The Public Square, a program of the Illinois Humanities Council, hosts a conversation on how to create street peace among today’s youth.
CHICAGO –– Tookie’s books for kids are back! The Public Square and its partners are celebrating the republication of Stanley Tookie Williams’ children’s books on street peace. Williams was the co-founder of the Los Angeles Crips who later dedicated his life on death row towards ending gang violence and creating social justice. Join Barbara Becnel, editor of these books and co-producer of the film Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story, in a conversation about the value of Williams’ legacy and the importance of creating street peace today. James Thindwa of Chicago Jobs with Justice, Hilda Franco of Chicago Freedom School, and Jackson Potter of Little Village Lawndale School of Social Justice, will respond to Becnel’s remarks.
This event will take place on Monday, November 10th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum (800 South Halsted St., Chicago). This program is free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended and can be made at events@prairie.org or 312.422.5580.
This program is sponsored by The Public Square, a program of the Illinois Humanities Council, in partnership with the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum and Chicago Freedom School.
MORE ABOUT BARBARA BECNEL
Barbara Becnel is Executive Director of Neighborhood House of North Richmond, a nonprofit social services agency in Richmond, California. For 13 years she worked with Stanley Tookie Williams, death row prisoner and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, to edit and publish his award-winning series of books for at-risk children. She was Williams’ advocate and friend and organized an international campaign for clemency until he was killed by the State of California on December 13, 2005. Becnel received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Adelphi University; attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in a doctoral program in Quantitative and Labor Economics; and did post-graduate work at the University of Chicago as a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SQUARE
The Public Square, a program of the Illinois Humanities Council, fosters debate, dialogue, and exchange of ideas about cultural, social and political issues with an emphasis on social justice. Programs promote participatory democracy by creating space for public conversations. More information about The Public Square is available at www.prairie.org/publicsquare.
The Illinois Humanities Council is a nonprofit educational organization [501 (c) 3] dedicated to fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. Organized in 1973 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the IHC creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by all Illinoisans, regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic location. The IHC is supported by state, federal, and private funds.
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