Prairielands Teen Summit 2024
Teens and Rural Diversity
Date: 03/19/24
Location: Willmar - Public Library
Time: 10:00 - 2:00
OR
Date: 03/20/24
Location: Slayton - SWRDC Building
Time: 12:00 - 4:00
Willmar
March 19, 2024
10:00 - 2:00
Willmar Public Library
410 5th St SW
Willmar, MN 56201
Slayton
March 20, 2024
12:00 - 4:00
Southwest Regional Development Commission
2401 Broadway Ave, Suite 1, Slayton, MN 56172
March 19, 2024
Willmar Public Library
10:00 - Session 1
11:30 - Light Lunch
12:30 - Session 2
2:00 - Giveaways and CEUs
OR
March 20, 2024
Southwest Regional Development Council
12:00 - Light Lunch
12:30 - Session 1
2:00 - Break
2:30 - Session 2
4:00 - Giveaways and CEUs
Registration closes March 12, 2024
Slayton ONLY
March 20
11:00
Plum Creek Library System STEM Kit Presentation
See the Bell Museum Family Night STEM Kits and learn how to use them in your library!
Virtual Attendance via Zoom is Available
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Information will be emailed to you after registration.
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Zoom will be used for this event if weather prohibits in-person attendance.
Session Topics
Title: Diversify Your Shelves
Speaker: Gabrielle Womack
Gabby will offer her insight on how to actively diversify your reading, find bookish communities, and use reading apps to explore diverse stories. She was interviewed by Gianna Macchia for WNDB's article on #OwnVoices and how to move away from it. Have you wondered what's replacing it and why? Join us to find your next great diverse read, learn what to recommend to your teens and how to promote diverse titles appropriately!
This session will be in workshop format so come prepared to ask questions, talk about your experiences and engage with other attendees.
Title: Develop a Culturally Sensitive Youth Program
Speaker: Amy Spark and Karen Beranek
University of MN Extension Service - Youth Development
Karen and Amy will be joining us to share their wealth of knowledge and experience working in youth development in rural Minnesota. Together we'll learn to increase our cultural humility, open relationships with underserved populations, develop programs for youth that succeed and ways to make ALL who come to our libraries feel welcome.
"Culturally responsive youth programs are non-formal learning environments in which young people feel safe, valued and empowered, as their cultural characteristics, experiences, and perspectives are represented and included in program structure and staffing."
-- UMN Extension Culturally Responsive Youth Programs
Special Opportunity on March 20 in Slayton (Not available in Willmar)
March 20, 2024 - 11:00
Plum Creek Library System STEM Kit Presentation
See the Bell Museum Family Night STEM Kits and learn how to use them in your library!
Meet Our Speakers
Gabrielle Womack
Gabby Womack is a librarian, historian, book influencer, and author based in Greater Boston who is passionate about sharing the stories of minoritized folks. Much of her work in academic libraries is in outreach, fostering belonging, and providing research help. She also specializes in readers advisory and giving talks on diversifying the stacks. Womack’s historical research predominantly focuses on racial passing, genealogy, and the United States Census. In 2022, Genealogy published her essay, “Racial Passing off the Record: A Journey in Reconnection and Navigating Shifting Identities.” On social media, she seeks to uplift the stories of BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQ+ folks, with a special interest in Afro-latines, through her book recommendations, reviews, and reading goals. She is currently writing two books–one literary fiction and the other, a cozy mystery inspired by her Latine family. You can follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook as @Bookish_AfroLatina and check out her website bookishafrolatina.com
Amy Sparks
Amy Sparks, University of Extension Educator Youth Development:
Amy is dedicated to innovating and implementing solutions that remove barriers, open doors, and empower individuals to thrive. Amy leads through her actions. She inspires change, and is frequently asking the question, “when can we start?” An architect of connection, some of her history includes founding a local coffee house, transforming a tired school media center into a thriving high school library learning commons, creating an all-school purpose and belonging learning program, and facilitating professional development for adults serving as mentors, educators and leaders in youth serving organizations. Amy holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching and K-12 Principal License from Hamline University and Bachelors of Arts from St. Olaf College in Theater and Communication Arts.
Karen Beranek
Karen Beranek, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, Youth Development:
Karen centers her work on creating high-quality learning environments with a focus on youth choice and youth voice to create healthy youth and adult partnerships. Through the past decade with the University, she has worked with educators through staff development, small group conversation and one-on-one coaching to guide this continuous improvement process. Local educators have grown their partnerships, their membership, and their 4-H program by reaching new audiences. Karen received her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at South Dakota State University in Human Development, Child and Family Studies.
Resources
Diversity and Rural Youth
Registration closes March 12, 2024
This project is funded in part with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using federal funding CFDA 45.310 Library Services and Technology Act, Grants to State Programs (LS-25363-OLS-23)