By Cathy Fleischer, co-leader of Everyday Advocacy, a Unite Against Books Bans partner.
Everyday Advocacy is proud to collaborate with Unite Against Book Bans to host a virtual workshop — Storytelling for Advocacy — on Wednesday, July 16 at 7 pm Central. This is a free event with a limited capacity. Whether on your own or with your local advocacy organization, please sign up to join us! (Note: you must be signed in to a Zoom account in order to register. No Zoom account? Sign up for a free account here.)
The Urgent Need for Advocacy
For too many teachers and librarians, it has become increasingly difficult and risky to include books that feature diverse characters or that cover challenging history, both in the curriculum and on the shelves. From book challenges to job terminations, from defunding efforts to threats of criminal prosecution, political extremists have put librarians and educators squarely in their crosshairs. Yet these professionals know the power of diverse books to change students’ lives, encouraging reading as a lifelong habit, offering “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors” into their lives and the lives of others, and serving as touchstones for difficult and necessary conversations about the worlds in which we all live.
Teachers, librarians, and community members who see the value of diverse books need to do more these days than just know the literature. We must also be prepared to advocate for its inclusion, to explain its power, and to speak thoughtfully about curricular choices.
About Storytelling for Advocacy
Storytelling for Advocacy is a virtual workshop that will focus on ways to use storytelling as a tool to advocate for the use of diverse books in schools and libraries, in alliance with fellow educators and community members. Drawing upon the work of the Everyday Advocacy movement, presenters will explore how storytelling can be used to change the public narrative. Adapted from the work of Marshall Ganz, workshop presentations will cover ways to use stories of self and community to shift the public narrative surrounding diverse books and their inclusion in schools and libraries.
What to Expect
During this virtual workshop, participants will be guided through a range of interactive narrative development activities, small group work, and planning for local implementation and amplification. Attendees will leave with actionable plans to put their learning into practice.
Learn More and Join Us
To reserve your seat for Storytelling for Advocacy on July 16, please register to attend. For additional information, check out our advocacy tools and resources and learn more about our framework for opposing book bans. To report censorship in your organization or seek assistance as you’re facing challenges, see the Challenge Support resources offered by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. And to stay involved in the ongoing fight to protect the freedom to read, join us in being part of the Unite Against Book Bans coalition.
