An Evening of Enlightenment With Jason Reynolds
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed.D. Academic Center Auditorium
Moderator: Lakeysha Hallmon, Ed.D.
Cost: Free and open to the public
The Spelman College Department of Literature, Media and Writing is thrilled to welcome award-winning, internationally-celebrated author of young adult books author Jason Reynolds for a keynote conversation that promises to ignite passion, spark creativity, and celebrate the transformative power of storytelling. AUC students, faculty, and their families are invited to attend and encouraged to RSVP through Eventbrite.
The goal is to give a FREE BOOK to every AUC student who attends. A meet and greet will follow the keynote.
RSVP: For Evening With Jason Reynolds
What Students and Faculty Are Saying
"I am incredibly excited to see the passion that Reynolds will ignite in our students and faculty. With his experience as the chair of Banned Books Week and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, he is sure to deliver a transformational experience."
— Sequoia Maner, Ph.D., assistant professor of Literature, Media and Writing
Reynolds' keynote conversation will mark the inaugural public event for the newly-reimagined Department of Literature, Media and Writing (formerly known as the Department of English).
"We've changed our curriculum because we prioritize moving away from the colonial legacies associated with English literature. By decolonizing our major, we foreground our studies —which include a range of genres such as literature, movies, TV, and digital media from a diversity of places and traditions — all while centering the voices of Black people. Jason Reynolds' visit to our campus is the perfect way to celebrate this change."
— Patricia Ventura, Ph.D., professor and department chair
A New Partnership: Page Turners Make Great Learners
The new major also marks a new collaboration with Page Turners Make Great Learners, a literacy nonprofit that partners with schools across metro-Atlanta to bring dynamic reading experiences to students such as Read-a-thons, book clubs, and author visits. Notably, Page Turners has provided over 75,000 books to deserving children and has featured over 175 authors including Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, and NBA Basketball Star, Chris Paul.
"Our partnership with Spelman signifies a powerful union of purpose and possibility. Together, we are building intentional bridges and promoting common good in the heart of the communities we serve. This partnership affirms our shared commitment to fostering literacy, cultivating lifelong learners, and empowering voices that have too often gone unheard."
— FeFe Handy, executive director of Page Turners Make Great Learners
Learn About Page Turners
About Jason Reynolds
Reynolds is a talented writer of children's and young adult fiction. His prolific publication of stories that are tender, bold, imaginative, and profound have garnered Reynolds a bevy of honors and awards. He is a regular feature of the New York Times Bestsellers List.
Awards and Recognition
- Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award
- Kirkus Prize
- NAACP Image Award
- Newbery Honor
Reynolds is also a fierce champion of reading, especially for reluctant readers. He often speaks at community centers, libraries, and schools to spark and nourish the love of reading in children — and the adults who shape their worlds. He delivers dynamic talks that emphasize the power of storytelling in our lives, the pleasures of reading as a practice, and the importance of seeing ourselves reflected in literature.
Notable Works
Reynolds has authored and co-authored more than 20 books, including:
- "When I Was the Greatest" (2014)
- "The Boy in the Black Suit" (2015)
- "As Brave as You" (2016) — Winner of the Kirkus Prize, 2017 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teen, and 2017 Schneider Family Book Award
- "Long Way Down" (2017) — Named a 2018 Newbery Honor book, Michael L. Printz Honor Book, best young adult work at the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Awards, Walter Dean Myers Award, Coretta Scott King Honor, and finalist for the NAACP Image Award
- "Miles Morales: Spider-Man" (2017) — A novel based on the Marvel Comics' Afro-Puerto Rican teen character
- "Look Both Ways" (2019) — National Book Award Finalist and New York Times Best Seller
- "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You" (2020, with Ibram X. Kendi)
- "Ain't Burned All the Bright" (2022)
- "There Was a Party for Langston" (2023)
- "Twenty-four Seconds from Now" (2024)
- The acclaimed "track series" (2017-2025)
Moderator: Lakeysha "Key" Hallmon, Ed.D.
Lakeysha "Key" Hallmon, Ed.D., is a social entrepreneur, speaker, civic leader, and author of "No One Is Self-Made: Build Your Village to Flourish in Business and Life" (2025). She is the founder of The Village Market, Our Village United, and The Village Retail, platforms that have supported nearly 1,500 Black-owned businesses, facilitated over $10 million in direct sales, and deployed more than a million dollars in grants and technical assistance.
Her groundbreaking Village Retail model spans high-foot-traffic locations including Ponce City Market in Atlanta (3.6 million annual visitors), the Google Visitor Center in Mountain View (80,000 annual visitors), and an upcoming storefront at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (108 million passengers annually).
Collectively, these strategic placements give Black-owned brands access to more than 111 million potential consumers each year. Dr. Key has partnered with the Atlanta BeltLine to launch the BeltLine Marketplace and served as program partner for both Beyoncé's BeyGOOD Foundation and the Fearless Foundation. A proud advocate for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Dr. Key serves on the Board of Trustees at Tougaloo College. She also sits on the board of Invest Atlanta, the city's official economic development authority, which manages over $1 billion in active investments to foster inclusive economic growth.
Appointed by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, she served on the Women's Advisory Council and previously served on the ethics and procurement committee during the City's 61st mayoral transition. Dr. Key's leadership and impact have earned prestigious recognition: she was named a Forbes 50 Champion, recognized on The Root's list of the 100 Most Influential African Americans, and honored with the coveted Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40 distinction. She also received the Atlanta Business League Trailblazer Award and was named one of Georgia Trend's Top 500 Most Influential Leaders.
Dr. Key has appeared on national platforms including Good Morning America, The Tamron Hall Show, CNN, The Today Show, iHeartRadio's The Breakfast Club, and Good Day Atlanta. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Black Enterprise, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Learn more about Dr. LaKeysha Hallmon
Make Plans to Attend
This evening of enlightenment is made possible by the support and sponsorship of the Writing Center and the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program of Spelman College. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to hear from one of the most celebrated voices in contemporary literature.
Reserve Your Spot