advertisement

Glenbard Parent Series, College of DuPage to host author/activist Jason Reynolds Sept. 29

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, award-winning novelist Jason Reynolds will discuss his bestselling novel "Long Way Down" and his critically acclaimed nonfiction book "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You" at 7 p.m.

The virtual event is presented by the Glenbard Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families in partnership with College of DuPage.

Interim COD Dean of Students Dr. Nathania Montes will introduce Reynolds and help open the community event. Reynold's talk will be livestreamed at cod.edu/gps.

Reynolds is a New York Times bestselling author, a Newbery Award honoree, a Printz Award honoree, a two-time National Book Award finalist, a Kirkus Award winner, a two-time Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award winner and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors. Reynolds is also the 2020 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

"Long Way Down," written in free verse, takes place during a 60 second elevator ride - the time it takes a young boy, Will, to decide whether or not he's going to murder the guy who killed his brother. At each floor along the way, Will encounters family and friends destroyed by gun violence. Each encounter helps Will think about whether more gun violence and revenge killing is the answer to his grief.

Reynolds will also discuss his criticality acclaimed nonfiction exploration of racism and anti-racism, "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You." This remix of Ibram X. Kendi's book "Stamped from the Beginning" similarly traces the origins of anti-black and racist ideas as well as proposes tools for identifying and combating them.

Reynolds presentation ties into COD's Chaps Unite Against Racism, the college's yearlong initiative to unite against racism and provide a platform for meaningful conversations to help audiences reflect, share and act. Chaps Unite Against Racism examines the ways that racism exists in today's society and how COD and the surrounding community are working together to create a better world.

Glenbard Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families is a free educational consortium featuring distinguished authors, clinicians and educators who share practical research based knowledge, wisdom and personal experience to encourage positive youth development, social and emotional learning, and overall well-being.

While this event is free and open to the public, registration is required. For more information, visit cod.edu/gps.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.