Angela Gaskins is a Library Manager with Chesapeake Public Library in Chesapeake, VA. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism; a Master’s in both Communication and Information Science, as well as a teacher certificate, school library media certificate and a certificate in library management. Interested in promoting a diverse range of services throughout Chesapeake, she launched Black Ink: LitFest, a literary festival that celebrates local authors, musicians, poets, and publishers of color in 2019. She also worked on transitioning the Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Library into a new library model housing outreach, tutoring, and business services expanding services into the community. In 2021, she received an ALA American Dream grant to allow the Library to run its first English Conversation Club, providing a safe space for non-English speakers to practice the language, gain confidence in their abilities, and make friends.