The 2017 Maplewood Ideas Festival, celebrating the talent and creativity of our community, will take place March 18 through April 1.
The festival is produced by Maplewood Memorial Library. All programs are free and open to the public. Here’s this year’s lineup:
March 18:
Khalil Gibran Muhammad in conversation with Angie Thomas.
Muhammad is Professor of History, Race and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and the former Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Thomas is the author of the powerful and gripping new novel The Hate U Give, which has already been optioned for a major motion picture. 2 pm at The Woodland
March 20:
Frank Rimalovski, Executive Director of the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute.
Rimalovski leads an initiative to spur and support entrepreneurship and technology commercialization, and directs a seed-stage venture fund formed to invest exclusively in startups. His talk will focus on how ideas are developed and the process of seeing them through to fruition. 7 pm at the Main Library
March 23:
Joel de la Fuente
Maplewood actor Joel de la Fuente has worked across the globe on stage and screen. Most recently he can be seen in The Man in the High Castle and Hemlock Grove. 7 pm at the Main Library
March 25:
NJ Makers Day
Space, Tech, and Maker projects for kids, teens & adults. Create moon craters in a kinetic sand landscape or with 3D software. Watch a battling robot demo, create a balloon-powered vehicle, and much more! 10 am -1 pm at the Hilton Branch Library
March 25:
Art & Music Reception
Ideas Festival artist Samar Hussaini is an Arab American fine artist and graphic designer. She seeks to visualize the layered challenges and enriching distinction of being a Palestinian-American while striving to create thought-provoking ideas of dialogue and hope. Live music will be provided by Columbia High School’s a cappella group Unaccompanied Minors. 3 pm at the Main Library
March 28:
Children’s author Holly McGhee
McGhee will talk about her newest book, Matylda, Bright & Tender, a story of how we can take the most difficult experiences and create art in the face of great challenges. For ages 8 and up. 4 pm at the Main Library
March 29:
Architects Jennifer Sage and Peter Coombe
The award-winning principals of Sage & Coombe Architects, will discuss the big thinking and practical details of what makes a 21st Century Library. 7 p.m. at the Main Library
March 30:
Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America
Hogue is an expert in organizing and mobilizing grassroots support around social-justice issues, including human rights, media reform and representation, and reproductive freedom. 7 p.m. at the Main Library
April 1:
Maplewood Literary Award
The Maplewood Ideas Festival concludes with the presentation of the 4th Annual Maplewood Literary Award to Pamela Erens, author of Eleven Hours, The Virgins and The Understory. Ms. Erens will be interviewed by library director Sarah Lester. A book signing will follow. 2 pm at the Main Library
The Ideas Festival is funded by The New Jersey State Council on the Arts (supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts), The Friends of the Maplewood Library, The Maplewood Library Foundation, The Maplewood Woman’s Club and [words] Bookstore.
