Cal State Fullerton’s Digital Ethnic Futures Initiative, also known as DEFCon, will host a transformative two-part event featuring acclaimed children’s book author and educator, Oriel Maria Siu. The event, aimed at dismantling foundational fairytales, will take place at the CSUF Data Visualization Center in Pollak Library, room 216 on Thursday, May 2.
Siu, known for her award-winning book “Christopher the Ogre Cologre, It’s Over!” will kick off the event with a book reading at 10 a.m., followed by a book signing session from 11:15 a.m. to noon.
The second part of the event will feature a digital pedagogy master class facilitated by Madeleine Mejia, DEFCon’s 2023 faculty research fellow and assistant professor of literacy and reading education. The event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. The master class titled, “Unsettling Foundational Fairytales With Digital Tools and Technologies,” is for K-12 educators and faculty teaching anti-colonial studies, as well as aspiring educators. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to create innovative lesson plans and teaching modules that integrate Siu’s engaging children’s books with digital tools and platforms, with the goal of challenging and dismantling colonial frameworks.
Siu, a writer, scholar and educator of Náhuat/Pipil/Chinese descent, was born and raised in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. She has been recognized as one of the “Top 10 New Latino Authors” by Latino Stories for her contributions to children’s literature in the United States. Her work is receiving national praise from social justice educational spaces, independent media outlets, and ethnic studies educators and programs.
Mejia has more than two decades of professional experience and expertise in the preparation of K-12 educators as literacy experts. Her research interests include making space for students’ voice in the learning and teaching process, teachers’ roles and active agency in professional development/inquiry into professional practice, and critical literacy and equity education.
Please fill out the RSVP form to attend. For more information, visit DEFCon website or email d.h@fullerton.edu. The event is presented by CSUF DEFCon with additional support from the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies.