Families Belong Together

If you’re like me, the news about immigrant families being separated and children being detained in horrifying conditions makes you ill to think about. This is a human rights violation happening on our watch. While I’m not an immigration lawyer or social worker, I can take a small part in this effort to reunify families and make sure these abuses never happen again.

Right now, in partnership with Kid Lit Says No Kids in Cages, the children’s and YA lit community has come together in a giant auction of tons of literary items, all raising money for groups such as the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, and more. Auction items include:

I’m taking part in two raffles–one that includes a signed copy of The Chance You Won’t Return and one that includes a query critique by yours truly.

See Writers for Families Belong Together for more information on how to donate and bid/enter raffles, and to scope out all the amazing items. This is an enormous, deeply upsetting problem and one we all need to address. I’m so glad to be taking part in this auction, and hope you take a moment to review the items. (Or donate in general!)

Kidlit for Cancer Research

This time next week, I’ll be running the Boston Marathon with the Dana-Farber team. I ran with Dana-Farner last year, too, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

But for charity team runners like me, fundraising for a great cause is even more important than the race itself. On the Dana-Farber team, we raise money for innovative cancer research at the Claudia Adams Barr Program, where scientists use this seed money to fund creative and dynamic projects that could make major lifesaving changes for patients and families. I know way too many people whose lives have been affected by cancer in some way, and I’m so honored to be part of these efforts to support science and fight cancer.

Right now, you can help support science and fight cancer AND win some awesome writerly items. What more could you want? Check out Kidlit for Cancer Research, in which some fantastic writers and agents have donated signed books and query/first page critiques! There’s some seriously awesome stuff like:

The auction closes tonight, so get your bids in now! 100% of funds raised go to groundbreaking research at the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.