Featured Speakers
Dr. Padma Venkatraman
Award-winning Project LIT Author https://padmavenkatraman.com/
Dr. Padma Venkatraman is the author of The Bridge Home, A Time to Dance, Island’s End and Climbing The Stairs, published by Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House. Her next novel, Born Behind Bars, is scheduled for October 2021 release.
The Bridge Home secured 8 starred reviews and is the winner of the Walter Dean Myers Award, South Asia Book Award, Golden Kite Award, Crystal Kite Award, and was a Global Read Aloud and Project Lit selection. Her previous novels were also released to multiple starred reviews and have won numerous honors and awards.
Before becoming a full-time author, Padma Venkatraman obtained a doctorate in oceanography from the College of William and Mary, conducted research at Johns Hopkins University, spent time as chief scientist on research vessels on the Baltic, where she was the only BIPOC female, explored rainforests on the Andaman Islands, and directed diversity efforts at the University of Rhode Island’s graduate school.
Visit her on twitter @padmatv; on ig @venkatraman.padma; or via her website: www.padmavenkatraman.com.
ALFONSO RAMIREZ
Trauma Informed Education Speaker and Educator
https://www.alfonsoramirezjr.com/
Alfonso Ramirez is a Trauma Informed Consultant, Trainer and Presenter. He draws on 25 years of experience working with vulnerable children, youth and families as an Educator, Mental Health Clinician and Program Administrator. He managed a successful 3 year pilot program at Tigard High School and his work was featured on the HBO show Problem Areas with Wyatt Cenac, Mental Health Problems (Linked here). Before serving as a TI Schools Coordinator, he managed the Children and Families Behavioral Health Services Unit at the Oregon Health Authority. He currently works for the Tigard Tualatin School District as a Trauma Informed Restorative Justice Coordinator.
JELANI MEMORY
Author, co-founder and CEO
Jelani Memory is an African American entrepreneur, thinker, and constant learner. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and six kids. He still wants to be an artist when he grows up.
TRUDY LUDWIG
Author and Speaker
Trudy Ludwig is an internationally acclaimed speaker and award-winning author of 10 children’s books that help kids connect and engage with their peers in kinder, more caring ways. She has received rave reviews from educators, experts, organizations, and parents for her passion and compassion in addressing friendship, bullying, and cyberbullying issues. Trudy wrote her first book, My Secret Bully, after her own daughter was bullied by some friends. Since then, she has become a sought-after speaker, presenting at schools and conferences, educating students, parents, and teachers on relational aggression. (refer to bullying basics for more information.)
Children's books have always been Trudy's great passion. It was her daughter's experience which inspired Trudy to quit her freelance writing career to focus on making a difference in kids' lives, one book at a time.® Her newest book, The Power of One, illustrated by Mike Curato, was released by Knopf/Random House Children’s Books in August 2020.
Trudy and her family live in Portland, OR. They try their best to take advantage of all that the magnificent Pacific Northwest has to offer.
