This event was rescheduled from October 20 22.
\nJesmyn Ward is the critically acclaimed author of fiction\, no nfiction\, and memoir\, including bestselling Sing\, Unburied\, Sing\, Sal vage the Bones\, and the memoir Men We Reaped. Her many honors include the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction\, a MacArthur Genius Grant \, and a Strauss Living Award. In 2017\, she became the first woman and fi rst person of color to win the National Book Award for Fiction twice. The standout writer of her generation\, Ward&rsquo\;s stories are largely set on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi\, where she grew up and still lives. A pr ofessor of creative writing at Tulane University\, Ward&rsquo\;s latest bo ok\, Navigate Your Stars\, is an adaptation of her 2018 commencement addre ss at Tulane that championed the value of hard work. \;
\nTracie D. Hall is an American librarian\, author\, curator\, and advocate for th e arts. She is the first African American woman to lead the American Libra ry Association as Executive Director\, and fights for social justice\, acc ess to information\, and universal broadband.
\nThis event is made p ossible by Illinois Libraries Present\, a statewide collaboration among pu blic libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant a warded by the Illinois State Library\, a department of the Office of Secre tary of State\, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and L ibrary Services\, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technol ogy Act (LSTA). ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To reques t accommodations\, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.
\nAdditional fundi ng provided by the Downers Grove Public Library Foundation. DGPLF is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing extraordinary enhancem ents to the library beyond traditional expense \;and taxpayer support.
\nThis program will be recorded and available for 14 days.< /strong>
\nContact the Ask Us Desk at askus@dglibrary.org with questions.
\nParticipant Zoom instructions:
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