Kids on the March: An Author Talk for Teens with Michael G. Long

July 13, 2021 12:58 PM

Teens, join author Michael G. Long on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. to consider the question "How does conflict lead to change?" as he discusses his new book Kids on the March: 15 Stories of Speaking Out, Protesting, and Fighting for Justice.

In his new book, Michael G. Long gives young adult readers a inspirational primer on several social movements for change that have occurred over the last century in which teens played a leading role. From the 1903 March of the Mill Children, in which child laborers silently marched for workers' and education rights, to the 1968 Students Walkouts of East Los Angeles, in which Latinx students fought for better treatment in the classroom, all the way up to contemporary movements like the 2018 March For Our Lives and 2020 George Floyd Protests, teens have used their voices to speak their minds and make change in the worlds that stand on their immediate horizons.  

In this one-hour author talk, Michael G. Long will discuss many of the stories from his book with students directly, in the hopes of provoking conversations and helping teens think about how conflict can lead to change. Additionally, the first 25 teens who register and attend will receive a free copy of the book, which they will be able to pick up at the Main Library or branch curbside locations after the program. This program, while planned in an effort to help Santa Monica High School students address their summer reading assignment—to read up on and consider the question "How does conflict lead to change?", is open to all teens who are interested in making change in their worlds. To register: http://bit.ly/kidsmarchsmpl.  

Santa Monica Public Library’s free, all-ages Summer Reading Program, “Reading Colors Your World, runs through August 15. Register in person at the Main Library, Pico Branch Curbside and Montana Avenue Branch Curbside, or online at smpl.beanstack.org. Kids and teens earn special activity kits at 300 and 600 minutes read, and adults are entered into a prize drawing after 600 minutes read.  

Generous support of Summer Reading and Santa Monica Reads provided by the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library. The Friends is a non-profit volunteer organization that focuses on volunteering, fundraising, and support of the Library. Learn more about the Friends.  

We hope to see you at the Library this summer! In-person service is available at the Main Library, and contactless Curbside Pickup service is available at the Montana Avenue and Pico Branches. For a full list of programs and library resources, as well as library locations and hours, please visit our website at smpl.org.  

We encourage you to visit our Online Library and access the Library’s many digital services that are available 24/7. Questions? Call us at (310) 458-8600 or email reference@santamonica.gov. Staff are available Monday -  Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 2 to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and first Saturday of each month 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We look forward to connecting with you.  

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Media Contact

Ann Wagner
Youth Services Librarian II
Ann.Wagner@SMGOV.NET

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