Library’s CEO Shares Her Story During Black History Month

During Black History Month, and throughout the year, we want to celebrate the profound impacts African Americans have made in Baltimore County and beyond. This includes celebrating the trailblazers, like our very own leader, Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, who is the library’s first Afro-Latina CEO. We sat down with Alcántara-Antoine to share what Black History Month means to her and how she is using her experience to help younger generations of librarians.

Q: Thank you for taking the time to sit down and talk with us about Black History Month, your success and how it is paving the way for others. Starting off, what does Black History Month mean to you? 

A: “Black History Month is about celebrating the rich history and diversity that exists within the African American community and the broader African American experience. I think it’s important to recognize that Black history, African American history, is American history and it’s a part of the story of us as a nation, as a people. It should be celebrated throughout the year. But also, the Black community is not monolithic. There are many different origin stories and journeys and experiences that make up the full rich experience. So, it’s an opportunity to remember, acknowledge, and learn.” 

Q: Speaking of origin stories, give us a little background on your family’s history. 

A: “My family immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic in the 1960s, and so I’m a daughter of immigrants and a first-generation American. My family settled in New York where there’s a robust and vibrant Dominican American community.”  

“People often assume that I am African American, but technically I am Hispanic. I am black and proudly Afro-Latina. I am the product of enslaved people who were brought from Africa to the Americas, so the term African American is apropos. I embrace the many facets of my identity and history. Black History Month is also the story of the African diaspora, which includes me.” 

Q: From a first-generation American to the first person of color to serve as our library system’s CEO. What an accomplishment. How does it feel? 

A: “It means a lot to me--It’s humbling honestly. First, to be the CEO of Baltimore County Public Library is a culmination of a personal and professional dream and I never thought when I started out in this profession that I would be here at this point in my life. But being the first person of color to hold this role is big too. Every time I walk through the lobby [of the Administrative Offices] and I see the portraits of my predecessors - Richard Minnick, Charlie Robinson, Jim Fish and Paula Miller, and then I see my face, that’s huge. I hope that it’s inspiring to other little boys and girls of color to know that this is a job that they can also do.” 

Q: The road to CEO has taken you through Florida, Virginia and Baltimore City. How did those moves get you to where you are today?  

A: “I moved around in the early part of my career because I was ambitious and did not want to stagnate professionally. I knew that growth would come once I sought out opportunities in other library systems, which required me to move. But initially I struggled as a newcomer to new organizations. I was usually the youngest person in the room and often the only person of color, or one of few, and I was plagued with a sense that I did not belong. Then eventually I realized ‘I’m here.’ Yeah, this was not a space that was designed for somebody who looked like me. I can’t go back in the past and change that—all I can do is be present in the here and now. I’m here today, I’m here now. I have a voice, I have a perspective that is unique from my colleagues, I bring something to the table. Once I leaned in, I gained more confidence which propelled me forward in my career.” 

Q: Your position as our CEO and PLA president has made you an obvious leader and mentor to so many.  

A: “It’s incredibly humbling to be in that position and know that people are looking at you and people who look like you are inspired by you. They know ‘if Sonia can do it, and she’s a first-generation American, she’s the daughter of immigrants, she’s Afro-Latina—if she can do it, I can do it too.’ That is what’s inspiring to me.” 

Q: What advice do you give to the younger generations of librarians? 

A: "I constantly see others struggling with their own insecurities, so I give them a boost, letting them know ‘you got this! You can do this!’ and offering words of advice. My hope is that [they] eventually go on to do amazing things and then eventually they’re going to pay it forward to the next generation of librarians and leaders coming up behind them. 

“Another thing that I like to do is build informal peer networks... where I get people together monthly. I have three groups I have established over the years, and we still meet. It’s about supporting each other, looking out for each other, giving one another advice, encouragement and the support that we need to be successful as leaders. People of color absolutely need those networks. And if they don’t exist, I encourage people to create them.” 

Q: One of the first things you did as CEO was create an Anti-Racism Statement for the library, and you recently signed the Declaration of Democracy on behalf of the system. What do you think it shows to both staff and the community? 

A: “I think it’s just a reminder for us, but also for folks in the community about what our values are. I think these statements are more than just words on the page, they are living documents that talk about who we are and what our values are, what’s important to us as an organization. The statements hold us accountable and keep us honest. It’s also good as a metric—if we go too far off the path, I think those statements have the ability to put us right back to the center where we need to be. 

“It also allows us to recruit staff and Library Board of Trustees members with intentionality to make sure we have the right people with the right skillset and the right attitude working at Baltimore County Public Library so that we can hold true to those statements.” 

In 2023, Sonia was named one of the Leaders in Diversity by “Baltimore Business Journal.” The annual award recognizes business and nonprofit leaders advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in their workplace. She was also selected as Top 100 Women in 2023 by “The Daily Record.” In her efforts to give back to young women, she is a mentor for Mentoring Monday hosted by the “Baltimore Business Journal.” happening Monday, February 26. To learn more about her leadership, or the rest of our leadership page, visit our website.