Highlighting Diverse Voices: How a Young Adult Leadership Development Grant From NBA Helped Launch A Community-Centered Book Club 

Allison Nash noticed an increasing number of books being banned from libraries in the schools she worked for in Missouri and Indiana. While the quantity itself was alarming, she also noticed a trend. Several of the banned books didn’t contain explicit material; rather, they focused on stories about queer people and people of color. Knowing that it would be difficult to include these books within the curriculum standards of the schools she worked for, Allison was inspired to step outside the classroom and develop a book club that amplified diverse stories.  

“I think that reading is such a source of empathy; if you are able to connect with a character in a story, you feel like they’re your friend, and it’s harder to hate someone if you know someone,” she says. “I felt like having all this knowledge, I wanted to be able to have the opportunity to discuss stories specifically focused on diverse voices with people.”  

Allison, a Masters of Divinity graduate student at the Disciples Divinity House of the University of Chicago, carried around the idea for a book club in her head for about a year. The turning point, she says, was being awarded one of NBA’s Young Adult Leadership Development Grants. “The grant gave me the launching pad to make something real and helped build a solid foundation for the book club.” Shortly thereafter, the All My Neighbors Book Club was established, fostering a love of reading and connection around books containing diverse voices.

The book club is already off to a great start. Allison was only expecting about 10 people to participate when they started meeting in Fall 2025, but nearly 15 people have shown up each week. And despite an intense reading schedule, covering nearly 80 pages each session, members have been engaged in conversations, even inquiring about what the next book would be before they were finished with the first. While they are in between books currently, Allison says the group has continued to meet and discuss what they have been reading as individuals, how they are we continuing to seek out diverse books, and how they are continuing to create community around reading.  

Allison also aspires to launch book clubs for children. This fall she attempted to launch two virtual children’s book clubs (ages 8-11 and 11-13) centered on diverse stories. Unfortunately, while the book club advertisements garnered a lot of interest, availability conflicts in scheduling sessions prevented participation. She is currently reconsidering the format to see if she can start these book clubs up later this year.  

“I’m just so grateful to NBA for this opportunity, and exploring how we uplift stories of people of color, of queer people, and make sure that we’re not only reading these stories, but also thinking and engaging about what is their lived experience.”  

NBA is currently accepting applications for Young Adult Leadership Development Grants through February 4th, 2026. Can this grant benefit you or a young adult in your life? Learn more and apply today!