Bolingbrook Residents Involved in National Library Conference

The annual American Library Association Conference will be held in Chicago from June 27 to July 2, and three Bolingbrook residents have starring roles.

Fountaindale Public Library board member Ruth Newell is coordinating the Coretta Scott King Awards Breakfast on Sunday, June 30. The 2013 Coretta Scott King Book Awards winners are celebrated at the annual Sunday breakfast honoring the year's best African American authors and illustrators of books for children and youth. The Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement recipient will also be honored.

Pastor Ken Hansen, the Lead Pastor from Living Water Community Church, will be a guest at the breakfast and will conduct the opening prayer. Pastor Hansen served for many years as the head of the Bolingbrook Clergy Association, and currently serves as the Chaplain for the Bolingbrook Fire Department. Through his leadership, Living Water has become known for their involvement and influence in the Bolingbrook community and region.

Another local resident that will be a guest at the breakfast is Riziki Covington. She is a 12-year-old seventh-grade honor student at Gregory Middle School in Naperville. Riziki will be giving a musical performance at the Coretta Scott King breakfast. She is in the sought-after ‘Project Arrow’ program for gifted and talented children.

Riziki is a member of Victory Cathedral Worship Center and participates in many youth activities at the church, including singing in the youth choir.  She also spends her time volunteering and serving others in places like ‘Feed my Starving Children’ in Aurora and a soup kitchen in Joliet.

The national conference attracts library staff and board members from all over the country. The conference includes well-known guests such as Giada De Laurentiis and Octavia Spencer.

Editor's note: Fountaindale Public Library submitted this article.