Mychal Threets is a librarian, and grew up in libraries as a homeschool kid. Mychal loves stories! He enjoys learning something new every day, and that includes learning why people love their local library. He utilizes social media to share the stories of library kids and library grown-ups that he encounters in library land. He is very open about his mental health, and talks about it in hopes that it'll help others in their mental health journey. He is adamant about encouraging people to believe him when he says he's happy they are here.
Annual Conference Session
Tuesday, November 19th
You Belong in Libraries
9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
Libraries are for everyone. There's something for everyone at all libraries. We all have a library story to tell and we all have a library story that deserves to be told. Amongst negativity, libraries shine bright with positivity. Your library voice is bellowing and that's okay! Mychal’s program aims to remind you of your book joy and your library joy. Be reinvigorated by the power of libraries--they are for everyone. And while he’s not a mental health expert, he seeks to remind you that no one is alone in their mental health struggles.
Matt Miller - Featured Speaker (School)
Matt Miller has a passion for equipping teachers to thrive in this new era of education; and encourages them to think differently about the craft of teaching. Matt has spent more than a decade in the classroom, creating unique learning experiences for his students. He is a successful author of the book, Ditch that Textbook, a Google-Certified Innovator, and is a top 10 Influencer in Educational technology and e-learning worldwide. learn more about Matt Miller HERE.
Annual Conference Sessions
Monday, November 18th
Featured Speaker - Tomorrow Glasses
11:30 a.m. - 12:20 a.m.
Breakout Session: How to Prepare for Our Students’ Unknown AI Future
1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
Breakout Session: 20 AI Tools to Save Time in the Classroom
2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.
J.R. Jamison is the award-winning author of the memoir Hillbilly Queer and host of the NPR podcast and radio show The Facing Project (recorded and produced at Indiana Public Radio). He is also a founder of the National Facing Project network, a nonprofit in 18 states and over 100 communities that creates a more understanding and empathetic world through stories that inspire action, where he serves as president of the organization.
He will be presenting a talk on, "Facing Our Stories: Confronting Polarization Through Documentary Theatre and Storytelling." Through humor, readings, and good old-fashioned storytelling, award-winning author and NPR host J.R. Jamison will help audiences understand how storytelling and writing heighten empathy, challenge biases and assumptions, and combat polarization.
Learn more about J.R. Jamison HERE.
Annual Conference Session
Monday, November 18th
Opening Keynote - Facing Our Stories: Confronting Polarization Through Documentary Theatre and Storytelling
9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
Roberto Gallardo - Featured Speaker (Public)
Roberto Gallardo is the Vice President for Engagement and an Associate Professor in the Agricultural Economics Department. He holds an electronics engineering undergraduate degree, a master’s in economic development, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration. Gallardo has worked with rural communities over the past decade conducting local & regional community economic development, including use of technology for development.
He has authored more than 100 articles including peer-reviewed and news-related regarding rural trends, socioeconomic analysis, industrial clusters, the digital divide, and leveraging broadband applications for community economic development. He is also the author of the book “Responsive Countryside: The Digital Age & Rural Communities,” which highlights a 21st-century community development model that helps rural communities transition to, plan for, and prosper in the digital age. Dr. Gallardo is a TEDx speaker and his work has been featured in a WIRED magazine article, a MIC.com documentary, and a RFDTV documentary.
Annual Conference Session
Tuesday, November 19th
Featured Speaker - The State of Digital Equity: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
COVID-19 shed a very bright light on the digital divide. Overnight, digital equity became and remains a priority for many communities across the state. In this session learn about digital equity trends, data, and resources available as well as challenges and opportunities, including the Digital Equity funding coming to the state.
