
The annual African American Read-in at Penn State Altoona will take place on Monday, Feb. 24. This year’s theme is Young Readers.
ALTOONA, Pa. — The annual African American Read-in at Penn State Altoona will take place on Monday, Feb. 24. This year’s theme is Young Readers.
Events kick off with the “Monday Marathon,” an open mic event held in the Titelman Study of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., various readings and presentations will take place celebrating African American writers and literature aimed at children and young adults. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to drop in throughout the day to participate or listen.
Those planning to participate are encouraged to sign up for a time slot online. Participants may bring something of their own choosing or select from a variety of books that will be available at the event. They also will receive a free T-shirt with the 2025 Read-In logo on it.
From noon to 1 p.m. the keynote presentation, “Centering Black Joy: The Edification of Experiences of Children’s Literature for Young Readers” by Shanetia P. Clark, will take place in Titelman Study.
Clark will explore how centering Black joy in children’s literature is not only a critical act of representation, but also a pedagogical tool for fostering inclusive literacy practices that celebrate diversity and shared humanity.
Clark is a Penn State graduate and a professor of literacy in the Department of Early and Elementary Education at Salisbury University in Maryland. She is the co-editor of Voices from the Middle, the National Council of Teachers of English middle level peer reviewed journal.
Read-In events continue from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday evening with a community program at Railroad City Cultural Center, located at 1247 14th St. in downtown Altoona.
All events are free and open to the public and sponsored by the African American Read-in at Penn State Altoona.