Celebrating Virgin Islands Voices at the 2025 National Book Festival

The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) proudly represented the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 2025 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. CFVI staff, alongside four scholarship recipients, engaged with festival guests from across the U.S. to share the unique stories, culture and spirit of the Virgin Islands, connect with readers and celebrate literature.

Also in attendance was young adult author Jennifer Keats Curtis, co-author of the book “Lizard Lady,” which was selected by the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book as one of the 2025 Great Reads from Great Places. Born in the Virgin Islands, Curtis is the award-winning author of more than 20 books, many of which feature stories that aim to make science accessible for young audiences.

Photographed (from left to right) are Jennifer Keats Curtis, co-author of “Lizard Lady”; Beth Nuttall, CFVI Director of Grants and Programs; Sonia Barnes-Moorhead, CFVI Vice President, Development and Capacity Building; and scholarship recipient Twanna Hodge.

Photographed (from left to right) are CFVI scholarship recipients, who tended to the CFVI table at the festival: Erik Encarnacion, Curtis Charlery Jr., Twanna Hodge, and Tashema Clarke.