BRINGING MEANINFUL CONVERSATIONS TO HIGH SCHOOLS
Montgomery County Public Libraries
Innovation Synopsis
Contemporary Conversations is a forum about culturally current issues featuring knowledgeable and well-known authors and journalists, engaging community members in enriching and meaningful conversations. Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) launched the series in 2017 offering four to five free evening events a year, mainly geared toward adults. In 2023, a new component was introduced, adding morning events for students in which the featured speaker visits a local high school in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) system near the host library. The speaker meets with students, bringing the conversation to them. The visits have been a unique opportunity for students to personally engage with distinguished speakers, fostering intellectual growth, promoting meaningful conversations, and learning about MCPL services and resources.
Challenge/Opportunity
Students do not often have the opportunity to connect with well-recognized speakers with established careers in their fields. This interaction has been very valuable for students, exposing them to a diversity of professional journeys, experiences, backgrounds, genres, and creative processes. Visitors have included:
- Sheree Renée Thomas, New York Times bestselling, World Fantasy Award-winning author; February 23, 2023 at Northwood HS.
- Tyehimba Jess, Pulitzer Prize winner, fiction and poetry author; April 27, 2023 at Gaithersburg HS.
- Mary Washington, Urban community gardener and food justice advocate; May 19 at Einstein HS.
- Regie Cabibo, poet; June 9, 2023 at Wheaton HS.
- Tony Medina, Professor of Creative Writing- Howard University; October 11, 2023 at Richard Montgomery HS.
- Mahogany L. Browne, Lincoln Center’s first-ever poet-in-residence and playwright; February 15, 2024 at Magruder HS.
- Bao Phi, Vietnamese-American children’s author; May 20, 2024 at Watkins Mill HS.
Key Elements of Innovation
The high school visits were an innovative initiative, providing a unique opportunity for everyone involved.
• MCPL worked closely with media specialists, school counselors, English teachers, and other school administrators to schedule the visits, ensuring continuous integration into the HS curriculum while reaching out directly to teens in their own environment.
• Students met and interacted one-on-one with the speakers, asked questions, and had lunch together, learning first-hand about the speakers’ experiences, exploring diverse perspectives on critical contemporary issues, and having meaningful discussions. Many of the high schools visited had diverse student populations. The opportunity to visit and connect with distinguished writers, poets and artists of color was very stimulating for students.
• Speakers found inspiration and personal fulfillment from the interaction, giving back to the community by sharing their knowledge with the next generation.
Achieved Outcomes
Since 2023, MCPL has been collaborating with MCPS to bring the Contemporary Conversations speakers to select high schools. The visits have been very well attended, with an average of 30 to 80 students per visit. Teens actively engaged in the conversations, taking the initiative to ask questions, and even sharing their own artwork with guest speakers. Many teens also attended the speakers’ event during the evening program at the library. The speakers’ visits enriched the students’ educational experience, broadened their worldview, inspired them to think critically, and to engage more actively in the community. MCPL and MCPS strengthened their relationship, demonstrating the power of collaboration and education. They are now brainstorming new possible initiatives and plans are underway to continue this fulfilling initiative in the future.
