Defending Children’s Rights to Read

Kia Brown-Dudley is currently the Director of Programs and Partnerships at The Education Partners. In this interview, she discusses her journey into advocating for literacy, her involvement with ILA, and their efforts to combat censorship. Highlights include: - Kia's expertise includes professional learning, research-based reading programs, and advocating for transparency and equity in education. - ILA's focus on promoting children's rights to read is explored, along with their efforts to combat censorship and provide resources for educators and advocates. - ILA's stance on censorship is discussed, emphasizing the right to access diverse literature and their collaboration with governments and organizations. - The delicate balance between protecting individuals from harmful content and preserving freedom of expression is explored through ILA's advocacy for children's rights to read. - Aspiring educators and literacy advocates are encouraged to partner with organizations like ILA, access resources, and engage in discussions around combating censorship and promoting literacy. As the ILA President of the Board, Kia whole-heartedly serves ILA's 300,000 members as they work to guarantee that literacy is a fundamental, inalienable, human right for all.