After learning that Ellen Brooks West Memorial Library was closing in late December 2019, founder and now President of Citizens for a Forney Area Library, Flower Escamilla turned to fellow Forney neighbors on social media about the development. As a mother of three, Flower is passionate about libraries, literacy and learning. She regularly took her children to preschool story time on Wednesdays at Ellen Brooks.
From discussions on Facebook regarding the closing of Ellen Brooks West Memorial Library, Flower moved to organize a community action group in early January 2020. Residents living in and outside of Forney city limits joined, sharing their enthusiasm for reading, expertise in library science, concerns about the absence of a public library and the negative effects it would have on the community. The group quickly laid out key focus areas including finding temporary library space, researching funding sources, educating fellow citizens about the impact libraries have on communities and organizing children's literacy programs.
In March of 2020 the community action group evolved to form a 501(c)3 nonprofit and an interim board was appointed. We are friends, neighbors and volunteers who are passionate about books, literacy and the world of libraries! We live all around the Forney area; within Forney city limits, outside of city limits, to parts of unincorporated Kaufman county. Our board has been made up of business women, homeschool mothers, librarians, designers and library advocates that love our community and the people in it. We are dedicated to building a greater realization of the benefits a library has to the continued development of our community.
We are dedicated to building a greater realization of the benefits of a library to the continued development of our community.
Flower has been a part of the Forney community for over 15 years, enjoys playing the flute and spending time with her family. She believes libraries increase the quality of life in a community and is excited to help the city of Forney reach it’s potential!
Monica is a design strategist and longtime resident of Forney. She loves public libraries because of the opportunities and resources they bring in creating vibrant communities. She can’t wait for Forney to have a library that residents of all ages can enjoy!
Trish lives in Forney with her husband, Nick, two sons, and two cats. She is a substitute teacher at Forney ISD. She grew up in Pittsburgh,PA and still visits the Carnegie Library often.
Henrie is a resident of Forney for over 8 years. She retired from MISD as a Administrative Assistant and looks forward to being part of the future of a Forney Library.
As a public, academic, and now corporate librarian, Julie Hyatt believes in the necessity of libraries for everyone. She loves running, Harry Potter, and basil. She and her husband have three boys and have lived in Forney, TX for four years.
Athena loves books, libraries, and everything they stand for. She plays softball and soccer, while raising three kids with her husband. Athena’s favorite book genre is fiction and mystery.
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