We arrived late Saturday night so we were not able to attend the Ignite session held earlier that day. However, I was very pleased that the ABA actually created this session with the help of some of the BIPOC booksellers. There were also several Affinity Group sessions that were open to all who wanted to attend. I was inspired by Ocean Vuong's keynote speech which became very emotional when he talked about his journey as a young Vietnamese American writer.  

I was also impressed with the Tuesday keynote From Resistance to Resilience:  The Legacy and Future of Black Owned Bookstores. Being a Black Owned Bookstore, I was especially happy to see the interest and support that the ABA is putting in supporting our businesses. Ms. Janet Jones of Source Books in Detroit was especially inspirational given her history in Detroit as having the oldest Black-owned bookstore in the area. She is truly an inspiration to us all!

Although I enjoyed several sessions that I attended, one being the Policy and Procedures session, I was most excited to meet Kennedy Ryan at the Hachette dinner on Tuesday night and was overjoyed to learn that I would be seated next to her during our dinner. It was a complete joy and honor to meet her and get a chance to just talk.  

I thought it was a great Winter Institute. It is always so good to see old and new faces, and to spend time with fellow like-minded people. The conversations, the get-togethers, and the dinners were all so uplifting. I always feel so energized when getting back home and implementing the things I learned.