Introducing WNDB's brand new Rise Up: Retention Program for Diverse Mid-Level Publishing Professionals, inspired by the Diversity Baseline Survey (2.0) that was released by Lee & Low Books in 2019.
According to Lee & Low's survey, diverse staff often leave the publishing industry within three to six years, due to barriers like toxic workplace environments, lack of room for career growth, and unsustainable pay.
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Rise Up will include a community platform for diverse mid-level adult and children’s publishing professionals to connect, share resources, and join in virtual meet-ups based on interest on a private Discord server, which will be facilitated by WNDB. Rise Up will also include a virtual professional development webinar series in 2022 for diverse mid-level publishing professionals.
In creating this initiative, WNDB gathered input from our mid-level Internship Grant alumnx, the Internship Grant committee members, and the larger WNDB community who work in the publishing industry to launch a program that will support the diverse mid-level professional community.
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The WNDB Internship Grant Program, a precursor to this initiative, began eight years ago to award supplemental grants to interns from diverse backgrounds to help further their goals of pursuing a career in children’s book publishing. In 2021, the program widened its scope to include adult publishing.
While WNDB has helped more than 50 interns find full-time work in both adult and children’s publishing via our Internship Grant program, we recognize the urgency to support diverse mid-career professionals so that we retain their expertise in an industry where marginalized voices are needed more than ever.
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"As publishing seeks to diversify behind the scenes, active support for existing talent often falls by the wayside in favor of the visibility of new hires; retention of mid-career publishing professionals from marginalized communities dwindles and rapid turnover is increasingly common. A program like [Rise Up] would provide resources and a safe, empowering space for those faced with the extra challenges of navigating the industry as individuals historically underrepresented and underserved in the industry."
—Jas Perry (2018 Internship Grants Alumnx), Literary Agent, KT Literary; Director of Special Projects, People of Color in Publishing
Rise Up is a program for diverse mid-level publishing professionals. We Need Diverse Books recognizes all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA+, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. Learn more about how to join on our website.
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Keep up with us on social media for updates, giveaways, program announcements, book suggestions, and more!
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![A program like [Rise Up] would provide resources and a safe, empowering space for those faced with the extra challenges of navigating the industry as individuals historically underrepresented and underserved in the industry. — Jas Perry (2018), Literary Agent, KT Literary, Director of Special Projects, People of Color in Publishing](https://mcusercontent.com/be761490cb624ab602f2a5487/images/000cd5f4-68a4-198b-8245-127b247b94cd.png)
![[Rise Up] would provide that much-needed support to retain diverse employees and increase the chances that someday the supervisors and faces of publishing will look like us—and the entire industry, including the books we produce, will be better for it. —Mikayla Lawrence (2019), Production Editor, HarperCollins Children’s Books](https://mcusercontent.com/be761490cb624ab602f2a5487/images/711f4dd2-9e29-dadf-5b9d-ec338bd16434.png)
