CANversation: The Power of Storytelling: Connecting through Human Libraries: 25 March

We all have a story. The Human Library, or “Menneske Biblioteket,” as it is called in Danish, was created in Copenhagen in the spring of 2000. A Human Library is a place where real people, called Living Books, are on loan to readers. It is designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue, while building empathy, connection and learning from each other’s resilience. ACS Egham International School has held several Human Libraries, both for staff and students, since October 2023. Each event has been met with open-mindedness and compassion and has earned a wide range of positive feedback. In this session, we will discuss our reflections, staff feedback and how Human Libraries are grounded in our core values. We will also discuss steps to implement a Human Library into your classroom, campus or wider community.

Anne-Marie Ohene-Kena has been an educator, mainly specialising in Early Childhood, for 29 years. She completed her training in the United Kingdom and has taught in international IB schools based in Mexico, Italy, Indonesia, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Spain. She is currently the Phase 1 (Pre-Kinder, Kindergarten, Grade 1 & 2) Leader and the Racial Equity network Lead at ACS International School Egham in the UK. Previously she has held positions as Early Years Leader in the British School Abu Dhabi where she managed a team of 30 practitioners and Head of Early Years in the British College of Gava, leading Nursery, Reception and Year 1. Anne-Marie holds a Postgraduate Certificate of Education, a Diploma in Psychology (Conversion for Postgraduates) and a Masters (Msc.) in Psychology. She is passionate about play and believes that children have a natural instinct to play, and through play, they learn. She believes that as educational practitioners we have to trust children to follow their own interests and we must regard them as competent and capable.

Lauren Kelley is the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Lead for ACS International Schools in the UK. In her role, Lauren Chairs ACS’ 60-person DEIB Council; leads a team of Campus Chairs and Network Leads and also works closely with students and staff to ensure DEIB drives decisions and initiatives. Lauren is passionate about the intersections of wellbeing, self identity and DEIB, and as a result values the importance of including the voices of students, staff and families in order to measure progress and plan future efforts. Lauren was born and raised in Metro Detroit and holds an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University. Prior to ACS, Lauren taught the IBPYP in Title I public schools in Michigan, and in opened a bilingual nursery while living in Germany. Lauren lives in The UK with her husband and their two young children, who are her ultimate inspiration for driving positive change through DEIB.