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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello all,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On behalf of the Freedom to Read Foundation, Communications Committee, I’d love to share the following free learning opportunity:
<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ftrf.org_news_719720_Defending-2Dthe-2DFreedom-2Dto-2DRead-2DA-2DVirtual-2DEvent-2Dwith-2DAuthor-2DJarrett-2DDapier.htm&d=DwMGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=0W2uPBXtbzAEznldkACYo6UCYn_ZuxYGGdzqDeDKtA4&m=oyDLuB11jrt5YoMPIWJv7sQauxJCb5ascCXbjkRlkj2hcEl6OMr0ed5V1cITlyuP&s=_cnTIB_aKGQWw6_QgzKrpa9dnQEV9Zxc70Iht00Ewr4&e=">
Defending the Freedom to Read: A Virtual Event with Author Jarrett Dapier - Freedom to Read Foundation</a>, February 18, 2026.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:black">Defending the Freedom to Read:
<br>
A Virtual Event with Author Jarrett Dapier</span></b><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Wednesday, February 18, 2026,
<br>
11 AM Hawaii /12 PM Alaska /1 PM PST / 2 PM MST / 3PM CTS / 4PM EST</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">You’re invited! Join the Freedom to Read Foundation for a timely and powerful conversation about book bans, intellectual freedom, and why the right
to read matters now more than ever. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Award-winning Author and Librarian
<b>Jarrett Dapier</b> - whose upcoming graphic novel </span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/786824/wake-now-in-the-fire-by-jarrett-dapier-and-aj-dungo/"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1155CC">Wake Now in
the Fire</span></i></a></span><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">,</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> is inspired by real-life student activism against censorship - will be in conversation with Educator and Organizer
<b>Nora Flanagan</b>. The event will be moderated by <b>Joyce McIntosh</b> of the Freedom to Read Foundation.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Together, the panel will explore what happens when books are challenged, how censorship impacts young readers and communities, and the vital role librarians,
educators, publishers, and advocates play in defending access to information. The discussion will also spotlight the real students and organizers who have pushed back against book bans - and what we can learn from their courage. The event will end with a time
for Q&A. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">As a long-standing supporter of the Freedom to Read Foundation, Penguin Random House is committed to standing against book bans and censorship in all their forms. We believe
that stories foster empathy, understanding, and connection, and that every reader deserves the freedom to choose books that reflect their lives, challenge their thinking, and expand their world. Supporting readers means protecting the books that help them
feel seen, heard, and empowered. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit legal and educational organization that is dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s
First Amendment right to read and the right of library workers to serve the information needs of their community. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy. To learn
more about the Foundation, please visit</span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/2H9yC0R9pAT2BjvPJS2ivH9yuwE?domain=ftrf.org"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;text-decoration:none">
</span></a><a href="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/2H9yC0R9pAT2BjvPJS2ivH9yuwE?domain=ftrf.org"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1155CC">https://www.ftrf.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Register for Defending the Freedom to Read virtual event at
</span></b><span style="color:black"><a href="https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DLWSSiw_TDuWE69JB1fHEA?_gl=1*1s7i3ke*_gcl_au*NDkxOTQzNDk3LjE3NjUzODU0NTE.*_ga*MTM3NTg1NzE4Mi4xNzQxMjk0ODM2*_ga_L8TBF28DDX*czE3NzAxMjk4MTEkbzQyJGcxJHQxNzcwMTI5ODMzJGozOCRsMCRoMA.."><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1155CC">this
link. </span></b></a><b>Attendance is free.</b></span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">About the panelists:</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><img border="0" width="130" height="197" style="width:1.3541in;height:2.0486in" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DC96A9.19D1EDE0"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><img border="0" width="140" height="197" style="width:1.4583in;height:2.0555in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.jpg@01DC96A9.19D1EDE0"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><img border="0" width="131" height="199" style="width:1.368in;height:2.0694in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image003.jpg@01DC96A9.19D1EDE0"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Jarrett Dapier</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white;mso-highlight:white"> is a Chicago-area librarian and the recipient of the John Phillip
Imroth Award from the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Round Table for his work exposing book censorship in the Chicago Public Schools. He has served as a trustee with the Freedom to Read Foundation and he is the author of several award-winning
picture books for children, one of which has faced several censorship attempts<b>.</b></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white;mso-highlight:white">Nora Flanagan</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white;mso-highlight:white"> taught high school English
in Chicago for 25 years and has researched and organized against racism for longer than that. Recent efforts have included speaking to government agencies, teachers’ unions, faculties and administrations, community organizations, faith groups, and media outlets
about the intersection of bigotry and youth culture. She co-authored <i>Confronting White Nationalism in Schools</i>, a toolkit designed to help schools thoughtfully and effectively respond to incidents of racial hostility and proactively strengthen school
communities. Last fall, she joined the staff of the Chicago Teachers Union as a Project Organizer, focused on developing anti-racist policy and professional development.
</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Joyce McIntosh
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">is the Assistant Program Director for the Freedom to Read Foundation, and a Program Officer with the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. Her background and education in journalism and library and information
science have led her to work for newspapers, non-profits, and for the last two decades in libraries. Her work is centered on intellectual freedom education and helping library workers and community members navigate challenges through increased knowledge and
tools for advocacy in their communities. </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Emily O’Neal, M.L.S.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:black">Technical Services Manager<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Deschutes Public Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">601 NW Wall St., Bend OR 97703<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">(541) 617-7061<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:emilyo@deschuteslibrary.org"><span style="color:blue">emilyo@deschuteslibrary.org</span></a><span style="color:black">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.deschuteslibrary.org/"><span style="color:blue">http://www.deschuteslibrary.org</span></a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#332015"><img border="0" width="124" height="38" style="width:1.2916in;height:.3958in" id="MSOImageWebPart_WebPartWPQ3" src="cid:image004.png@01DC96A9.19D1EDE0" alt="Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Logo"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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