BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:icalendar-ruby CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Shamichael Hallman: "Meet Me at the Library" X-WR-TIMEZONE:Eastern Time (US & Canada) BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260519T103004Z UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_48588513181947 DTSTART:20250407T230000Z DTEND:20250408T000000Z DESCRIPTION:America is facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation\, wit h troubling effects on our mental and physical health. We live in one of t he most divisive times in our history\, one in which we tend to work\, pla y\, and associate only with people who think as we do. How do we create sp aces for people to come together—to open our minds\, understand our diff erences\, and exchange ideas?\n \n\n\nShamichael Hallman argues that the p ublic library may be our best hope for bridging these divides and creating strong\, inclusive communities. While public libraries have long been tho ught of as a place for a select few\, increasingly they are playing an ess ential role in building social cohesion\, promoting civic renewal\, and ad vancing the ideals of a healthy democracy. Many are reimagining themselves in new and innovative ways\, actively reaching out to the communities the y serve. Today\, libraries are becoming essential institutions for repairi ng society.\n \n\n\nLibraries have a unique opportunity to bridge socioeco nomic divides and rebuild trust. But in order to do so\, they must be trul y welcoming to all. They and their communities must work collaboratively t o bridge socioeconomic divides through innovative and productive partnersh ips.\n \n\n\nDrawing from his experience at the Memphis Public Library and his extensive research and interviews across the country\, Hallman presen ts a rich argument for seeing libraries as one of the nation’s greatest assets. He includes examples from libraries large and small--such as the Iowa’s North Liberty Library’s Lighthouse in the Library program to br ing people together to discuss important topics in a safe and supportive s pace\, to Cambridge Cooks\, an initiative of the Cambridge MA Public Libra ry that fosters social connection by bringing people together over shared interest in food.\n \n\n\nAs an institution that is increasingly under att ack for creating a place where diverse audiences can see themselves\, publ ic libraries are under more scrutiny than ever. Meet Me at the Library off ers us a revealing look at one of our most important civic institutions an d the social and civic impact they must play if we are to heal our divided nation.\n\n \n\nShamichael Hallman will be joined in conversation by Terr ance Smith\, Chief Innovation Officer for the Baltimore Mayor's Office of Innovation.\n\n \n\nThis program is presented in partnership with Thread. \n\n \n\nAbout the Author: \n\nShamichael Hallman serves as the Director o f Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at Urban Libraries Council\, an in novation and action tank of North America's leading public library systems . In this role he's working to advance conversations about public librarie s as essential city and county infrastructure\, including their value as p hysical spaces and a connector of diverse lived experiences. From 2017 - 2 022 he served as the Senior Library Manager of the historic Cossitt Librar y (Memphis Public Libraries)\, tasked with overseeing the multi-million-do llar renovation of this space which reimagined the roles that a branch lib rary could play in the community. During his tenure with Memphis Public Li braries\, the library system was awarded the 2021 National Medal for Museu m and Library Science by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and was recognized as the Nation's Most Innovative Public Library by Smithsoni an Magazine in November of 2021. His 2020 TEDx talk "Reimagining the Publi c Library to Reconnect the Community" garnered international attention amo ng librarians and social innovators. \n\n \n\nAbout the Moderator: \n\nTer rance Smith is the Chief Innovation Officer for the Mayor's Office of Inno vation (Baltimore i-Team)\, based in Baltimore\, where he specializes in l eading trust-centered strategies to address urban challenges\, including h ousing vacancy prevention\, public safety recruitment/retention\, and gove rnment agency reform. His work focuses on creating just\, fair & co-develo ped solutions to foster meaningful\, sustainable change between institutio ns and communities. In addition to serving as a Bloomberg Public Innovat ion Fellow\, Terrance is a global research scholar. He developed the Trust Innovation Spectrum Framework\, a pioneering tool for fostering instituti onal trustworthiness\, and authored Navigating Trust: Paving the Path to P ublic Innovation\, published by the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. This work explores the intersection of trust and innovation\, offering actionable insights for public leaders. \n\n\nP reviously\, Terrance held roles emphasizing strategic leadership\, civic e ngagement\, and design thinking. As the Founding Director of Mobile’s Of fice of Strategic Initiatives\, he led the city’s Innovation Delivery Ca pacity and Data Center to enhance operational efficiency and cross-departm ental collaboration. He also directed Mobile’s Mayor’s Innovation Team \, achieving national recognition for innovative solutions to urban challe nges\, including decreasing housing vacancy and driving residential develo pment. \n\n \n\nAbout the Program: \n\nTo attend in person please register here. Doors will open to registered attendees at 6 pm. A local bookseller will be on-site and have books available for purchase.Free parking vouche rs are available to program attendees who park at the Franklin Street Gara ge (15 W. Franklin Street) after 4pm. Ask Pratt event staff for your park ing voucher prior to or after the program. This free event will be present ed in-person and virtually. GEO:39.294601;-76.617302 LOCATION:Central Library\, Wheeler Auditorium SUMMARY:Shamichael Hallman: "Meet Me at the Library" URL;VALUE=URI:https://calendar.prattlibrary.org/event/shamichael-hallman-me et-me-at-the-library CATEGORIES:Writers LIVE! CATEGORIES:Virtual Event END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR