After 20 years of exceptional service, Gwendolyn Prellwitz, ODLOS Assistant Director for Recruitment and Retention, departed ALA on June 4 due to relocation. Throughout the years, Gwendolyn has been a leader in coordinating the Spectrum Scholarship Program, expanding its funding, and growing it into its current status as a widely renowned program in the library community.

For our members, Gwendolyn has always been warm and welcoming, quick to offer help or extend an invitation for a meal or beverage of choice.

Inquiries regarding the Spectrum Scholarship Program can be sent to spectrum@ala.org. All other inquiries can be sent to diversity@ala.org.

The Library Services for Dementia/Alzheimer's (LSDA) Interest Group is pleased to announce that its conference proposal entitled "Building Community with Dementia Services" was accepted for the 2021 ALA Annual Virtual Conference.

The session will focus on developing partnerships with community groups in order to provide the most effective service for those living with dementia and their care partners.

On Saturday, June 26, there will be an "open house" for a real-time Q&A session from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Central.

The New Jersey State Library has released its Cross-Cultural Communicators in Libraries (CCCiL) Project Report (2018-2021), detailing the results of the three-year pilot project aimed at strengthening public libraries in meeting the needs of their Spanish-speaking communities.

The multi-state initiative, funded by a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, provided professional development training for 250 bilingual English/Spanish speaking library staff in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and California. Participants were trained in cultural competence, translation and interpretation skills.

Through a series of online modules and in-person workshops, bilingual front-line library staff were trained to communicate more effectively with patrons from multicultural backgrounds. The program now serves as a model for libraries across the nation.

All CCCiL training materials and project resources are now accessible and freely available on the project website.

Miriam Tuliao has announced that she will swim Grimaldo's Mile, a one mile open water event in New York City, on July 31 to raise funds for the Spectrum Scholarship Program. This is Tuliao's 14th consecutive year organizing an annual fundraiser for Spectrum. Her swim will be in honor of Shauntee Burns-Simpson, president of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and associate director of school outreach for The New York Public Library.

To support Tuliao's fundraising efforts, please visit https://ec.ala.org/donate to make a gift and select the Spectrum Scholarship Program as the fund you wish to support. Upon checkout, please select the "Add a tribute or memorial to my donation" option on the top and include the Tuliao Fundraiser in honor of Shauntee Burns-Simpson and indicate acknowledgement going to Miriam Tuliao in the fields provided.

The National Conference of African American Librarians (NCAAL), hosted by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), is going virtual this year! Join online to engage and elevate the conference theme "Culture Keepers XI, the Sankofa Experience: Inspired by Our Past, Igniting Our Future" from July 28 through August 1, 2021.

NCAAL is the largest national conference for African American professionals in the library industry. NCAAL gives African American librarians, library professionals who serve predominantly African American communities, and individuals interested in African American librarianship unique networking, learning, and professional development opportunities. Panels and conference sessions will be led by nationally recognized speakers, authors, and industry leaders, including Michael Eric Dyson, Jason Reynolds, Sharon M. Draper, and Tony Zanders.

This year's conference theme celebrates BCALA's 50th Anniversary and includes sessions in subjects related to innovation, creativity, and technology; bridge building, intersectionality, and inclusion; leadership, management development, and organization; collections, programs, and services; advocacy, outreach, and collaboration; health, wellness, and medical. Students and current BCALA members are eligible for a discount! Visit www.NCAAL.org to register and for more information.

Public and tribal libraries are invited to apply for NASA@ My Library, a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education initiative that will increase and enhance STEAM learning opportunities for library patrons throughout the nation, including geographic areas and populations currently underrepresented in STEAM education.

The project is offered by the National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) at the Space Science Institute (SSI) in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) and Education Development Center (EDC). Support comes from NASA's Science Mission Directorate as part of its Science Activation program.

60 public and tribal libraries in the U.S. will be selected through a competitive application process to become NASA@ My Library Partners.

Applications will be accepted from May 17 to July 21. View the project guidelines and apply online. ALA members and nonmembers are encouraged to apply.

ALA's EDI Speakers Bureau is a great resource to find experts on equity, diversity, and inclusion topics. These knowledgeable presenters can speak to staff about making your library a more equitable space.

The EDI Speakers Bureau includes speakers' location, biography, and areas of expertise. Users may nominate a speaker to be added to the EDI Speakers Bureau and content-experts may submit themselves to be listed on the website.

Access the website here.

On June 20, 2021, the world will observe the United Nations' (UN) World Refugee Day. This event honors the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict, and violence.

The American Library Association and the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs are hosting a webinar on June 18, 12 p.m. Central. The webinar will present the experiences of libraries in and outside the United States serving refugees, and policies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic that have impacted the welfare of refugees and asylum seekers.

Register today.

ALA's Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services maintains a list of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) opportunities that are geared toward the LIS profession.

Library workers are encouraged to complete this form to add any and all upcoming EDI events that include registration options for individuals outside of a particular institution/membership organization.

View the resource.

Have you visited Intersections lately? Intersections, ODLOS' blog, highlights the work of library and information science workers as they create safe, responsible, and all-inclusive spaces that serve and represent the entire community, as well as initiatives and projects supported by the office that promotes their work.

This past month, ODLOS has highlighted stories on outreach services and the hiring process.

Peruse the blog posts and offer your own thoughts by visiting Intersections.