Distinguished Speaker Forum at River Road Church
Life is a Good Idea
Nikki Giovanni, Poet Laureate
Lecture, Q&A, Dessert Social, Book Signing
Thursday, October 26, 2023
7:00 p.m., Sanctuary
The lecture will be held in the Sanctuary, and she will speak on the theme: Life is a Good Idea. Following her session, we will have a brief Q&A, dessert social, and book signing in the Fellowship Hall (space is limited).
Free parking across River Road and behind the church.
Tickets are required and can only be purchased via Eventbrite
- $5 for students – lecture only
- $10 – lecture only
- $20 – lecture, Q&A with Nikki, dessert social, and book signing
Purchase Tickets
Nikki Giovanni: “We Are Virginia Tech!”
Nikki Giovanni speaks at the Virginia Tech Memorial Convocation on April 17, 2007
About Nikki Giovanni
Virginia resident and University Distinguished Professor in the Department of English at Virginia Tech, Nikki Giovanni, is renowned for her poetry. She has long used her literary gifts to raise awareness of significant social issues, including gender and race. Giovanni has published more than two dozen volumes of poetry, essays, and edited anthologies, as well as eleven illustrated children’s books. Her book Rosa, is an award-winning biography of Rosa Parks. Gemini, Giovanni’s own autobiography, was a finalist for the 1973 National Book Award. Of her many awards, she received the inaugural Rosa L. Parks Woman of Courage Award. The list of her writings, addresses, awards, and positions of honor is too long to list, but can certainly be found in a quick internet search. As a devoted teacher, Nikki Giovanni encourages students of all ages to express themselves through creative writing.
We look forward to hosting this exciting event and hope you, will join us. While hosted by a church, this is not a proselytizing event. It is our hope and intent to offer speakers that can encourage all in attendance, provide thoughtful material, and help them have a sense of hope in a world of worry.
Poetry Challenge
To celebrate Poet Laureate Nikki Giovanni speaking at the Distinguished Speaker Forum at River Road Church, high school and college students are invited to participate in a poetry challenge for an opportunity to have their poem read aloud at the forum. More details, including the submission form, have been sent to English teachers and department heads at high schools in Henrico County and Richmond-area private schools, colleges, and universities. If you are a teacher, professor, or department chair and would like more information about the challenge, please email info@riverroad.church.