Dreaming for the Stars: Black Joy from Present to Future (Panel and Read-Aloud)

Celebrate joyful and uplifting Black stories at this interactive panel and read-aloud! Alice Faye Duncan will introduce The Dream Builder’s Blueprint: Dr. King’s Message to Young People, a found poem based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Street Sweeper” speech that highlights his principles of excellence, activism, and compassion in a way that kids can understand. Capturing the dreams that parents have for their children, As You Are: A Hope For Black Sons by Kimberley A. Gordon Biddle warmlyreminds every Black boy that he is loved, powerful, and enough just as he is, even if the world may not always see him the same way. Looking toward the future, Natasha Tarpley imagines the endless possibilities for Black and Brown children in The Me I Choose to Be, an uplifting ode to the power of potential and self-love, featuring fabulous afro-futuristic photography! This empowering session, moderated by screenwriter, poet, and educator Shia Shabazz Smith, will combine read-alouds and discussions for families that inspire kids to believe in themselves and dream big!