Open Books - Repurposing donated books for those in need

Open Books repurposes over 100,000 donated books a month through book grants to children and family and in its retail stores - this presentation discusses where the books go and how Rotary can help.

PRESENTATION FOCUS

1. Open Books is a literacy-focused nonprofit organization that serves Chicago through reading and writing programs and access to books.
2. Open Books works with donors from across Chicagoland to collect used books, in addition to philanthropic gifts.
3. The organization's programs serve the West and South Sides of Chicago.  Its three bookstores - in the West Loop, Pilsen, and now Logan Square neighborhoods - help to fund these programs.

ABOUT ERIC

Eric Johnson joined Open Books as Executive Director in November 2018.  Eric most recently served as the Senior Director of Philanthropic Partnerships with Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL), a national organization focused on closing the academic achievement gap among pre-K–8th grade students through evidence-based, out-of-school-time programs.  Prior to BELL, he served as the Director of Development and Capacity at the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS), Chief Development Officer at the Golden Apple Foundation, and the Director of Development and Communication for the Inner-City Teaching Corps, now known as the Accelerate Institute.

Eric received his B.A. in Sociology at the University of Virginia, his M.S. in Learning & Organizational Change at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy, and his Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential. Most recently, Leadership Greater Chicago welcomed Eric into its 2023 LGC Fellows cohort and in 2022 Newcity named him among Chicago’s “Advocates, Educators and Changemakers” in its annual Lit 50 – those leaders who are driving change within Chicago’s literary and literacy community.