This year’s Educator Open House allows educators, students, parents and community leaders to come together to learn about available resources pertaining to the field of education—specifically social studies—for the new school year. Learn about educational initiatives at the Freedom Center including distance learning opportunities, workshops and the Freedom Foods initiative.

The evening will also feature a discussion on the use of picture books in teaching with special guest Dr. Ebony Joy Wilkins. Dr. Wilkins is an English professor and writer whose education research centers on African American children’s literature and written responses. She is the author of Claudette Colvin Refuses to Move, Malcom X: Meet the Civil Rights Activist, and more. Her stories aim to highlight marginalized voices and engage young minds with a greater perspective of the American narrative.

Dr. Wilkins' new picture book to be released in November is If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad. The book is part of Scholastic’s If You Lived series, which answers all the youth’s most important questions about events in American history. With the question-and answer format, brilliant artwork and engaging information, this series is the ideal resource for the classroom and history enthusiast. A great resource for Civil War units and for teaching tough history.

This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required: