On Thursday, April 11th at 4pm PDT / 7pm EDT, you’re invited to the Children’s Book Changemakers Special, presented by the SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund.
This incredible live, online program is free and open to all (no SCBWI membership required) and features appearances from iconic children’s book thought leaders whose work has made a difference.=
Of the conference, SCBWI founder Lin Oliver says, “The compelling program that we’ve put together will not only educate you on the world-altering power of children’s books but will inspire you to take action in your own particular way to help solve today’s most pressing challenges. Each of us through our contributions in the children’s book field can make a difference. Tune in and see how!”
This year's remarkable program includes:
The program will take place live, on Zoom at 4pm PT/ 7pm ET, Thursday April 11th. We hope to see you there!
About the Participants
Da'Taeveyon Daniels, a dedicated student activist from Fort Worth, Texas, is a leading voice in youth advocacy and civic engagement. He fosters collaboration among youth advocates and policymakers, driving tangible policy reforms. His unwavering commitment to social justice and youth empowerment continues to inspire systemic change.
Lily Kingsolver grew up in southwest Virginia, where the Appalachian Mountains ignited her passion for wild creatures and the places they live. She has shared her love of the wild as a naturalist and educator in state parks and zoos in southwest Virginia and the Space Coast of Florida, where she is currently working on a graduate degree in environmental education. She lives in Florida with her husband, dog, and several reptiles. Coyote's Wild Home is her first published book.
Barbara Kingsolver was trained as a biologist prior to her career as a writer of best-selling novels, poetry, and non-fiction. Her work has earned a devoted readership and major literary awards including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal. She and her husband live on a farm in the mountains of southwestern Virginia, a home they share with sheep, poultry, and countless wild creatures, including coyotes. Coyote's Wild Home is her first book for children.
Goldie Hawn is an Academy Award winning actress, producer, director, and best-selling author. She is the founder of MindUP, a public charity with a mission to equip children with the mental fitness they need to lead smarter, healthier, happier, and ultimately more productive lives. Hawn authored two best-selling books, a memoir A Lotus Grows in the Mud, in 2005 and in 2011, 10 Mindful Minutes, offering guidance on raising healthy, joyful and resilient children. Hawn believes “children light the path to joy” and dedicated much of her life’s work to creating innovative solutions to help children thrive.
Born in Hawaii, Lois Lowry has lived all over the world and now divides her time between Maine and Florida. Her list of fiction includes 45 books for young people. Twice the recipient of the Newbery Medal, Lowry has received countless other honors for her work. In recent years she has traveled extensively, speaking to children in Spain, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia about the importance of literature and imagination in their lives. She is a mother and grandmother and has worked as a photojournalist as well as a writer of fiction. Written in verse, and subtitled “Memories of World War II”, her newest book, On the Horizon, was published in April 2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Hope Anita Smith is a poet, performer, and children’s book author. Her middle-grade book Keeping the Night Watch won the 2009 Coretta Scott King Award. Her most recent book, It Rained Warm Bread, was released in 2019 from Macmillan. She is currently the poet laureate of El Segundo, California.
The SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund, launched in 2022, is a division of SCBWI created to support the charitable activities and community purposes of SCBWI. Its programs and initiatives are not limited to SCBWI members but are available to the entire children’s book community.