Collaborate with LJC Events

Free summer literacy workshops and community education events designed with and for local communities.

Summer 2024

June 3rd through 7th

10 am – 5 pm

Tucker-Reid H. Colfer Library

5234 Lavista Rd, Tucker, GA 30084

Tucker, GA

Storying Tucker: Who is Tucker?

This free summer literacy program is back for 2024! Available for youth aged 13-17 in the Tucker area, a small group of Tucker youth are invited to be co-researchers to record and capture Tucker’s stories, voices, and community histories. Led by lead youth researchers, Samira, Anela, and Sabina, and adult co-researchers Lisa York, Alaa Hedeeb, and Leah Panther, the end results will be guided by youth co-researchers, but may include creating podcasts, open access digital archives, adding to Tucker’s existing GIS Map, drafting a white paper for the Tucker city council, or book.

 

 

 

 

This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

June 10th through 15th

10 am – 4 pm

Bethsaida Baptist Church

853 4th St, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

 

Stone Mountain, GA

In the shadow of Stone Mountain: Historicizing SHermantown

This free summer literacy program returns for 2024! Available for youth aged 12-18 in the Stone Mountain, Tucker, Smoke Rise, Mountain Park, Lilburn, and Clarkston area. Led by Sally Stanhope, Kimberly Stephens, Halima Burke, Dr. Leah Panther,  and our community partners in the Stone Mountain Action Coalition, youth will record and capture the stories, voices, and community histories of Shermantown, an African American community within Stone Mountain Village. This will be guided by youth co-researchers, but may include creating podcasts, open access digital archives, a white paper for the Stone Mountain city government, or book.

This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

June 17th through 21st; July 8th through 12th

9 am – 2 pm

Various locations throughout Clarkston, Atlanta, and North Georgia

Clarkston, GA

Curricularizing for Language Linguistic Justice in Deaf Education

The Atlanta Area School for the Deaf and Linguistic Justice Collaborative partner in this youth-led project to identify, design, and sustain Deaf culture and languages. This work is supported by adult co-researchers Helen Malone, Rosi Sanchez, Lucy Gitonga, and Leah Panther.

 

This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

June 24th through 29th

10 am – 4 pm daily

Towns County Historical Society

900 N Main St, Hiawassee, GA

 

Hiawassee, GA

Swappin’ Stories

Appalachian Languages and Community literacies

This free community embedded, place-based professional learning project is open to community members, educators, and school-based educators in Towns County, Georgia who are interested in identifying the languages, literacy practices, and histories of Towns County and its Appalachian community and considering how these practices can be translated into curriculum and community education programs. Led by Lindsey Walker, Leah Panther, Presley Dyer, Tyler Osborn, Kerri Armstrong and Hiawassee community partners.

 

Have Towns County historical artifacts to share? Appalachian folklore? Stories about the names of local streets, sites, and places? Sign up or learn more about Swappin’ Stories on Tuesday, June 25th or Thursday, June 26th using the link to the right.

This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

Summer 2023

June 5th-9th

9 am – 2 pm

Various locations throughout Sugar Hill and Buford

Sugar Hill and Buford, GA

Historicizing Georgia: The Legacy of Oscarville

This This free summer literacy program is available for youth entering 6th through 8th grades in the Sugar Hill, Buford, Lake Lanier area. This group of co-researchers will work with Dr. Kristie Smith and Leah Panther to record and capture the mysteries, untold histories, and missing voices that tell the story of the region. Daily locations will vary, but include various historical sites, museums, and community organizations throughout the Sugar Hill and Buford areas. A complete schedule with drop off and pick up locations will be provided for all families.

