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Commissioners hear presentation from Junior Authors program supporting youth publishing
Summary
The board paused its consent agenda to hear Jaquan Postel describe the Junior Authors program, which helps 10–17-year-olds publish books on Amazon and distribute them via local libraries and school partnerships; the county’s Inspire initiative and Economic Inclusion and Equity program provided equipment and support.
The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners paused its consent agenda on Dec. 10 to hear a presentation from the Junior Authors program, which publishes books by students ages 10–17 and supports signings and distribution through local libraries and school partners.
Jaquan Postel, representing the Junior Authors program, told commissioners the program began in September 2020 and has published more than 100 young authors. Postel said the books are made available on Amazon and Kindle, partner sites and public libraries; student authors retain the royalties (after a small initial fee) and often earn several hundred dollars at signings. The program partners with Cincinnati Public Schools communications and resource coordinators and holds book signings at libraries and partner venues.
Commissioner Stephanie Summer Odumas and Chair Denise Treehouse praised the program and invited continued partnership with county youth and school programs. The board asked Postel about school outreach and distribution; Postel explained outreach via after-school programming and resource coordinators and noted the program’s expansion into neighboring Ohio communities.
Postel credited support from Hamilton County’s Economic Inclusion and Equity office and the Inspire Youth Initiative for providing laptops, design equipment and other assistance that helped scale the program. Commissioners and staff congratulated the student authors and noted interest in attending book signings.
What happens next: Commissioners encouraged continued collaboration between the county and the Junior Authors program; the presentation did not require board action.
