By Amy Kurfist

On Monday, April 9 the Darden College of Education Literacy Center will welcome to campus Dr. Shirley Steinberg, Werklund Research Professor of Critical Youth Studies at the University of Calgary. Steinberg will present a lecture entitled When We Say, "Empowered Youth"...Do we mean it? at 4:30 PM in room 1103 of the Diehn Center for Performing Arts. The lecture is free and open to the public. Reservations are encouraged and can be made online.

While at ODU, Steinberg will also be visiting with faculty and doctoral students for a methodology workshop and attending a teacher candidate workshop focused on culture and curriculum in the classroom. The teacher candidate workshop is sponsored by a generous gift from Dr. Warren Stewart.

"The Literacy Center is proud to feature Dr. Shirley Steinberg as our inaugural speaker in our annual series" said Dunkerly-Bean, assistant professor of teaching and learning. "Dr. Steinberg's work is timely as it challenges us to re-conceptualize children and youth as active social and political agents."

The Literacy Center, which aims to advance innovative research and practices supporting the important connections between democracy, citizenship, art and the development of literacy for children, is located in the department of Teaching & Learning. One of six academic departments within the Darden College of Education, Teaching & Learning offers graduate degrees with initial licensure programs as well as programs for licensed teachers. To learn more about the academic programs visit the Department of Teaching & Learning.

About Dr. Shirley Steinberg:

Dr. Steinberg's work focuses on the cultural/social/education development of youth, and critical community involvement. She is concerned with how society views young people, and her work creates an environment in which youth are viewed as positive democratic agents within society. As a Research Chair, she has established an international network of youth and community workers engaged in a critical pedagogical approach to activism and pedagogy. Her work is currently focused on issues of Islamophobia, Empowerment of Women, and Critical Diversity Studies.

For further information about the lecture, please contact Dr. Judith Dunkerly- Bean at jdunkerl@odu.edu or Dr. Kristine Sunday at ksunday@odu.edu.