Join Kwame for a very special evening as he interviews Julieanna Richardson, founder of The HistoryMakers, that largest African American oral history project. Kwame will talk with Julieanna about her lifelong work of preserving the legacy of African American stories.

The program is presented in memory of the legenday Nikki Giovanni in partnership with The HistoryMarkers and The Poetry Foundation.

Register Here!

Note: Time listed is Eastern - local time for event is 5:00 - 7:00pm (CT)

Kwame and friend/fellow author Olivia Cole will sit down together at The Open Word Bookstore to discuss their new books - Kwame's Black Star and Olivia's The Empty Place.

Come learn about the compelling stories at the center of these books and hear Kwame and Olivia discuss their lives as writers and share engaging and inspiring stories with the audience. A book signing will follow.

This event is free and open to the public, but purchase of at least one of their books is required for the signing line.

Register HERE!

Action Dreaming is a free event, open to anyone: educators, parents, caregivers, dreamers, artists, activists and anyone who believes the power of community to foster educational change.

In an educational landscape teeming with uncertainties, it has become increasingly difficult to parent children, harder to teach them and it's especially challenging to be one. Too often the conversation focuses on what's good for education instead of what is actually good for children - and what is good for the people who love them. Let's put our dreams for children into action!

Join Kass and Cornelius Minor in partnership with Kwame for a community conversation about the future of learning that is focused on children. During this 90-minute interactive session be ready to engage with storytelling, questions and reimagining as we explore what education has been and what powerful, transformative learning CAN be. We'll focus on the essential question: What does it mean to raise free people?

You'll take away specific, actionable ideas for home and classroom was well as what to watch for in terms of policy proposals. We'll discuss actions you can dream into practice within your circle of influence.

Although this is a continuation of our September 2024 Action Dreaming event, you need not have attended that session to be able to participate fully in this one. Likewise, if you did attend our September event, you'll gain new perspectives and insights here.

The event is free but registration is required. You may register HERE!

Rescheduled from December!

Join Kwame and iconic children’s book author Mo Willems to learn about developing strong characters with words and illustrations.

Students will hear Kwame read from one of his children's books, then learn a strategy for creating strong characters in a brief writing lesson. Mo will read his most recent book, Lefty! Then students will learn from Kwame and Mo in a conversation about Mo’s approach to character as an author, illustrator, animator and playwright. The 45-minute virtual author visit ends with a live Q&A session, in which Kwame answers questions from children in the chat.

Register HERE! (Note: If you'd already registered for the event in December, you do NOT need to register again. Your original ticket will be honored for this rescheduled March event.)

Learn how Author Study supports student learning goals.

Kwame will receive the Ashley Bryan Body of Work award during the Texas Library Association's Black Caucus Roundtable for his impressive, impactful and important body of work. Ibram X. Kendi will deliver the keynote speech.

More information and tickets available here!

Note: Event time is 10:00am local

It’s National Poetry Month! Let these three superstar poets show students how poetry can be a starting point for other forms of writing.

Kwame will demonstrate the magic of poetry by reading to students from his award-winning classic, The Crossover. In a brief craft lesson taught by Kwame, students will learn how poetry can be a jump-off point for other writing. Then, students will learn from Jasmine, Alicia, and Kwame in conversation about their poetry and the importance of making our writing public by publishing or performing it. This one-of-a-kind virtual author visit ends with a live Q&A session.

Register HERE!

Learn how Author Study supports student learning goals.

Please save the date for this special event honoring the life and legacy of the incomparable Nikki Giovanni.

The event will be free and open to the public but tickets will be required.

Moss Arts Center

Virginia Tech University

Blacksburg, VA

3:00pm (ET)

More information to come!