New Community Launches for Christian Publishing Professionals of Color
By Elodie Q. Leroy
As a person of color working in the White, male-dominated industry of publishing, you know what it is to feel lonely. Invisible. Quieted. The effects of being in this context, day in and day out, can wear on you. That is why Embolden Media Group founder and CEO, Jevon Bolden, launched an online community called Christian Publishing Professionals of Color (CPPOC) on February 3, 2020.
In this group, you will:
Connect with other Christian publishing professionals of color
Be heard as you share your unique challenges and opportunities
Discover ways to grow in your career
Build confidence in your personhood and expertise
Get encouragement, advice, like-minded empathy, and support
Christians of color working in our field need a space to be fully ourselves and, in CPPOC’s online community, we will not be overlooked, excluded, passed over, outnumbered, outvoiced, outvoted, or underserved.
Prior to launching Embolden Media Group, Jevon worked in the Christian publishing industry for twelve years as senior acquisitions editor for nonfiction adult titles and then spent a few years working in mainstream publishing as a senior nonfiction kids editor. She created this community because of the need for camaraderie she had and perceived among others in the field. She also longed to be heard without having to say so much to be understood, and then to gather with others around what matters most—getting beautiful and diverse books in the hands of a beautiful and diverse reading audience.
YOU ARE SERVED
Here, you are SERVED:
S - Seen
E - Embraced
R - Represented
V - Valued
E - Elevated
D – Divinely diverse
If you are a Christian publishing professional of color—a veteran with decades of experience or a new hire—working in traditional publishing or providing services that serve the Christian publishing industry—marketing, sales, distribution, ghostwriting, editing, literary agenting—we invite you to join our private Facebook group.
Members do not come to promote, solicit for, or advertise individual or freelance products or services except in the case of necessary networking and in strategic effort related to diversifying Christian publishing.
Ultimately, the purpose for this private group is evolving, but as Christian publishing is in much need of diversifying, those professionals of color who work as often the only BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in majority-culture spaces need a place to connect and know they are not alone.
Your perspective, voice, and experience matter so much. As we know that diversity is God’s idea and that Christian publishing has a long way to go, you’re also invited to strategize and problem solve with us.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and join the private Facebook Group.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
In an online dialogue with Jevon about forming the group, Rachel Kang, writer and creator of Indelible Ink Writers, said, “You’re putting words to an intangible that I myself, and I’m sure many other publishing professionals of color, feel and sense—the externals of lack of representation, support, and opportunity, as well as the internal feelings of inferiority and inadequacy that come with stepping into a field where a greater White narrative still dominates, which stems from America’s history with literature and education.”
She went on to say, “We not only need more books written by women and men of color, we need more women and men of color on the other side of those books—acquiring, harnessing, and refining these stories. This is needed. You’re the one—please do be another hand on the plow paving the way.”
“Following, joining, supporting,” said Jamie Lapeyrolerie, senior marketing manager from Waterbrook and Multnomah, who was one of the first to join CPPOC. “I get a lot of the industry newsletters (about diversity in publishing) and follow along, and while they are helpful in many ways, I think one for the Christian space is much needed. Plus, I’d love to know who else is out there.”
“I’ve been wondering whether there was a group like this for a while now,” says Patnacia Goodman, acquisitions editor for Bethany House Publishers, “so I am very, very, VERY happy this community exists!”
Amanda Mae Steele, marketing specialist for B&H Kids, says, “I’m grateful, especially as someone new to this industry, to be around other seasoned publishing professionals who are black/POC—who get it. This community helps me persevere when I feel like my efforts are futile and I’m tempted to give up.”
“Being Christian and a POC can feel like being an unwanted nomad in the land of publishing,” says E. Danielle Butler, independent publishing expert and ghostwriter, “CPPOC has become home; I can stop wandering.”
“A community like this is sorely needed. Despite the release of titles that are inclusive, the publishing industry—particularly in decision-making roles—is sorely underrepresented,” said, Woodley Auguste, principal of The Awareness Agency. “CPPOC will not only provide support and encouragement for industry veterans, but also those new to the industry.”
Other founding members include Lisa A. Crayton, freelance writer and editor; and Ashley Hong, assistant editor from Convergent Books/Random House.
YOU ARE PART OF A NEW THING
If you speak to enough people in and outside the field, you may hear that this specific moment in history feels unique. As conversations swirl around representation, community, and Brown and Black lives, there is a special energy in the air. Could it be that the Lord is doing a new thing? With CPPOC, we certainly hope so. Come experience this moment in time with us!
Click here to see our ECPA Rush to Press announcement.
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EMBOLDEN MEDIA GROUP LLC is a boutique publishing consulting firm headquartered in Central Florida that provides publishers and authors quality content development and publishing services that help them reach growing, diverse, and global audiences. It is the holding company for jevonbolden.com, Embolden Literary, Embolden Publishing Group, Christian Publishing Professionals of Color, and Pneuma Writers.
Elodie Q. Leroy serves Embolden Media Group as a literary agent intern and is also the managing editor for The Witness: A Black Christian Collective.
For more information: christianPOCinpublishing@gmail.com.