Join us for an intimate and optimistic conversation between author Junauda Petrus and activist Valerie Castile as they discuss Petrus' new children's book and the community vision for a future where police aren't in charge of public "safety." A book signing by Junauda Petrus will close out the event. Free to attend. Takes place in the Open Book Performance Hall. Sponsored by Black Garnet Books.

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Junauda Petrus is a writer, pleasure activist, filmmaker and performance artist, born on Dakota land of Black-Caribbean descent. Her work centers around wildness, queerness, Black-diasporic-futurism, ancestral healing, sweetness, shimmer and liberation. She lives in Minneapolis with her wife and family.

Valerie Castile is the mother of Philando and Allysza Castile. In 1987, she relocated to Minnesota with her then only child, Philando, to give him a better life. Her beloved son was murdered by a police officer in July 2016 in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Since then, Valerie Castile has dedicated herself to helping families who have lost a loved one by gun violence; she founded the Philando Castile Relief Foundation (PCRF) in honor of her son. Valerie’s hopes include working collectively to decrease the unnecessary loss of life by any person or police, to increase awareness of the hurt and trauma received as a mother, and to create the narrative that All Lives Matter. She also guides the PCRF in reducing students' negative lunch balances throughout Minnesota school districts, is in honor of Philando's work as a cafeteria supervisor. Philando often paid for students' lunches out of his own pocket if they didn't have enough money. In June 2019, Valerie joined Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar and Senator Tina Smith in introducing the No Shame At School Act, legislation which prohibits schools from shaming children who are unable to pay for their school lunch.