Gather, a Kidlit Podcast

Join authors Pam Courtney, Andrea Loney, and Crystal Allen as they discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. This impassioned #HFGather will explore the power of storytelling to inspire meaningful change for our future. Through this conversation, we hope to connect ways that children's books can offer a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between social justice, racial equity, and caring for our planet.

Our children are grappling with pollution and climate-related disasters, stories can help them find hope in their world. Our storytellers will share their personal experiences and offer insight into considerations other storytellers may make, especially when it comes to the many ways in which communities of color are disproportionately affected by climate change, and how it is all of our responsibilities to support our children in creating a safe and more equitable planet!

The Highlights Foundation is proud to learn from and work alongside Knology to amplify Black Storytellers in STEM. BlackRep4Kids is a National Science Foundation-funded project led by Knology, in collaboration with the Highlights Foundation, the National Black Child Development Institute, and the Association of Children's Museums. The project brings together Black researchers and practitioners from a variety of fields (including climate science, developmental psychology, informal learning, and children's media) to collaboratively develop methods and strategies for creating children's climate media that helps Black families and their children discuss, prepare for, and respond to a multitude of environmental threats.

Valerie Bolling, Jack Wong, Lucy Ruth Cummins and Emily Joof kicked off summer by sharing four picture books about swimming; revealing the story behind their stories, and have a conversation about representing diversity in picture books.

Special guest alums Jasminne Poulino and Elizabeth Lilly joined some members of the Highlights Foundation team for a question-and-answer session about coming to an in-person program at the Highlights Foundation. If you missed it, you can see the video and read the transcript below.

Author/agent Sera Rivers and agent Linda Camacho joined us for an #HFGather conversation facilitated by author Heather Demetrios about their personal experiences crafting and sharing books with readers–Sera sharing as an author shaping her past into a novel and Linda as a friend of the Rebecca Dykes Writers' mission and as a literary agent with her experiences selling books and supporting the authors and illustrators who create them. Heather will facilitate the conversation, and talk about her experience with the Rebecca Dykes Writers and her experiences teaching at the Highlights Foundation's Writing Through Trauma to Empower Readers.

Highlights Foundation Program Director Alison Green Myers celebrated our 2024 scholarship program with some special guests: scholarship recipients Camellia Koo, Karol Ruth Silverstein, Elyse Arring and Shuba Mohan. Special thanks to our ASL Interpreter, Cynthia Norman.

Erin Entrada Kelly and Laurel Snyder joined George Brown to discuss their writing process, how to write for the middle grade audience, their current works in progress, and their recent middle grade retreat experience.

Intisar Khanani joined George Brown to discuss writing the Mighy Girls series, being a mentor and mentee at the Highlights Foundation, and her writing process as an intuitive writer.

Nikki Grimes joined George Brown to discuss the Nikki Grimes Cottage on campus, her most recent book birthday, her works in progress, and her push to get people thinking about banned books.

Traci Sorell, Andrea Page, and Monique Gray Smith joined George Brown to discuss the in-community retreat for Native writers and illustrators, the new Native Creatives cabin, scholarshop opportunity for Native writers, and their writing process.

Authors & Highlights Foundation team members Delia Ruiz and Alex Villasante joined George Brown to discuss the work they do for the organization, how they find community here, their works in progress, and the upcoming Latinx Kidlit Book Festival.