Inaugural Kenya S. Flash Librarian Resident shares the highlights of year one

On Nov. 1, 2023, Nicholas “Nick” Wantsala joined Yale Library as the first Kenya S. Flash Librarian Resident for the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Department, headed by Director Risë Nelson. The three-year residency was established in honor of Kenya Siana Flash, who served as librarian for Political Science, Global Affairs, and Government Information at Marx Science and Social Science Library from 2017 until her death in 2021.

In his role as the Kenya S. Flash Resident, Nick works to identify and offer professional development opportunities and resources to staff members throughout the library system. He also creates and assists in creating community-engagement events and programs that strengthen Yale Library’s relationship with the city of New Haven.

Nick is from Cincinnati, Ohio, but has lived in New Haven, as a residential fellow in Davenport College, for the past year. “Having been in New Haven long enough,” he said, “I know there is a lot of work to be done for the underrepresented communities here. It is both my job and my passion to help in any way I can. That starts with meeting people where they are, uplifting them, and supporting them in ways that best serve their needs.”

Highlights of Year One

One of Nick’s “most memorable experiences” during his first year was participating in the citywide series of readings for “Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts,” the recent children’s book by civil rights activist Ruby Bridges. In 1960, Bridges became the first African American child to attend a racially segregated school in the South. Her book is a compilation of letters that Bridges has received from young people about social issues, including bullying, sexism, and gun violence.

“Other librarians and I read aloud to young students and families at four New Haven Public Library branches,” Nick said, “and at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Haven. I loved how grounded and engaging the events were, especially the interactions with the students and other local librarians.”

A second highlight for Nick was the summer’s Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade along Dixwell Avenue—the second-largest parade in New Haven and one of the oldest Black American parades in the Northeast. “It was a wonderful experience that allowed me to see the unique culture and personality of the community.”

Nick learned about the event through his colleague Diane Brown, the branch manager at Stetson Library on Dixwell, one of the parade organizers. “My role as a parade marshal was to help gather and organize all the participants, ensuring everyone knew where to line up and when to start walking,” he said. “I got to meet and talk with many people, which helped me understand how connected all the residents are.”

Supporting the Library Community

In addition to his other work, Nick supports DEIA initiatives through his active participation in the library’s community-building efforts and his involvement in organizations led by minority staff members. He is a member of LiSA, an association run by staff to promote knowledge, boost morale, and improve relationships through the exchange of information on topics of common interest.

Nick is also in the Responsible Metadata Editorial Working Group, which fosters responsible metadata operations and empowers library staff to remediate harmful and outdated descriptions. He is on the Social and Cultural Subcommittee of the Yale African American Affinity Group and is a member of the Librarian Promotion Review Process Working Group, which develops recommendations to ensure a transparent, equitable, and inclusive review process for librarians at Yale.

“I believe that to be a true supporter of DEIA initiatives,” he said, “you have to live it. You have to immerse yourself as much as possible by creating and collaborating with organizations and committees that do ground work—whether on campus or off— in ways that impact underrepresented communities in the city.”

Culture Change

In October, Yale Library’s DEIA Department hosted its first session in the three-part series Culture Change. This in-person series offers a comprehensive approach to building more inclusive, equitable libraries.

Participants learn essential principles and practices for promoting social change, enhancing organizational culture and climate, and reimagining library operations. Nick promotes and organizes the event, sharing program information with current and new library staff members and distributing take-home materials for participants’ ongoing, self-paced learning.

The Culture Change program is open to all library staff members. The next session, “Navigating Culture, Climate, and Norms: Prioritizing Key Issues in Yale Library Culture,” will be held on Wed., Nov. 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the lecture hall of Sterling Memorial Library.

The final session in this series, “Reimaging Organizational Dynamics: People, Place, Process, and Power,” will be held on Wed., Dec. 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 120, Sterling Law Building, 127 Wall Street. Contact Nick if you would like more information or would like to register to attend one or both sessions.

Read more about Kenya S. Flash and the Kenya S. Flash Librarian Residency.

—Deborah Cannarella