The Dayton Metro Library has introduced a new program series called Social Justice Speakers involving a series of unique and interesting speakers exploring and sharing their stories from their professional fields and personal journeys. The program aids to understand and demonstrate the effects of social justice in our society. The social justice speaker series will take place at the Main Library and registration is not required but each program is designed for a specific age group.
The Dayton Metro Library has a large and diverse lineup of speakers throughout the next several months into July. To start off, Saeed Jones is visiting on Sat., June 11, 2022, 2:30-3:30 pm.
Jones is an author who has a powerful voice in the world of literary activism. He has shaped his platform into a tool for social awareness, breakthroughs, and connections. In 2019, Jones received a Kirkus Prize for nonfiction for his memoir, “How We Fight for our Lives”. In 2020, Jones received a Lambda Literary Award and a Stonewall Book award. His debut poetry collection, “Prelude to a Bruise” was awarded the 2015 Pen/Joyce Osterwell Award for poetry. Jones’s next collection, “Alive at the End of the World” is anticipated for the fall 2022 release. Jones is also the founding editor of Buzzfeed LGBT and will discuss his experiences in writing and working in news and exploring all things pop culture. Books will be available for purchase and autographing courtesy of Half Priced Books.
Saturday, July 9, 2022, 11 am-12:30 pm at the Dayton Metro Library will have three local, first-time authors who seek to inspire children and youth from diverse backgrounds will gather for a moderated author panel and Q&A session led by Te’Jal “TJ” Cartwright, other panelists include Kiara Berry and her book (Which cape will I wear today). Henry L. Benton III and his book (Yes Dad) and (H is for HBCU’S) and kwaunisha Moore and her book “Baby Girl, Encourage Yourself).
Saturday, August 6, 2022, 2 pm-3:15 pm Dayton Metro Library will have Candice Matthews Bracken, a general partner at Lightship Capital. Bracken directs programming for the Lightship foundation and expands upon her work by driving representation in innovation with her role at the lunar surface innovation consortium for NASA. Brackeen also sits on the Advisory Committee and selection committees for technology for Ohio State University and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and medical center. This program will coincide with the Gem City black business month.
Thursday, Sept 8, 2022, 11 am- 12 pm and 6 pm-7:30 pm Dayton Metro Library will have Leah Thomas joining them who is an environmentalist based in Santa Barbra, CA who earned the term “Eco Communicator” to describe her style of environmental activism. Thomas is also the founder of the Eco-Lifestyle blog @greengirlleah. Thomas also published the book, the Intersectional Environmentalists in March, her writing has also appeared in a variety of publications and podcasts.
Tue, Sept 20, 2022, 10-11:15 am, Dayton Metro Library will have speaker Hanif Abdurraqib who is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio. His poetry has been published in Muzzle, Vinyl, PEN American, and other various journals. His essays and music criticism have been published in the FADER, pitchfork, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. His first full-length collection, the crown ain’t worth much was released in June 2016 and was named a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book prize and was also nominated for a Hudson-Wright legacy award. His first book “They Can’t Kill us Until They Kill us” was released in the winter of 2017 and his essay “Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to a Tribe Called Quest” in February 2019. The book “They Can’t Kill us Until They Kill us” became a New York Times best seller and was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and was long-listed for the National Book Award. His second collection of poems “A Fortune for your Disaster” was released in 2019 and won the 2020 Lenore-Marshall Prize. His newest release “A little devel in America 2021” was a winner of the Andrew Carnegie medal and Gordon Bum Prize and was also a finalist for the National Books Critics Circle Award.
Sat. Oct 22, 2022, 2:30-3:30, Dayton Metro Library will have author Michael Thomas Ford who will discuss his many books for both adults and young readers that focus on the experience of being a part of the LGBTQ community. His novels include “Suicide Notes” and “Love and Other Curses” for young adults. Adult novels include “Lily”, “Full Circle”, and “What we Remember”. Ford is a recipient of five Lambda Literary Awards and has been a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award, the Bram Stroker Award, and the Ignite Award.
Dayton Metro Library welcomes all to join them for the rest of this year to learn and be a part of this opportunity.
Lexie Graham
Reporter