The House of SpeakEasy Book Truck Tour

The Ivy Bookshop is delighted to announce a collaboration with the House of SpeakEasy, CHARM: Voices of Baltimore Youth, and Narrative 4 to bring “Poetry to the People” to Baltimore. The House of SpeakEasy’s book truck is on an epic 3,200 mile journey from New York to New Orleans and back again, with numerous stops along the way to give away free books, highlight and celebrate local authors, and promote literacy and literary organizations. On Friday, June 28th, this cross-country tour will take its respite from the road at the Waverly YMCA (900 E 33rd St, Baltimore, MD 21218). 

While in Baltimore, in addition to giving books away to local residents, the House of SpeakEasy will feature Baltimore City’s Teacher of the Year, Kyair Butts, whose 6th grade students at Waverly Elementary/Middle School, in partnership with CHARM: Voices of Baltimore’s Youth, are excited to announce the publication of Will It Get Better? Our Baltimore Stories.

Says Kyair Butts, “My students have a passion for expression and sharing themselves with the world. They are proving to folks that Baltimore kids can do and be great things. They’ve worked hard and this project is a culmination of hopes and dreams realized- they’re published authors!” 

This collection of narratives and poetry showcase a range of emotions--nostalgia, passion, anger, despair, and hope--that Baltimore's young people feel about the city they live in, as well as what they envision for Baltimore's future. In addition to students reading excerpts from their work, expect story-telling workshops for kids of various ages led by Baltimore-based writers celeste doaks and Sheri Booker.

Says Emma Snyder, owner of The Ivy Bookshop: “We can’t imagine a better way to kick off the summer than by celebrating the voices of Kyair’s students who are creative and honest and thoughtful, and just plain brave enough to share their stories with the world. In my experience that’s not always an easy thing to do, and they do it just beautifully. We at The Ivy want this summer to be full of books for any and every one in Baltimore -- House of Speakeasy is here to help us make that happen, and we’re just excited to get to be a part of it.”

House of SpeakEasy is a NY-based nonprofit with a mission to connect writers and audiences. They also promote literacy and foster a love of books--specifically, engaging readers of all ages by demonstrating how works of literature can come alive beyond the printed page. Their bookmobile visits "book deserts" to offer low- to no-cost titles to communities who don't have easy access to bookstores or libraries. SpeakEasy believes strongly that access to books should not be taken for granted and that book ownership should not be a privilege.