MnWE Friday morning Plenary Session
hosted by Strive Community Publishing
hosted by Strive Community Publishing
Changing the Narrative through Generational Lenses
There is power in elevating everyday stories from the Black community to effect change and challenge the way we relate to one another across cultures and identities. Join in this community panel discussion with Mary Taris, Donna Gingery, Gregory Pickett, and Anthony Walsh. Listen to their stories told in their own ways, representing lived experiences across the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and the Millennial Generations.
Just showing up for a panel discussion creates space to connect, break down stereotypes, and share important life lessons, values, and hope for Generation Z, Generation Alpha, and generations to come. This is an opportunity to bring education, culture, and community together in an atmosphere of learning and acceptance, where we can be our authentic selves and face the challenges of educating the next generations in a way that honors each student’s full identity.
“The best contribution Strive Publishing can make in the children’s book publishing industry is to focus on African American authors.” — K. T. Horning, Cooperative Children's Book Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Just showing up for a panel discussion creates space to connect, break down stereotypes, and share important life lessons, values, and hope for Generation Z, Generation Alpha, and generations to come. This is an opportunity to bring education, culture, and community together in an atmosphere of learning and acceptance, where we can be our authentic selves and face the challenges of educating the next generations in a way that honors each student’s full identity.
“The best contribution Strive Publishing can make in the children’s book publishing industry is to focus on African American authors.” — K. T. Horning, Cooperative Children's Book Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mary Taris is a mother, grandmother, educator, and the Founder of Strive Community Publishing. She started publishing books with a vision of connecting stories across cultures and generations. Her teaching experience includes grade school, middle school English, and adult English Language Learners. Just as Mary felt called to help bring diversity and equity into the teaching field, she is now on a mission to bring more Black books into schools, the community, and the world. She believes that Black voices should be centered, valued, and empowered to inspire freedom, equity, and justice in our society.
In her work to connect stories across cultures through collaboration, Mary has served as a panelist for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) MN Chapter, Springboard for the Arts, Augsburg University; as a judge for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards; and on the 2021 Minnesota Humanities Center Poet Laureate Review Panel. Mary also is a member of the planning committee for the Minnesota Writing and English conferences (MnWE); on the board of The Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries; a member of the GreenLight Twin Cities Selection Advisory Counsel; and a 2020-2021 Finnovation Lab Fellow. On March 5, 2021, Mary was inducted as a member of the Northcentral University Chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi.
In her work to connect stories across cultures through collaboration, Mary has served as a panelist for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) MN Chapter, Springboard for the Arts, Augsburg University; as a judge for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards; and on the 2021 Minnesota Humanities Center Poet Laureate Review Panel. Mary also is a member of the planning committee for the Minnesota Writing and English conferences (MnWE); on the board of The Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries; a member of the GreenLight Twin Cities Selection Advisory Counsel; and a 2020-2021 Finnovation Lab Fellow. On March 5, 2021, Mary was inducted as a member of the Northcentral University Chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi.
Donna Gingery would like to thank God for giving her an opportunity to start on a journey of writing children’s books. She is dedicating her books in memory of her mother, Bernese Jacqueline Clemons.
Donna was born in Selma, Alabama in the 1960s. She is a survivor because she was a premature baby and was not expected to live. Donna says her life in elementary through high school was not very pleasant. She was diagnosed with a learning disability and struggled with reading and writing. Donna’s high school counselor told her that she would never make it in college, but today Donna has a bachelor’s degree in theater, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and a K-12 administration license. She credits a teacher she had for counteracting what her high school counselor told her. This teacher told Donna that she was smart and learned differently. She told Donna to never allow anyone to tell her anything otherwise. Her words helped Donna become the educator she is today.
Her love for storytelling started at a very young age. Donna has always had a big imagination. It was her imagination that helped her get through school and other adversities in her life. When Donna was growing up, if someone would ask her a question, she would always answer with some elaborate story. Every night at bedtime, Donna’s sister would ask her to tell her a story. If Donna refused to tell a story, her sister would get very upset. This is when Donna realized her love for storytelling.
Donna was born in Selma, Alabama in the 1960s. She is a survivor because she was a premature baby and was not expected to live. Donna says her life in elementary through high school was not very pleasant. She was diagnosed with a learning disability and struggled with reading and writing. Donna’s high school counselor told her that she would never make it in college, but today Donna has a bachelor’s degree in theater, a master’s degree in educational leadership, and a K-12 administration license. She credits a teacher she had for counteracting what her high school counselor told her. This teacher told Donna that she was smart and learned differently. She told Donna to never allow anyone to tell her anything otherwise. Her words helped Donna become the educator she is today.
Her love for storytelling started at a very young age. Donna has always had a big imagination. It was her imagination that helped her get through school and other adversities in her life. When Donna was growing up, if someone would ask her a question, she would always answer with some elaborate story. Every night at bedtime, Donna’s sister would ask her to tell her a story. If Donna refused to tell a story, her sister would get very upset. This is when Donna realized her love for storytelling.
Originally from Chicago, Gregory Pickett is a Minneapolis-based poet, storyteller, writer, and educator known for turning the difficult events of his adolescence and early adulthood–homelessness and substance abuse–into engaging, accessible narrative that bridges the gaps between us.
After studying writing at Chicago State University, Gregory has gone on to win several awards, which include the first-place finalist in the 2019 “National Storytelling Festival Story Slam”; the 2019 Twin Cities “The Moth” storytelling Grand Slam Champion; the 2019 and 2017 “Minneapolis SlamMN!” Storytelling Grand Slam Champion; and the 2014 and 2009 “Rootabaga Poetry Slam” Champion in Galesburg, IL.
After studying writing at Chicago State University, Gregory has gone on to win several awards, which include the first-place finalist in the 2019 “National Storytelling Festival Story Slam”; the 2019 Twin Cities “The Moth” storytelling Grand Slam Champion; the 2019 and 2017 “Minneapolis SlamMN!” Storytelling Grand Slam Champion; and the 2014 and 2009 “Rootabaga Poetry Slam” Champion in Galesburg, IL.
Anthony Walsh is from Edina, Minnesota. He was on the 2013 Boys’ Minnesota State High School championship hockey team. After high school graduation, Anthony played Junior A Hockey in Canada before attending the University of North Dakota. At UND, Anthony double-majored in history and interdisciplinary studies, interned with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office twice, and studied abroad in both Santiago, Chile and Moss, Norway.
Anthony interned at the American College of Norway before moving to Washington, D.C. for an internship with Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Following his internship in the U.S. Senate, Anthony worked at The Century Foundation, a Think Tank, as a senior policy associate, while studying law part-time at the University of the District of Columbia.
Currently, Anthony is a full-time law student at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He also coaches youth hockey in Minneapolis and is on the board of Adoptees United, a national nonprofit. He has written a children’s book, Hockey is for Everyone, which is forthcoming in partnership with Strive Publishing.
Anthony interned at the American College of Norway before moving to Washington, D.C. for an internship with Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Following his internship in the U.S. Senate, Anthony worked at The Century Foundation, a Think Tank, as a senior policy associate, while studying law part-time at the University of the District of Columbia.
Currently, Anthony is a full-time law student at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He also coaches youth hockey in Minneapolis and is on the board of Adoptees United, a national nonprofit. He has written a children’s book, Hockey is for Everyone, which is forthcoming in partnership with Strive Publishing.