Theme: The 4 L's - Language, Learning, Literature and Linguistics

The Chandler Public Library is hosting its first TEDx event. Be inspired by speakers who will be presenting on the theme - The Four L's: Language, Literature, Linguistics and Learning. Event emcee is Arizona Republic reporter and Storytellers creator Megan Finnerty. Speakers include Marshall Shore, Hip Historian,Award-winning student and activist Kaitlyn Fitzgeraldt, and Tom Leveen, best-selling author. ASU professors Carrie Gillon and Michelle Martinez round out the roster.

Chandler Public Library - Downtown
22 South Delaware Street
Chandler, Arizona, 85225
United States

Carrie Gillon

Assistant Professor in the English Department at Arizona State University

Carrie Gillon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Arizona State University. She investigates the syntax and semantics of understudied languages, with a focus on indigenous North American languages. She received her PhD from the University of British Columbia, where she studied Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish Salish), a language spoken in southwestern BC. Her current work is focused on Michif, a French-Algonquian creole mainly spoken in anitoba. She also loves cats, knitting, and black tea.

Joanie Judd

Early Literacy Specialist

Joanie is a graduate of Northern Arizona University where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education with a Minor in Sociology. She received her Master's Degree from Northern Arizona University in Elementary Education and holds a K-12 Reading Endorsement. Joanie taught at the elementary level and coached teachers in grades K-6. She has provided professional development and instructional coaching to teachers and administrators for 20 years.

Kaitlyn Fitzgerald

Management Intern - MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Arizona State University

Kaitlyn Fitzgerald is a recent graduate of Barrett Honors College.She studied Global Studies, Business Public Policy and Arabic at Arizona State University. She dreams of a career in Social Entrepreneurship working with innovators to achieve maximum impact. Her journey in public service began in High School when she served as ESL coordinator at the Arizona Lost Boys Center, and has led her to establishing a scholarship program in Ghana, serving as director of ASU's Changemaker Central, attending the Clinton Global Initiatives University meeting, becoming a Harry S. Truman Scholarship finalist, participating in the Watson Institute Philadelphia, and working with refugees recently settled in the Phoenix area.

Marshall Shore

Hip Historian and Librarian

Marshall Shore, Arizona’s Hip Historian, is Librarian turned Hipstorian. After relocating to Arizona, Marshall often heard the cry “there is no history, here,” but that was simply not true. Following his passion for uncovering the weird, the wonderful, and the obscure treasures from our past: those semi-forgotten people, places, and events that have made us who we are today. He has developed an almost cult like following for sharing history through trivia, tours, and lectures. Marshall has been recognized by the Phoenix New Times for preserving and sharing history. Phoenix Revitalization Corp. for community engagement. Recently he was added to Echo Magazine’s Wall of Fame for preserving Arizona’s Gay and Lesbian history. Mr. Shore presents at Valley Bar in Phoenix and The Ostrich in Chandler. He is an active member of Phoenix's Alhambra Village Planning Committee, the Arizona Vintage Sign Coalition, and Board Member for the Pioneer Cemetery.

Megan Finnerty

Journalist with Arizona Republic + Storytelling Consultant

Megan Finnerty is a journalist and storytelling consultant. Essentially, she's a professional listener. She is a reporter at the Arizona Republic, and founder of the Arizona Storytellers Project. These nights blend the authenticity of storytelling as an art form with the truthfulness and community-building that's at the heart of great journalism. As a consultant, she works with individuals, businesses and community groups to find, hone and share their most important stories. She prefers a bold lip to a smokey eye.

Michelle Martinez

Instructor at Arizona State University in the Department of Film and Media Studies and the School of Transborder Studies

Michelle Martinez completed a bachelor of arts in English at Colorado State University as well as certificates in Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies and Native American Studies. She returned to her home state of Arizona to study poetry with Alberto Rios in the MFA program at ASU, completing a collection of poetry called The Changing Same as her thesis. After her education in creative writing, she completed a PhD from the English department's Literature and Cultural Studies program culminating in a dissertation called Keeping Betty Ugly: Manufactured Diversity on Prime Time TV. She currently teaches for ASU. She teaches classes such as: Introduction to New Media, Latino/a Television and Digital Culture, Latinos in Hollywood, and Signs of Aliens: Semiotics in Film

Tom Leveen

Young Adult Author

Tom Leveen is the author of seven novels with imprints of Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harry Abrams. His work tends to focus on adolescent life in an unflinching and authentic manner. His novel ZERO was an ALA/YALSA Best Book of 2013. Tom brings more than twenty years of theatre experience as an actor and director to his writing, teaching, and his school and library visits, which have taken him to a variety of places around the country and overseas. He is a frequent speaker and instructor at conferences and conventions.