Saturday, May 20th, 2023
Meet the Author: Bloomingdale Community Day
9am – 1pm at Crispus Attucks Park
Sitting and signing books at event.
Wednesday, May 17th, 2023
Simmons University
Author talk with Simmons University students, about the book and larger issues of gentrification in D.C. and beyond. Thank you to the invitation from Courtney Kramer, AD of Community Engagement!
Thursday, April 20th, 2023
“DC Politics and Policy,” American University School of Public Affairs course.
Author visit with MPA and MPP students at AU’s School of Public Affairs Metropolitan Policy Center, after they read the book as part of their coursework. Thank you to the invitation from Professor Derek Hyra!
Wednesday, March 1st, 2023
9:30am at Capitol Hill Day School
Book discussion with with 5th graders as part of their gentrification unit.
Saturday, February 18th, 2023
6pm at Big Bear Cafe
Book talk–sharing stories from “Shaw, LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale in Washington, D.C.: An Oral History.”
RSVP here
Wednesday, February 15th, 2023
Clifford Chance Paris, REACH (Race Equality and Cultural Heritage) network
I had the pleasure of speaking with the attorneys at the Paris office of law firm Clifford Chance about the book, which was their book club selection in February 2023.
Monday, January 23rd, 2023
RSVP here
Wednesday, October 27th, 2022
The Artists’ Table: Creating Space and Belonging
6pm-9pm at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre
I joined a panel of DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellows to kick off their “Artists Table” series and to discuss how artists and humanities worker in D.C. can survive and thrive.
RSVP and more info here
October 22nd, 2022
Oral History Association Annual Meeting. Millenium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Campfire session: “Deepening the Daily News: How Oral History Can Bring Greater Depth to the Work of Journalists“
I led a discussion about the differences between oral history and journalism. How can oral history work go deeper into issues that we read about in the paper? How can oral historians learn from journalists when trying to get their work into the public eye? Participants came from both worlds.
2022-2023 School Year
PEN/Faulkner Writers in Schools
Multiple Dates
This year, I’ll be visiting high schools throughout D.C. to speak with students who have read the book, as part of the PEN/Faulkner Writers in Schools program.
The first visit occured in late November at Phelps ACE High School in D.C. PEN/Faulkner provided every student with a book and made sure the whole visit ran smoothly. The teacher assigned the book a month ago and they have been discussing it in advance of the visit. They had SO MANY questions! (“Did anyone say anything that they regret? Did you leave anything out? Do you still keep in touch with the people in the book? What do you think about gentrification?”) Their teacher also tied the book into two future projects: a debate about gentrification, and a neighborhood oral history project.
Saturday, October 15th, 2022
DC History Center Open Day
1pm-4pm at the Carnegie Library
I joined a panel of local authors to talk about “Shaw, LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale in Washington, D.C.: An Oral History.“
RSVP and more info here.
Saturday, June 11th, 2022
Document DC: Photography Workshop
10:00am, starting at the Shaw Metro station and ending at the Carnegie Library
I led a walking tour of Shaw for the DC History Center, along with photographer Shedrick Pelt. I’ll share oral histories and historical photos as we walk.
Monday, June 6th, 2022
Meet the Author @ Historic Chevy Chase DC
7:30pm via Zoom
I spoke to Historic Chevy Chase DC about the project and about neighborhood-based oral histories.
Saturday, May 21st, 2022
Meet the Author: Bloomingdale Community Day
9am – 1pm at Crispus Attucks Park
I sold and signed books at the annual Bloomingdale Community Day
Friday, April 1st, 2022
Meet the Author: DC History Conference
1:00-3:00pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library Great Hall
I was honored to present my book as a Project Spotlight and at the History Network at the DC History Conference
Friday, February 25th, 2022
The Crisis in Book Review: an Arts Journalism Conference sponsored by Day Eight
7pm: I joined the Panel Discussion and Keynote.
“The Friday night keynote session begins with a panel discussion, moderated by Maritza Rivera, and including seven area authors whose books have been assigned for review within the conference — Gregory Luce, Jenn Koiter, Sarah Katz, Shilpi Malinowski, Daniel Barbiero, Ellen Sazzman, and Jonathan Katz. Following the panel, speakers Joyce Carol Oates, Brian Broome, Russel Jacoby, and Jennifer Harlan will speak.”
Sunday, February 13th, 2022
Meet the Author: Valentine’s Day Market
10:30am at Big Bear Cafe
Sunday, December 19th, 2021
Meet the Author: Bloomingdale Holiday Market
10am at Big Bear Cafe
Monday, December 6th, 2021
7pm at the Third Baptist Church (5th and Q Streets NW)
I spoke about the book and took questions at the East Central Civic Association Meeting.
Wednesday, December 1st, 2021
Busboys and Poets Books Presents: Shaw, LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale in Washington, D.C.: An Oral History
6pm at 14th and V Streets NW
Washington Post reporter, author and neighbor Helena Andrews-Dyer and I had a fantastic conversation about the book, oral history, gentrification and more!
RSVP and more info here
Saturday, November 20th, 2021
Gentrification: An Oral History
2pm at Bol Coop Bookstore, located in Creative Grounds at North Capitol and Seaton Place NW.
Bol hosted a reading and Q and A at their lovely pop-up bookstore in Bloomingdale.
RSVP and more info here
Tuesday, October 26th, 2021
Book Discussion: Meet the Author and Narrators of Shaw, LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale in Washington, D.C.: An Oral History
5:30pm @ the grounds of Seaton Elementary School
East City Bookshop providing books for purchase
I saw with the narrators to discuss their experience with the neighborhood, give them their first opportunity to converse directly with each other, and to take questions from the audience.
Sunday, October 24th, 2021
1st and R Streets NW, near the Bloomingdale Farmers Market
I saw at a table near the Bloomingdale Farmers Market to talk with anyone who is interested and to sell a limited number of signed books.
Wednesday, October 20th, 2021
Book Party: Celebrate the publication of Shaw, LeDroit Park and Bloomingdale in Washington, D.C.: An Oral History
6pm @ Big Bear Cafe
Politics and Prose providing books for purchase
I was there to sign books, display the portraits, chat with the community and and to toast the narrators who participated in this project.