Building Civic Engagement through Literacy
An Author/Illustrator Webinar Series for educators

Build your students' civic education through these webinars and literacy resources. This webinar series, sponsored by the Academy for Human Rights and Erie 1 BOCES features award-winning authors and illustrators whose work explores the struggles and triumphs from slavery to the ongoing movement for civil rights. Learn how these writers have used their experiences of racism to fuel their humanistic artistic practice. Engage your students everyday with these resources to strengthen their empathy and education with positive antiracist actions and activities.

All participants will receive 4.5 hours of professional development credit.
​Registration is open to all educators throughout the country.

Register and pay for each conference individually, or purchase all three
​New York State Teachers in BOCES network, register here --- teachers outside BOCES network teachers here
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She persisted and Loretta Little Looks Back (CLOSED)

Thursday, January 14, 2021, 6:30-8:00PM EST
Join us for an unforgettable discussion with author Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrator Brian Pinkney who will discuss their books, She Persisted: Harriet Tubman and Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It. It is a stirring exploration of the violence of the Jim Crow South, the sharecropping system, the long struggle for African American voting rights, and the different forms bravery and love can take. Attendees will receive both books.

From Construction to Destruction
(CLOSED)

Thursday, February 11, 2021, 6:30-8:00PM EST
An evening with award-winning authors Charles R. Smith Jr. and Carole Boston Weatherford, and illustrator Floyd Cooper. Brick by Brick by Smith and illustrated by Cooper, will inform our discussion on the importance of providing an accurate picture of slavery. We will also discuss Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, by Weatherford and illustrated by Cooper. Build your learning skills to strengthen and inspire your students to know and accurately understand history. Each attendee will receive both books and an electronic teacher resource page. ​

an evening with author & Illustrator jan spivey Gilchrist

Thursday, March 11, 2021, 6:30-8:00PM EST
Long before Amanda Gorman shared her sparks of poetic justice at the presidential inauguration, we had the likes of Eloise Greenfield, Ashley Bryan, and Jan Spivey Gilchrist.  This is your opportunity to see further by standing on the shoulders of such a Giant as Jan Spivey Gilchrist.  Art, Music, English and Social Studies – Jan’s presentation will help you bring a cross curricular approach with two of her books.  Whether you teach Kindergarten or Grade 12 English help strengthen your student’s civic engagement with positive anti racist action and activities.  If you are not familiar with Jan’s work this is your opportunity to become familiar with a Coretta Scott King award winning author who has also been inducted into the Society of Illustrators. Registration includes both Gilchrist books – Honey, I Love and My America as well as a few bonus books and education supplies in each pack mailed to you.