Berkeley Public Library Foundation Honors News from Native California and Berkeley Roundhouse with Fred and Pat Cody Award at 22nd Annual Authors Dinner

BERKELEY, CA—The Berkeley Public Library Foundation proudly presented the Fred and Pat Cody Award at its 22nd Annual Authors Dinner on Sunday, February 23, celebrating literary excellence and cultural contributions.

This year’s Cody Award was given in recognition of Heyday publisher’s 50th anniversary to the editors of News from Native California magazine and the Berkeley Roundhouse for their exceptional dedication to amplifying the voices and experiences of California’s Indigenous peoples. Through their work, they have preserved the cherished knowledge of older generations while fostering new spaces for Native traditions in the modern world. Their contributions—through storytelling, art, heritage, and social justice advocacy—have made a lasting impact on California’s literary and cultural landscape.

Accepting the award on behalf of News from Native California and the Berkeley Roundhouse was Terria Smith, the magazine’s editor and a director of the Berkeley Roundhouse. A tribal member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians in Southern California, Smith is also the editor of Know We Are Here: Voices of Native California Resistance.

The Cody Award honors individuals and organizations whose work shapes, broadens, and illuminates our literary world. Named after Fred and Pat Cody, the founders of the legendary Cody’s Books, the award has been presented annually since 2004.

The evening’s festivities, often called Berkeley’s favorite meet-the-authors gala, featured an elegant reception and gourmet dinner, where guests mingled with renowned authors and celebrity hosts. Alexis Madrigal, host of KQED’s Forum, served as emcee, while former UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ was the evening’s Honorary Chair.

Among this year’s honored authors were a Nobel laureate, a Jeopardy! champion and pioneer, two celebrated chefs, two Emmy-winning journalists, naturalists, storytellers, activists, scholars, and commentators reflecting the diversity of voices shaping today’s literary and cultural conversations.