ALTOONA, Pa. — The 24th annual African American Read-In at Penn State Altoona will take place Feb. 18-19.

This year’s theme, “Black Ecologies,” celebrates environmental writing by Black authors who examine the human relationship with the more-than-human world. Their works explore topics from wilderness and outdoor adventure to gardening, geography, environmental science, urban nature, and issues such as environmental justice and climate change. This theme offers the enjoyment of both contemporary and historical works across a range of genres such as poetry, short fiction, novels and essays.

Events begin at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, in Port-Sky Café with a community dinner. Reservations are required by Feb. 2. Attendees are invited to share a short reading from a suggested list or a work by any African American, Afro-Caribbean, or Black author of their choice. All readers will receive a commemorative T-shirt, and all guests may pick a book to take home with them.

The Read-In continues Feb. 19 with “Monday Marathon,” an open mic event held in the Titelman Study of the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., various readings, presentations and games will take place celebrating African American writers. There also be prizes and refreshments. Community members are invited to drop in throughout the day to participate and/or listen.

From noon to 1 p.m., Carolyn Finney will offer a keynote presentation in the Titelman Study. A Zoom option is available. Finney is a columnist at the Earth Island Journal and an artist-in-residence and the environmental studies professor of practice in the Franklin Environmental Center at Middlebury College. The aim of her work is to develop greater cultural competency within environmental organizations and institutions, challenge media outlets on their representation of difference, and increase awareness of how privilege shapes who gets to speak to environmental issues and determine policy and action.

At 5:30 p.m., featured author Tyree Daye will offer a reading of his works in the Titelman Study, followed by a book signing. Daye is an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He is the author of the poetry collections “a little bump in the earth,” “Cardinal,” and “River Hymns,” and a winner of the APR/Honickman First Book Prize.

All events are free and open to the public and are sponsored by the African American Read-In at Penn State Altoona with additional support from the Penn State Altoona Honors, Multidisciplinary Studies, and Environmental Studies programs, Penn State's Office of General Education, and the Blair County NAACP.

Find out more information on the African American Read-In website.