[applause] my name is justin desmangles. I am the chair of the before Columbus Foundation. About eight years ago i proceeded in that position, our founder, ishmael reed, we are very fortunate to have with us joining the program today. There were some very big shoes to fill. Of course, i want to thank our friends at the San Francisco jazz center who had been so generous in their support of the american book awards for the last several years. Also our friend at cspan who continue to support the Historical Mission of the before Columbus Foundation and american book awards. I will say a few things about our direction that we embarked on recently. Over the past several years we have expanded our programming to include a number of partnerships in the bay area and nationally, including those with the San Francisco Public Library who i am very honored to say, one of the representatives, stuart shaw who has been instrumental facilitating the collaboration between the before Columbus Foundation
Of the before Columbus Foundation. Where about it was about eight years ago, i succeeded in that position our founder ishmael reed who were prpght to have with us during the program today. Needless to say there were some very, very big shoes to fill. Orveg toipght thank our friends here at the San Francisco jazz center who have been so generous in their support of the american book awards for the last several years also our friends at cspan who continue to support Historical Mission and hern book awards. Ill say a few things about our direction that weve been embarked on recently. Over the past several years, we have expanded our ramming. To include a number of partnerships here in the bay area and nationally. Including those with the San Francisco Public Library who on very honored to say one of their representatives stewart shaw who has been so instrumental in facilitating collaboration between then an San Francisco Public Library has been about just this year we presented ann waled
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