The Greater Baltimore Urban League is having The Maarifa Multicultural Youth Book Fair on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at the Waverly YMCA at 900 E. 33rd Street in Baltimore from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

The book fair will provide children and young adults in grades K-12 with free books that promote intercultural understanding, encourage self-awareness, and foster respect for all cultures. Maarifa means knowledge in Swahili. The Maarifa Multicultural Youth Book Fair seeks to bridge the cultural knowledge gap by providing children and youth with books that celebrate diversity and enhance their understanding of diverse cultures. We have books that are representative of all cultures. Notable authors include Jacqueline Woodson, Elie Wiesel, Ezra Jack Keats, Walter Dean Myers, Ntozake Shange, Amy Tan, Dr. Bernice King, Grace Lin, Lois Lowery, Rafe Martin, Alice Walker, Rita Williams-Garcia, Taro Yashima, and many more. Children are free to explore and choose the books that they are interested in; there is a limit of 5 books. 

Research has shown that increasing and giving children the choice to choose the books they want to read improves academic performance and attitudes towards reading. In keeping with The National Urban League’s Equity and Excellence Project, we will work to ensure educational equity for every child by providing access to free books. Come join us for a day of books, refreshments, giveaways, and more at The Maarifa Multicultural Youth Book Fair! Let books be your passport to exploring different cultures! We look forward to seeing you there!  Partnering with Reading Partners, Baltimore Read Aloud, and others for this event.