 

This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

July 10th-15th

10 am – 4 pm

Sue Kellogg Stone Mountain Library

952 Leon St, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

 

Stone Mountain, GA

In the shadow of Stone Mountain: Historicizing SHermantown

This free summer literacy program is available for youth aged 12-18 in the Stone Mountain, Tucker, Smoke Rise, Mountain Park, Lilburn, and Clarkston area. Led by Sally Stanhope, Dr. Katherine Perrotta, and Dr. Leah Panther,  and our community partners at the Sue Kellogg Stone Mountain Public Library and Atlanta History Center, youth will record and capture the stories, voices, and community histories of Shermantown, an African American community within Stone Mountain Village. This will be guided by youth co-researchers, but may include creating podcasts, open access digital archives, a white paper for the Stone Mountain city government, or book.

This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

June 13-15th and June 20-21st

10 am – 5 pm

Tucker-Reid H. Colfer Library

5234 Lavista Rd, Tucker, GA 30084

Tucker, GA

Storying Tucker: Who is Tucker?

This free summer literacy program is available for youth aged 13-17 in the Tucker area. Tucker became a city in 2016, but it was a community long before that. What is the history of Tucker? Who is Tucker today? And what could the future of Tucker be? Drs. Elizabeth Keohane-Burbridge, Assistant Professor at University of West Georgia, Robbie Barber, Media Specialist at Tucker High School, and Leah Panther, Assistant Professor of Literacy Education at Mercer University will recruit a small group of Tucker youth as co-researchers to record and capture Tucker’s stories, voices, and community histories. The end results will be guided by youth co-researchers, but may include creating podcasts, open access digital archives, adding to Tucker’s existing GIS Map, drafting a white paper for the Tucker city council, or book.

 

This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

Summer 2022

Saturday, September 17th

10 am – 12 pm

Tucker-Reid H. Colfer Library

5234 Lavista Rd, Tucker, GA 30084

DeKalb County, GA

Community Conversation

Drop in for conversation, free resources, and programming on:

  • Listening for Justice
  • Mythbusting “Standard” English
  • The history of Black Language
  • Languages and language varieties in Georgia

 

 This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

Weekdays June 13th-24th

1:00-3:00 pm

Tucker-Reid H. Colfer Library

5234 Lavista Rd, Tucker, GA 30084

 

Tucker, GA

Multi-generational Memoirs

Available to youth aged 12-18 (or entering 7th through 12th grades). By the end of the program, youth participants will (1) explore relevant self-selected topics through storytelling and writing (2) deepen their understandings through cross-generational discussion and interviews and (3) experience the self-publishing process for independent authors from brainstorming through final printing with Volo Press Books.

 This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

Weekdays May 31st-June 10th

1:00 – 3:00 pm

The Math Depot

2336 Main St, Tucker, GA 30084

Tucker, GA

Financial Language and Literacy

Available for youth aged 14-18 (or entering 9th through 12th grades), you will (1) create personal, family, community, and generational financial literacy goals (2) understand the economic and sociocultural history related to wealth, wealth management, and access to wealth within the community and (3) enact financial literacy knowledge and literacy practices within authentic economic contexts.

 This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

Saturdays June 4th-July 9th

1:00-3:00 pm

Sue Kellogg Library

952 Leon St, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Stone Mountain, GA

Coloring our Literacies

Available for youth aged 5-11 (or entering K-6th grade) this is an opportunity to learn more about Black English, and its connections to identity, history, and community. By the end of the program, youth participants will (1) learn how to document their community’s language practices through photography and storytelling (2) read and learn from children’s literature featuring Black English and (3) Co-construct resources for local classrooms that feature their own lived experiences and language practice. 

 This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!

Saturdays June 4th-July 9th

1:00-3:00 pm

Sue Kellogg Library

952 Leon St, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

 

Stone Mountain, GA

Black Language Grammar School

Available for adults, this is an opportunity for Black English (BE) speakers to learn more about their linguistic practices and BE’s connections to identity, history, and community. By the end of the program, participants will (1) complete a self study of their own language practices (2) unwravel the history, grammar, and rhetoric of BE, and (3) co-construct resources and guidelines for local classrooms based on the findings of the collective group’s work.

 This program has ended. Check back for more upcoming programs!