The Public Square lecture and conversation series kicks off MLK Holiday programming with educator and policy wonk Dr . David Johns\, CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition - the nation&r squo\;s oldest civil rights organization dedicated to the twin goals of ra cial equity and LGBTQ+ equality.
\nThe self described &ldquo\;disrup tor-in-chief&rdquo\; will be joined in conversation with Dr. Chris Emdin\, professor of Education at the University of Southern California. Dr. Emdi n serves as a director of youth engagement and community partnerships at t he USC Race and Equity Center. \;
\nDuring this Public Square co nversation\, Dr. Johns and Emdin will unpack the importance of centering i ntersectionality in pursuing social justice\, racial equity\, and an inclu sive democracy.
\nThe Public Square is a lecture series that connect s leaders and innovators with the public to talk about the next phase of t heir work or scholarship. The traditionally prepared and packaged speeches will be replaced by engaging conversations that push discipline forward t o a new higher level of equity.
\nSponsored by the DC Public Library Foundation\, and the Anacostia Community Museum.
\n\n\n< p style="text-align: center\;">
\n\n\nFor reasonable accommodations\, please contact the Center for Accessibility at 202-727-2142 or DCPLaccess@dc.gov. For ASL or tactile interpretation\, please allow at least seven (7) days notice.< /strong>
\n
Dr. David J. Johns is the chief executive officer and executive director of th e National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)\, a civil rights organization de dicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian\, gay\, bisexual\, transgender \, queer+\, and same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people\, including people living with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Johns was appointed the first executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Ameri cans by President Barack Obama and served from 2013-2017.
\nDr. John s was a senior education policy advisor to the Senate Committee on Health\ , Education\, Labor\, and Pensions under the leadership of U.S. Senator To m Harkin (D-IA) and has served under the leadership of the late U.S. Senat or Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Dr. Johns was a Congressional Black Caucus Foundati on Fellow in the office of Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY). Dr. Johns re ceived his Ph.D. in sociology and education policy at Columbia University. Dr. Johns obtained a master&rsquo\;s degree in sociology and education po licy at Teachers College\, Columbia University\, graduating summa cum laud e. He graduated with honors from Columbia College\, Columbia University in 2004 with a triple major in English\, creative writing\, and African Amer ican studies. Dr. Johns was named to the Out100 list in 2021\, the Root100 in both 2013 and 2014\, Ebony&rsquo\;s Power 100 in 2015\, and received a n early career award from Columbia University\, Teachers College in 2016.< /p>\n
\n
Christopher Emdin is the Maxine Greene Chair for Distinguished Contributions to Education
and Professor of Science and Education at Teachers College\, Columbia Univ
ersity. He is also Director of Creativity\, Innovation and Entrepreneurshi
p at the STEAM DREAM &\; Idea Lab.
He is currently Scholar in R esidence at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Alumni Fellow at th e Hip-hop Archive and Hutchins Center at Harvard University. He previously served as Robert Naslund Chair in Curriculum Theory at the University of Southern California\, STEAM Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State an d Minorities in Energy Ambassador for the U.S. Department of Energy.
\nDr. Emdin holds a Ph.D in Urban Education with a concentration in Mathe matics\, Science\, and Technology\; Masters degrees in both Natural Scienc es and Education and Bachelors degrees in Physical Anthropology\, Biology\ , and Chemistry.
\nHe is the creator of the #HipHopEd social media m ovement\, Science Genius BATTLES and Collider Classroom. He was recently n amed one of the 27 people bridging divides in the United States by Time ma gazine and the Root 100 list of most influential African Americans.
\n< p>He is the author of numerous award winning works including the award-win ning\, Urban Science Education for the Hip-hop Generation and the New York Times bestseller\, For White Folks Who Teach In the Hood and the Rest of Ya&rsquo\;ll too. His latest books are Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Excellence and STEM STEAM Make Dream.\nhttps://dclibrary.libnet.info/e vent/9822261 URL;VALUE=URI:https://dclibrary.libnet.info/event/9822261 ATTACH:https://static.libnet.info/images/events/dclibrary/DJohns--6.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR