A Discussion Around Racism with Authors Beverly Harris-Schenz and Nancy Hines

During this timely and thoughtful presentation--Dr. Beverly Harris-Schenz, author of Living While Black: My Experience with Everyday Racism (2023) and Mary Martin: Black Government Girl (2024) and Dr. Nancy Hines, author of Not Only in the Deep South (2024)--will be here to read from their works and lead an interactive discussion on the topic of racism, both individual and systemic. This program will be of interest to anyone wanting to increase their awareness around the subject: educators, parents, and the community at large.  

   After 38 years as a university professor and administrator (primarily at the University of Pittsburgh), in retirement, Dr. Harris-Schenz has pursued a new interest in writing nonfiction. Her stories have appeared in Voices from the Attic, published by Carlow University. Her 2023 book Living while Black: My Experience with Everyday Racism is a collection of vignettes describing events from her personal and professional life, which spans more than 60 years. Each vignette is accompanied by discussion questions. In her most recent book Mary Martin: Black Government-Girl, published in 2024, Dr. Harris-Schenz chronicles the early life of her mother.  

   Before her recent retirement, Dr. Nancy Hines worked for over 30 years in education in various positions: district administration, teacher, principal, curriculum director, and superintendent. Her diverse professional experiences provided exposure to numerous examples of systemic racism and other inequities within the K-12 public school setting. Her book Not Only in the Deep South is a heartfelt account designed to serve as both a memoir and a primer that will present a clear call to action for those educators and school stakeholders who are committed to equitable student outcomes and to help extinguish the inequalities that plague communities that lack privilege and advocacy. 

 Authors will have books for sale.