Juneteenth Jubilation: An Evening with Jason Reynolds
Celebrate freedom, storytelling, and the power of voice with Jersey City Free Public Library at this special Juneteenth event featuring award-winning young adult novelist Jason Reynolds.
Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and MacArthur Fellow, honored with numerous awards including the Newbery, Printz, Coretta Scott King, NAACP Image, and Kirkus Awards. He served as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature from 2020–2022 and is a two-time National Book Award finalist. Some of his acclaimed works include Look Both Ways, Ain’t Burned All the Bright (recipient of the Caldecott Honor), the Track series, Miles Morales Suspended, Stamped, Twenty-Four Seconds from Now…, and Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Honor. His debut picture book, There Was a Party for Langston, won a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. He currently lives in Washington, DC.
This experience will be moderated by Janine Brown, also known as Brown Brilliance. She is an educator, cultural commentator, and founder of Brown Brilliance LLC, which transforms youth engagement through culture and identity. With over a decade of experience in Jersey City Public Schools, she currently works as a Crisis Intervention Teacher at Dickinson High School. Dedicated to youth advocacy and equity, Janine facilitates character-building workshops and a hip-hop-infused social-emotional learning curriculum. As Chairwoman of Kismet of Kings, a nonprofit supporting young Black and Brown men, she has developed important programming within the New Jersey Youth Justice Commission and led a youth diversion initiative with the Jersey City Police Department. Janine is also a contributing author to “HipHopEd Vol. 3” and a former Teacher of the Year. As a dynamic host and speaker, she engages audiences in conversations celebrating Black and Brown brilliance.
🎟️ Free Ticketed Event
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• Bring nationally recognized authors to Jersey City
• Expand youth and teen programming across all 12 library locations
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📍 Main Event Details
📅 Thursday, June 18
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Saint Peter’s University – Dinneen Hall, McIntyre Room
2641 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Why This Event Matters
Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not just history, it’s something we continue to shape. Through storytelling and shared space, this evening honors that journey while uplifting voices that help us see ourselves and each other more clearly.