Banned Book Readout and Panel Discussion

In honor of Banned Books Week 2023, the UIC community is invited to attend a Banned Book Readout and Panel Discussion hosted by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and the UIC University Library, featuring author Nic Stone on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Richard J. Daley Library, 1st floor, IDEA Commons. The in-person event will also be livestreamed.

Stone will read from her New York Times bestselling debut novel from 2017, “Dear Martin.” The book examines race relations in America through the eyes of a Black teenager who has been racially profiled and searches for guidance by writing letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his journal. A panel discussion featuring Stone, UIC College of Education faculty member Edward Podsiadlik and College of Education literacy and culture program doctoral student Gina Caneva follows.

Audience members will have an opportunity to pose questions to panelists after the discussion.

Light refreshments will be served.

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and highlights the value of free and open access to information, bringing together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and express ideas.

Nic Stone:
Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she worked extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the US to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, Stone strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work.

Edward Podsiadlik:
Podsiadlik is a clinical associate professor in the College of Education; coordinator, curriculum studies and critical pedagogies and urban teacher education PhD; coordinator, instructional leadership – education studies MEd; and director of graduate studies. Before joining UIC, he worked for the Chicago Public Library for 10 years and as a Chicago Public Schools middle school teacher for 18 years, and he and his students often read books that in some areas are banned. He wrote about these experiences in his book “Anecdotes and Afterthoughts: Literature as a Teacher’s Curriculum” (Sense Publishers).

Gina Caneva:
Caneva is currently pursuing her doctorate in the UIC College of Education’s literacy, language and culture program. She taught in Chicago Public Schools for 15 years, the last seven at Lindblom Math and Science Academy, where she was the school librarian. Since 2018, she has been a school librarian at East Leyden High School in Franklin Park. She has written multiple op-eds on the topic of book banning.

In conjunction with the Banned Book Readout, the Illinois Secretary of State mobile unit will be available in the lobby of the Richard J. Daley Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. UIC community members may schedule an appointment to receive a driver’s license, state ID or real ID (either driver’s license or state ID) for travel. For more details, please visit the SAC website.