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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING CHICAGO BOOKS TO WOMEN IN PRISON FOR NATIONAL LITERACY MONTH
WHEREAS, Chicago Books to Women in Prison (CBWP) is an all-volunteer group that distributes paperback books free of charge to incarcerated people nationwide, focusing on all women and trans/non-binary people; and,
WHEREAS, CBWP also sends books to jails and other short-term facilities in Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, CBWP was founded in 2002 as a feminist project by a “group of bookworms, archivists and activists” who objected to the penal system and wanted to encourage prisoner solidarity; and,
WHEREAS, books are valuable to this demographic because this is a crucial way to pass time and library privileges are hard to come by; and,
WHEREAS, reading is an important part of an inmate’s overall well-being and helps reduce recidivism and support personal development; and,
WHEREAS, CBWP takes books requests from incarcerated people and matches each request from a stock of thousands of donated books; and,
WHEREAS, CBWP aims to bridge the gap in rehabilitation through its book donation program; and,
WHEREAS, CBWP has sent over 3,000 books in 2020. In 2019 and 2018, the organization sent collectively 29,907 books and composition books to women and trans people locked up across the country; and,
WHEREAS, in honor of September as National Literacy Month, the work of organizations like Chicago Books for Women in Prison is recognized.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners and residents of Cook County honor Chicago Books to Women in Prison for National Literacy Month.
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