The Heart of Service: Cecilia Golombek
By Tyler McClure
Cecilia Golombek is the Volunteer and Program Coordinator at Brooklyn Book Bodega and has kept the Book Hub moving like clockwork since the summer of 2021. She started as a volunteer and eventually joined as a staff member. Her hard work and dedication help Brooklyn Book Bodega in its mission to increase the number of 100+ book homes for kids ages 0-18 in New York City.
During our conversation, Cecilia emphasized the importance of civic engagement and volunteering which is rooted in her upbringing. She comes from a family that recognizes the importance of giving back to the community and using your voice to make an impact.
Throughout the interview, I learned the significance of volunteering as a route to developing leaders within Brooklyn Book Bodega and Cecilia’s vision to increase opportunities through volunteering. Her journey showcases the evolution of her involvement with Brooklyn Book Bodega.
How did you find out about Brooklyn Book Bodega?
I found out about Brooklyn Book Bodega in 2020. I had some changes in my work schedule, so I was able to start adding community involvement back into my schedule. And, I really wanted to do something similar to a project that I have known about forever in Baltimore called The Book Thing of Baltimore; it's a warehouse of free books. I wanted to find something similar to that in New York and came across Brooklyn Book Bodega which was the only one that was running all year-round and was super easy to sign up for. I signed up as a volunteer and just never left.
What did volunteering at the Book Hub look like before you became the Volunteer and Program Coordinator?
It was only two shifts per week and they were much earlier in the day because that's what worked at the time. It was mostly groups of us sitting on the floor and sorting through whatever boxes were in the bin from downstairs. Before the lockdown, we were running these big book parties, which are similar to our events, but they were happening primarily in the Brooklyn Navy Yard lobby. Then because of the lockdown, people still needed books. Seema and Rebecca found a way to still get the books out, and that's where the book requests started happening.
Since I've started, we've been able to add more shifts and since adding more shifts, we have had more people join as volunteers. And our name has just become more widely known. We're getting a lot more donations…giving out more books. There's just a lot more happening each week.
What made you decide to work for Brooklyn Book Bodega? Was it an invitation?
I had been volunteering with Brooklyn Book Bodega for a bit, and Seema was about to go on vacation, so the Book Hub was going to be shut down for like two weeks…I looked at her, and I said, “But can I just come in like, what am I supposed to do with my time?” She said, “Well, let's talk about that.” So from that conversation, I was then offered a position. I started in June or July of 2021. There had already been discussion about growing the staff. It really happened naturally that they were in a position to grow. I wanted to keep showing up whether Seema was there or not.
Describe a day working in the Book Hub and how you balance between volunteers and appointments.
A day in the Book Hub is filled with appointments that I work on throughout the whole week…building out a schedule that makes sense so that we're not overtaxing ourselves, and it gives enough buffer time between things. So, there's a lot of mixing calendars and other people's schedules. I'm building out schedules of people dropping off books and picking up books. Then, looking at what volunteers I have on any particular day when I want to get certain packing done, that's when I will present that task right in our orientation. I’ll direct to certain people…but I also want to make sure you're doing the thing that you like doing. So it's an offer that it would be helpful if you could do this ...I try to make it an invitation.
As the Volunteer and Program Coordinator, what do you value being at Brooklyn Book Bodega?
I grew up in a house where civic engagement and volunteering were very important and equally important was reading. So I just want people to have a lot of fun…find something that brings you joy for taking time out of your day. We only have limited time and limited energy to talk with people…leave the house…go and do things. I want it to be meaningful. I want to create a space where people want to keep coming and talk to their friends about it and keep thinking about it. And, I love finding the right book for people and having conversations with folks. It just brings me a lot of joy. I loved it as a volunteer. I love it as a staff member, and I want to be surrounded by people who have that same excitement about it and…create that space for them to have. That is what I love.
Could you tell me why you pursued a career in the nonprofit sector?
It just always made sense to me. I tried corporate full-time and after three months, we both said no. I've just always worked in nonprofits. At one point, I was looking at government work – working internships with a congressperson. I was looking to join the Department of State to do Diplomatic Corps and things like that. The kind of stuff that interests me has always been organizations that are nonprofits.
My educational background has been in history and international affairs. My family background… there are always questions of human rights. So that's always been a part of it as well. I think that that connects to civic engagement. I am originally from Argentina, and my family is from there. Argentina has had dictatorships for a hundred years. My parents grew up through one dictatorship after another. We left right after the last one ended, and because my parents grew up in a place where you don't take part, you don't speak up, you don't do these things, it was very important that in our new home, this is the thing that we do because we have the opportunity to do it. I think that's a big reason why civic engagement and education were so important for the family; it's the backbone of who we are now.
How do you envision the future of the volunteer program at Brooklyn Book Bodega?
More opportunities, having the Book Hub open more, having more people. Having more people that I can have developed as leaders in the space, during the volunteer shifts…volunteers that have been with us for a few shifts or are really showing an interest in this or come in with expertise…being able to have them take hold of something and be empowered to lead it. I eventually want someone to also be able to help me lead groups of individuals. I really would love to have more people like that…grow more leaders in the group and to add to our ambassador program, and to other opportunities as they come up.
Cecilia has lots of book recommendations by age, so I asked for some of her favorites. Here are her top choices:
For Elementary:
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Linnea in Monet's Garden by Cristina Bjork.
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson.
The Jolly Postman by Allan Ahlberg
Middle and High School:
S. by Doug Dorst and J.J. Abrams
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
Cecilia Golombek witnessed Brooklyn Book Bodega evolve over time. Brooklyn Book Bodega empowers individuals to seek a stronger connection to their community. Cecilia’s insights and personal journey ask us to consider how involvement and commitment can make a difference.
Cecilia is a dedicated staff member of Brooklyn Book Bodega and consistently creates a welcoming and inclusive space in the Book Hub. Under her watch, the Book Hub is focused on nurturing future leaders and with visions of expanding Brooklyn Book Bodega’s opportunities.
Join us for a volunteer session.
Tyler McClure attends St. Francis College and majors in Literature, Writing, & Publishing. She was Brooklyn Book Bodega’s spring 2024 intern.
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