a new and improved library
During the pandemic, the Lambertville Free Public Library undertook a full transformation. The new director, Jennifer Sirak, brought me on to help reimagine the library’s identity, from developing a new logo and user-friendly website to collaborating on programming and marketing strategy. At the heart of the rebrand was a clear vision: to position the library as a central hub with the motto Connecting the Community.
latinas in lambertville
On September 1, 2021, Hurricane Ida devastated Lambertville, displacing dozens—many from the Hispanic community. I had recently moved from New York City to live with my mom, Fran. While we were spared at home, my work studio flooded, and I lost everything. With little left to do, I began volunteering—using my Spanish to help residents at the FEMA tent and the Lambertville Library, which had become a crisis hub. I spent hours assisting families with paperwork, phone calls, and navigating an overwhelming system in a time of deep need. Side by side, I listened to stories of life in Mexico and the gratitude they felt for finding safety in Lambertville. But I also witnessed their daily struggles—language barriers, digital illiteracy, and navigating unfamiliar systems. As a filmmaker, I had told Latino stories from afar; now, I was living them up close, building real relationships and a lasting bond with the community. Soon after, the library received a grant for Hispanic outreach. I led the effort and helped launch Latinas en Lambertville: Aprender, Avanzar y Soñar—a program empowering Latina women through learning, growth, and dreaming big.
The Oaxaca Festival
The program’s success sparked Lambertville’s first Oaxaca Festival in 2022, honoring the city's Hispanic population—an estimated 90% from Oaxaca’s Costa Chica region. Over 600 people attended, many learning for the first time about their Oaxacan neighbors. By 2023 and 2024, the festival, which takes place in August, had tripled in size, with local families sharing traditional dances and making over 1,000 tamales alongside more than 100 white volunteers. That celebration is now featured in my upcoming documentary, A Way to Be Together.
The National Medal
Senator Cory Booker learned about the Oaxaca Festival and took note of our outreach and programming, subsequently nominating the Lambertville Library for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service—the nation’s highest honor for libraries. In 2024, we were one of only 15 libraries in the country to be finalists. It was mind-blowing for a town of just 4,200 people to reach that honor.
connecting the community
Our tiny but mighty library proved something profound: libraries are the beating heart of democracy. They remain one of the few truly free public spaces where people of all backgrounds can come together to learn, listen, and connect. I’m proud to be part of a team that creates programs and events that help foster a more united, inclusive, and vibrant community.