PEN America Seeks Program Assistant to Combat Book Bans and Censorship in U.S. Schools
PEN America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to free expression, is seeking a Program Assistant for its Freedom to Read program. This full-time, union-eligible position, based in PEN America’s New York City headquarters, will support research, analysis, and operations aimed at defending the freedom to read and learn in U.S. educational institutions. The Program Assistant will primarily focus on tracking and analyzing book bans and censorship in K-12 education and public libraries, contributing to a comprehensive database. Responsibilities include validating censorship cases through primary sources like school board meeting minutes and public records requests, managing submissions to PEN America’s Book Ban Report Tool, and providing administrative support to the team. The role emphasizes the urgent issue of free expression in American democracy and offers opportunities to contribute to research reports and advocacy efforts.
