Alice Walker Speaks at the Library
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jaime Wong
(415) 557-4295; Jaime.Wong@sfpl.org
Literary Legend Alice Walker Speaks on New Picture Book
San Francisco, CA – Internationally renowned writer, poet and activist Alice Walker and Dr. Sheryl Davis, Executive Director of San Francisco Human Rights Commission, come together on October 21 for an exciting virtual discussion of Sweet People Are Everywhere, Walker’s new illustrated children’s book featuring her eloquent poem of the same title celebrating community, humanity and globalism. The poem addresses a young American boy getting his first passport and walks the boy through a series of countries, focusing on the “sweet people” to be found all over the world.
This exciting free virtual program, which takes place on Zoom and YouTube, includes a reading of the book and conversation with two inspiring voices of hope and creativity.
“I am honored for the opportunity to share a conversation with Alice Walker. I look forward to discussing how she encourages and celebrates the strength of kindness, creativity and justice,” said Dr. Davis.
Sweet People Are Everywhere is Walker’s sixth book for children, and it follows and explores some of the same themes as her 2007 title Why War Is Never a Good Idea. Her first children’s book was Langston Hughes: American Poet. Sweet People Are Everywhere includes an interview with Walker and a map highlighting the many countries referenced in the poem.
Alice Walker is a distinguished author and activist who has written dozens of books, including novels, poems, essays, short stories and children’s books. She was the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her novel The Color Purple, which also won the National Book Award in 1983. More than fifteen million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into more than two dozen languages. As an activist, Walker focuses on inequality, poverty and injustice.
Appointed by Mayor Edwin Lee, Dr. Sheryl Davis is the Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. Prior to joining the HRC, Director Davis was Executive Director of Collective Impact, a community-based organization in the Western Addition neighborhood of San Francisco. As Executive Director, she oversaw Mo’MAGIC, Magic Zone and the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center. During her career Davis, has served as an educator, nonprofit administrator, legislative aide and City commissioner. She is a passionate advocate for radical racial equity and education and the creator of the Everybody Reads program.
Alice Walker in Conversation with Dr. Sheryl Davis – Oct. 21, 12 p.m.
Register on Zoom: on.sfpl.org/walker-10-21
Watch on YouTube
# # #
Jaime Wong
Public Relations Officer
100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4295