Shelby S. - One Book One New Orleans 2026

I’ve been part of One Book One New Orleans since 2014 — nearly 13 years of witnessing firsthand what happens when people are given access to books, ideas and each other.

What started as volunteering grew into something much more meaningful, and in 2024 I officially joined the board. But titles aside, what’s kept me here all this time is simple: this work matters.

We’re a small but mighty organization with a big vision: making New Orleans a more literate, connected and empowered city. We don’t just talk about it: we actively remove barriers so people of all ages can access books, learning and community.

And the need is real. An estimated 26% of New Orleans adults are considered low-literacy — higher than the national average. Many young people and adult learners are reading below expected levels, and the demand for adult education programs far exceeds available funding.

Literacy changes everything: opportunity, confidence and the future of entire families and communities.

Here’s what the One Book One New Orleans impact looks like:

• Access to books for all. We distribute free copies of our selected book across the city, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to reading

• Support for adult learners. We provide books and curriculum to adult education programs across Greater New Orleans, helping learners build confidence and opportunity through literacy

• Powerful community partnerships. Through collaborations with the New Orleans Public Library and WRBH Reading Radio, we host high-quality public programming and make our selected book accessible to those with limited budgets and those with visual impairments

• Reaching incarcerated readers. In partnership with Louisiana Books 2 Prisoners and the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, we bring our selected book and guided curriculum to incarcerated individuals across Louisiana, creating space for reflection, learning and connection

• Citywide community programming. Our free, accessible events bring people together across neighborhoods to read, discuss and connect in meaningful ways

At its core, One Book One New Orleans is about more than books: it’s about opening doors, sparking conversations and strengthening our community.

GiveNOLA Day is our biggest source of unrestricted funding each year, and those dollars directly power everything we do.

If this mission resonates with you, I would truly appreciate your support. Every donation — no matter the size — helps us put books directly into the hands of people across our city who might not otherwise have access.

Thank you sincerely for being part of this with me.

Shelby