Javaka Steptoe and Vogue Robinson at UNLV courtesy of the Gale A. Zeiter Literacy Center.

2/8/2018

Javaka Steptoe Illustrator and author

Every year the Gayle A. Zeiter center hosts a Children's and Young Adult Literature Conference. The two professors who put this conference together are Dr. Sophie Ladd and Dr. Denise Davila. They do wonderful work. This year they hosted Javaka Steptoe and local Clark County Poet Laureate, Vogue Robinson. It was a wonderful event. I enjoyed the vibrant art of Javaka and the moving poetry of Vogue.

Javaka shared his book, Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. It was actually quite moving to hear him introduce and explore the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat. I confess that I did know his art very well. I loved how Javaka's book was both his creation and an homage to the work of another artist. Do yourself a favor and explore the works of both.

I know, some of are thinking- "Hey Steve, this is a blog for YA." Yes, but beauty and art is found in different places. In his speech, that was mainly directed at teachers, Javaka admonished us to do our work based on four words. They are: Love, Me, Honesty, and Forgive. I was instructed. I hope that I try to love what I do. I strive to make "me" present in what I do and say. I think that I work to be honest --with me students, my work, and my passionate. Forgive, myself and my students. This was very powerful. Life can be a series of hits and misses. Let's strive to forgive and move forward with love and forgiveness.

Vogue Robinson

I love to listen to spoken word poetry. Vogue was an amazing find. I am going to have to talk to Denise about why I haven't been introduced to her sooner. Watch out secondary education students at UNLV, there will be a poet coming to you soon. Hit this link and like Vogue's Facebook page.

I was attending the conference and just could resist archiving such a wonderful event.
Until next time.

Steve

Dr. Steve Bickmore
Creator and Curator

Dr. Bickmore is a Professor of English Education at UNLV. He is a scholar of Young Adult Literature and past editor of The ALAN Review and a past president of ALAN. He is a available for speaking engagements at schools, conferences, book festivals, and parent organizations. More information can be found on the Contact page and the About page.

Dr. Gretchen Rumohr
Co-Curator

Gretchen Rumohr is a professor of English and writing program administrator at Aquinas College, where she teaches writing and language arts methods. She is also a Co-Director of the UNLV Summit on the Research and Teaching of Young Adult Literature. She lives with her four girls and a five-pound Yorkshire Terrier in west Michigan.

Bickmore's
Co-Edited Books

Meet
Evangile Dufitumukiza!

Evangile is a native of Kigali, Rwanda. He is a college student that Steve meet while working in Rwanda as a missionary. In fact, Evangile was one of the first people who translated his English into Kinyarwanda.

Steve recruited him to help promote Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesday on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media while Steve is doing his mission work.

He helps Dr. Bickmore promote his academic books and sometimes send out emails in his behalf.

You will notice that while he speaks fluent English, it often does look like an "American" version of English. That is because it isn't. His English is heavily influence by British English and different versions of Eastern and Central African English that is prominent in his home country of Rwanda.

Welcome Evangile into the YA Wednesday community as he learns about Young Adult Literature and all of the wild slang of American English vs the slang and language of the English he has mastered in his beautiful country of Rwanda.

While in Rwanda, Steve has learned that it is a poor English speaker who can only master one dialect and/or set of idioms in this complicated language.

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