CFVI Introduces USVI Authors and Books to Thousands

at the National Book Festival

CFVI staff members, Susan Clark, Controller; Sonia Barnes-Moorhead, Vice President of Development and Capacity Building; and Beth Nuttall, Director of Grants and Programs, set up the USVI Center for the Book booth at the National Book Festival.

U.S. Virgin Islands, August 26, 2024 — Tens of thousands of book lovers from all over the country and world, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, converged on the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the nation's capital this past Saturday to attend the 24th annual National Book Festival.

As the Library of Congress’ designated Center for the Book, U.S. Virgin Islands affiliate, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) hosted the territory's booth at the largest and most popular literary event of its kind in the country for the third straight year.

"It's called the Super Bowl of books for a reason," said CFVI's Vice President of Development and Capacity Building, Sonia Barnes-Moorhead. "And how appropriate that it was held right after the Olympics."

USVI author, Chanell Rohan, signs a copy of her book, "Ziggy on the Rock", for a young fan.

USVI author, Cadwell Turnbull, discusses his book, "The Lesson," with festival goers from St. Croix.

The sprawling three-story convention center was full of events, from book reading sessions for children to author panels, book signings, and more. Attendees could also purchase books by authors featured at the festival. Both of this year's USVI Great Reads authors, Cadwell Turnbull and Chanell Rohan, attended the free event, signed their books and interacted with fans.

Throngs of eager book lovers make their way into the National Book Festival on Aug. 24 in Washington, DC.

CFVI Controller, Susan Clark, affixes a USVI sticker on a young reader's Roadmap to Reading.

"It was a wild success," said CFVI Communications Manager, Sean Liphard. "Huge crowds, tons of books, lots of fun, and so many friendly faces from the Virgin Islands."

CFVI's booth is part of the Festival's Roadmap to Reading exhibit - a vast space at the festival where all 56 state and territorial Center for the Book affiliates have a table to promote their Great Reads book choices as well as other aspects of their state’s or territory’s unique literary heritage. The affiliates carry out the center’s mission of promoting books, reading, libraries and literacy, as well as their local literary heritage.

For more information about the USVI Center for the Book, visit https://cfvi.co/cfb.

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About the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands

Since 1990, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has been a catalyst for positive change in the territory through initiatives committed to youth, learning, family support and the environment. With a professional staff and a volunteer Board of Directors composed of community leaders, CFVI is a trusted advocate and supporter of programs that ensure opportunity and sustainability for current and future generations. CFVI is a registered non-profit organization entirely supported by individual donors, grants, trusts, corporate donations and estate planning. For more information, visit cfvi.net.

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