, and genders to submit short stories to the company was started.
[22] Ourstory is WNDB app is a database resource for kids, teens, parents and educators to help find diverse stories.
The app offers different levels of subscription to gain exclusive content and materials from authors and illustrators that educators and librarians can include in programs and curriculum.
[24] The program launched in 2017 with over 25 nominations and the winner was Sara Luce Look from Charis Books and More in Atlanta, Georgia.
[18] To be eligible for the award the nominees need to meet the following requirements: One of WNDB goals is to bring diverse books and authors to low-income schools.
[27] The Writing Cross Culturally Retreat – Provides writers with resources and tools for telling stories with care, respect, and sensitivity.
On this retreat there are discussions on representation and misrepresentation, the ways prejudices and privileges connect to the writing and publishing process.
Participants are encouraged to learn how to analyze their own internal prejudices and those that are endemic to publishing by looking beyond themselves and inherent biases.
WNDB hosts a short-story contest every year for an unpublished, diverse author and the winner holds a spot in the book.
The competition recognizes the unique voices of high school seniors across the country by providing scholarship awards in the amount of $10,000 for the following categories: Literary compositions will judged by their technical merit; however, artistic expression is our core criterion.
We are looking for writing with a strong, clear voice by authors who are daring, original, and unafraid to take risks.
[1][30] Fresh Ink, an young adult anthology of diverse short stories, was published by Penguin Random House on August 14, 2017.