Did you know that you can learn from professionals outside of the Library world at the NJLA Conference? In this post we highlight some of the terrific outside talent our committees and sections have invited to share their knowledge and expertise.

Who better to talk with us about homeless populations than Ryan Dowd, Executive Director of Hesed House in Aurora, Illinois? Hesed House’s mission is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give people the chance to hope again. Mr. Dowd, author of A Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness, is an expert on libraries and the homeless and will share his extensive knowledge in the preconference Practical Skills for Homeless, Addicted & Mentally Ill Patrons and again on Thursday morning in the session titled Things You Need to Know about Your Homeless Patrons.

During Let's Listen: Presenting Diverse Oral Histories, you can learn about the Trans Oral History Project and Queer Newark Oral History Project. In addition to librarians, who have brought public history into the public library, you will also hear from Kristyn Scorsone, a master’s student in the History Program at Rutgers University – Newark with a concentration in Women’s and Gender Studies. You can read more about Kristyn Scorsone in this earlier conference blog post: http://njlaconference.info/content/program-spotlight-diversity-outreach-section.

And how often do we get to hear from an Education Development Executive at Apple? On Thursday afternoon in Libraries & Information: Change in a Digital Environment, come learn from Matt Brooks about how Apple products can help you collaborate in a digital environment and explore the opportunities that Apple's Everyone Can Code curriculum can open to students and community members to learn how to code.

You won’t want to miss Friday’s session, Full STEAM Together: Social Justice in Programming. Rashmi Drummond, Founder of The DreamGirls Initiative and Amy Cliett, National Outreach Manager for TechGirlz will discuss STEAM programming and the connection to boosting self-confidence and self- awareness. The DreamGirls Initiative focuses on inspiring girls in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math by giving girls access to female role models in related professions. TechGirlz aims to reduce the gender gap in technology fields by focusing on girls in middle school.

Watch this video to learn more about how TechGirlz is helping middle school girls embrace the power of technology through their TechShopz and TechShopz in a Box programs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So4WB4IbE-s#action=share

--Karen Klapperstuck and the 2018 NJLA Conference Committee