2Leaf Press Announces New Company, New Board, and a New Tagline

2Leaf Press announces the reorganization and rebranding of its organization to 2Leaf Press Inc., a new tagline that reinforces that the press is a “Black/Brown Female-Led Press,” and proudly introduces its seven newly elected women board members, who will each help 2Leaf Press with creative solutions to expand the press’ outreach.

2Leaf Press underwent a strategic reorganization early last year and transitioned from its former organization, The Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), and founded 2Leaf Press Inc. in January 2019 to streamline and better leverage its business. 2Leaf Press Inc. is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit publishing and multimedia organization that will continue its mandate to champion social justice and cultural awareness through various media including print, digital, film, video, apps and other multimedia outlets. Its publishing offices remain in New York City, and it will continue distributing phati’tude Literary Magazine.

To help the press meet its goal, it elected seven board members: Lyah Beth LeFlore, Tara Betts, Carolina Fung Feng, Sandra A. Garcia-Betancourt, Eman Rimawi, Chavisa Woods and Allicia Waukau-Butler. The new board members began their two-year terms effective September 2020 and can serve a maximum of two terms. They join existing board members, Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako), Robert C. Coburn, Lynn Korsman and Gabrielle David, and with their drive for innovation and passion for books, their key objective is to help grow 2Leaf Press’ assets with its distribution partner, University of Chicago Press.

David, who is publisher and serves as chair of the board stated, “I am thrilled to welcome these seven talented women who represent different cultural backgrounds. Their diverse wealth of experience and love for literature, and expertise in their fields will be a tremendous asset to 2Leaf Press.”

2Leaf Press is rolling out its new tagline, “Black/Brown Female-Led Press,” during Black History Month in February 2021, in conjunction with its month-long celebration of “Awesome Black Women.” The new tagline was created to let readers and supporters know that while publishing is notoriously rough terrain for women of color, 2Leaf Press seeks to change that by continuing to publish books by multicultural authors that appeal to a global and widely diverse audience.

“I am personally delighted to welcome such a strong group of new board members,” said Jackson, a professor of Black studies and library services, retired librarian and an original board member of the former organization. “I’m also very pleased that it will be women leading the next chapter of 2Leaf Press, and that our new tagline reflects this change. I look forward to working closely with them to help achieve our goals.”

In all, these changes embody an organization that is reinventing itself, but is still very committed to its mission to promote multicultural literature. This new organization and its board members will build upon 2Leaf Press’ history of innovation and literary excellence, but will also open doors to the future. To learn more about 2Leaf Press Inc. and to read its board member bios, click here.

DEREK NESBITT
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
dnesbitt@2leafpress.org