The American Library Association this week announced that activist, author and NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick will close deliver the closing talk at the American Library Association’s 2022 LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience conference. ALA President-Elect Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada will also present during the closing session. The session is set for January 24, at 1 p.m. CT.
Kaepernick will talk with librarians about his first children’s book, illustrated by Eric Wilkerson, I Color Myself Different, which is scheduled for an April, 2022 publication from Scholastic Press and Kaepernick Publishing. The book is described as "a joyful ode to Black and Brown people and communities," based on real events from Kaepernick's life.
Kaepernick led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2013 before injuries derailed his career. In August, 2016, he made headlines around the world when he chose not to stand during the national anthem before a preseason game in protest of police brutality against people of color. His action sparked a movement.
In 2019, he founded Kaepernick Publishing to "elevate a new generation of writers and creators through the development and publication of meaningful works of all genres with the focus of amplifying diverse views and voices."
LibLearnX, which will be virtual only this year, is a new four-day learning conference that takes the place of the now retired Midwinter Meeting. Designed with member input, the inaugural LibLearnX will be an active learning experience, offering a variety of sessions in different format, ranging from featured speakers to an impressive slate of education sessions. The event will also feature a virtual exhibit hall, the LLX Marketplace, where exhibitors will offer a look at the newest titles, technologies, and services for ALA Members.
LibLearnX 2022 will run from January 21-24, and you register here.
