Who We Are
We are immigrants, 1st-3rd generation Americans, and long-term citizens — all committed to creating a culture of welcoming and belonging.
Executive Director
Kirsten Cappy co-founded I’m Your Neighbor Books in 2012. She brings 20 years of experience using children’s books and the companion tools she creates to increase curiosity, empathy, and cultural competency.
“Because books change our perception of ourselves and others, they are unexpectedly powerful anti-racist tools.” —Kirsten Cappy
Board Officers:
Pious Ali
Board Co-President, Co-Founder, City Councilman, Portland Empowered
Maria Testa
Board Co-President, Author, Community Organizer
Kimberly Simmons, Ph.D
Board Vice President, Affiliated Scholar, USM Women and Gender Studies
Abdelaziz Rhazzali
Board Treasurer, Engineer, Elementary Educator
Aldona Shumway
Board Secretary, ELL Educator
Board Members:
Dr. Krista Aronson, Ph.D
Director Diverse BookFinder, Bates College Professor and Associate Dean of Faculty
Jen Boggs
Writer, Researcher, Public Relations, Toderico Creative
Katherine G. Cutko
Co-Founder, Public Librarian, Social Worker
Deqa Dhalac
City Councilwoman, Maine Department of Education
Amy MacDonald
Author, Community Organizer
Audrey Maynard
Co-Founder, Children’s Book Editor and Educator
Founders and Staff:
Delanie Honda
Co-Founder, ELL Educator
Reza Jalali
Co-Founder, Author, Educator, Storyteller
Terry Farish
Co-Founder, Author, New Arrival Literacy Coordinator
Anne Sibley O’Brien
Co-Founder, Author/Illustrator, Diversity Advocate