Busboys and Poets Books Presents FIRST CONVERSATION SERIES
Date and Time
Nov 19, 2022 6:00 pm
Location
450K
450 K St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
Nov 19, 2022 6:00 pm
450K
Busboys and Poets Books Presents FIRST CONVERSATION SERIES
Join us to explore children's storytelling, representation, and beginning important conversations.
Megan’s stories for children are based on the research that race, gender, consent, and body positivity should be discussed with toddlers on up, this read-aloud board book series offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way.
Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven board book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion.
While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.
This first book in the series begins the conversation on race, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Stunning art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.
Megan Pamela Ruth Madison is joining on the Busboys stage for a celebration and book discussion by Ijumaa Jordan, Laleña Garcia, and Akiea “Ki” Gross .This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of The First Conversation Series will be available for purchase before and during the event. Please note that this event will not be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books.
Megan Pamela Ruth Madison is a lifelong student of radical Black feminism and an early childhood educator. She holds an MS in early childhood education from Dominican University and a BA in studies in religion from the University of Michigan. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy. When she's not working on finishing up her dissertation, she works as a trainer for the Center for Racial Justice in Education, and the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, facilitating workshops for teachers on race, gender, and sexuality.
Ijumaa Jordan is a fat, Black, cis-gender woman (she/her) daily engaging in the beautiful struggle of life, doing the internal and external work to abolish systems of oppression such as racism, sexism, transphobia, and classism, etc. Ijumaa shows up for this work with intensity and passion, being joyful, thinking critically, and holding a learning space with care and grace. She loves afternoon naps and snacks, you can usually find her online looking serious and laughing loudly.
Laleña Garcia (she/her) is a kindergarten teacher living in Brooklyn. A graduate of Yale University (BA, History) and Bank Street College of Education (MS, Early Childhood and Elementary Education), she’s been teaching in NYC since 2000. Laleña also works for the New York State Early Childhood Professional Development Institute as a Gender and Sexuality Trainer, helping early childhood professionals and families to create expansive and supportive understandings of gender, sexuality, relationships, and family structure. A member of the NYC Black Lives Matter at School steering committee since 2018, Laleña also provides professional development for schools and other institutions seeking to deepen their anti racist work. Her online course for adults, Rooted, offers contextual background and concrete strategies for anti bias work in early childhood and elementary settings. Laleña’s first children’s book, What We Believe was published by Lee and Low in 2020.Laleña’s first children’s book, What We Believe was published by Lee and Low in 2020. Her latest book How We Can Live, released in 2022.
Akiea “Ki” Gross (they/them), a former instructional coach and classroom teacher, is an abolitionist early childhood educator, creator and cultural organizer currently innovating ways to resist, heal, liberate and create with their pedagogy, Woke Kindergarten. Woke Kindergarten is a visionary, creative portal and abolitionist early learning ecosystem supporting children, families, educators and organizations in their commitment to abolitionist early education and pro-Black and LGBTQIA+ liberation. You can find Ki's writing on YouTube and featured in Lessons in Liberation: An Abolitionist Toolkit for Educators.
