On an island in the Salish Sea, hanging out with four-legged companions while worming through books, you'll find Jeanne Dodds, ABSF's new Administrative Director. Jeanne's professional background centers interdisciplinary professional and academic practice in arts and sciences, including several decades as an entrepreneur and educator. She's taught in schools, museums and non-profits around the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, and in international locations.

 Her experience as a researcher in locations such as Rwanda, Malaysia and Costa Rica includes field work searching for nocturnal venomous snakes and the delivery of invited talks, conference papers, and workshops for universities and professional organizations. As...

leaves, a bookstore and rare book room in Brooklyn, NY, was created by Francisco Hernandez in the spirit of building and sustaining community. With a desire to develop stronger book trade connections to youth and young audiences, Hernandez designed leaves with the aim of making books affordable, accessible, and relevant. Hernandez previously ran Alabaster Bookshop as a manager, and is a CABS-Minnesota Diverse Voices Fellowship alumnus. He offers insights into the process of developing and running leaves.

Jeanne Dodds:

What motivated you to create leaves, your second-hand bookstore and rare book room?

Francisco Hernandez:

I think I was pretty unhappy...