Who are We?

The Future Leaders Book Club is a small business with a mission to increase access to amazing children’s literature that promotes diversity and inclusion, emotional health and well-being, body positivity, and stewardship of the Earth and our communities.

We offer books for a variety of ages, that bring to the pages images and stories of diverse characters, written and illustrated BY diverse authors and illustrators.  These books will be through our subscription boxes and pop-up discount sales but we will also bring these same researched and intentionally chosen books into the hands of children and families that may not have easy access to them through our work with community partners.

Our Pillars

Diversity and Inclusion

As research has shown, racism, homophobia, and sexism are all taught behaviors, sometimes unintentionally so. At FLBC we believe the best way to assist in creating a more understanding accepting world for future generations is to create positive exposure to differing cultures at an earlier age.

There are two main groups of children reading books today, those that rarely, if ever, see a positive representation of themselves and their families, and those that rarely, if ever, see positive representations of people different from themselves or their families.

We aim to bring the images and positive stories of children and families of different colors, backgrounds, and sexual orientation into the homes of children and families that historically do not see positive representation of themselves in media and desperately need to see representation in the books they read. We also aim to expose children and families of to various backgrounds unlike their own in order to promote diversity and inclusion in their homes and in our world.

Body Positivity

Images throughout our culture depict women's and men's bodies in very unrealistic ways that set unachievable standards. This starts early in books made for children and can have a deeply harmful, lifelong impact on their health and well-being. Thoughtful choice goes into the books we provide. We aim to bring positive imagery of the bodies of all people, promoting early development of body positivity, healthy living, and confidence.

 Emotional Health and Well-Being

Experiencing the world for the first time is hard work. Children are constantly managing new experiences and big feelings. Learning to manage these feelings in healthy ways helps to promote lifelong emotional health.

Many books have been written to help teach our children about these new feelings they will experience. We offer books that discuss these more difficult concepts in ways that our children can understand with imagery that also promotes and celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Love of Environment and Community

Caring for the world around you and the people in your community is a key component to developing strong future leaders in this world. Books that help bring nature and the environment closer to home will help connect our children to the greater world around us and the impact we can have on it.

Learning to connect and care for our communities is a learned skill that can be cultivated early on. Creating a sense of connection and stewardship for our place in this world will be a huge foundational step for our future leaders. 

Our Founders

 

  • Abra Foster, DVM, MS

    She/Her/Hers

    CEO, Co-Founder

    "Raising tiny humans is sacred. And the impact we have on the world is directly linked to how we help to mold the leaders of tomorrow, our children. I knew it was going to take conscious effort to show my children a different world than I grew up in."

  • Ryann Foster, MA, BS

    She/Her/Hers

    Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, Co-Founder

    "I feel that children should be exposed to many different types of stories, with characters from every color of skin, body type, and sexual orientation. We are all made differently and there is such a beauty in difference. I pray that we are able to encourage our future leaders to embrace what is different, stand up for what is right, and be the change that this world so desperately needs."

  • Julia Perez, MEd, BA

    She/Her/Hers

    Director of Communications, Co-Founder

    "I believe the more that individuals are exposed to different races, sexual orientations, and genders the more understanding and accepting they become. As it is my mission to advocate for change, diversity and inclusion, I felt the best way to do so was to start in a place where children’s concept of the world is molded, in children’s literature."