Keynote Speaker:
Shelley Read
International bestselling author Shelley Read – who recently published her first, internationally acclaimed novel, Go as a River - will be our keynote speaker!
Ms. Read has graciously committed to joining us at Peace in the Pages to share her inspirational journey as an educator, author, and adventurer.
She has been an award-winning lecturer and educator for three decades at Western Colorado University where she taught writing, literature, environmental studies, and Honors. She was a founder of the interdisciplinary Environment & Sustainability major and the Prague study abroad program, and she founded a support program for first-generation and at-risk college students to help them stay and succeed in a collegiate environment.
Ms. Read’s focus on youth, education, and sustainability makes her a perfect fit for our annual Peace in the Pages event where we celebrate local champions of literacy and promote the link between literacy and the values of empathy, peace, health, education, and freedom!
Fun Fact: “Go as a river” is also a phrase rooted in Buddhist origins and refers to the ever-changing flow of life, which also speaks to the essence of Ms. Read’s novel. Mahatma Gandhi, our inspiration behind Peace in the Pages, was deeply influenced by Buddha’s teachings in his quest for peace and freedom.
Ms. Read will be signing books at Peace in the Pages, and READ USA has a special surprise in store for attendees!
Emcee: Melanie Lawson, The Morning Show Anchor, News4Jax
Melanie has been a tremendous supporter of READ USA and our community-wide effort to close the literacy gap in Duval County, and we are grateful for the energy, enthusiasm, and passionate voice for literacy that she radiates. We are so thankful for Melanie’s uplifting presence and leadership during the event this year!
Read more about Melanie here.
