Lincoln Public Schools, City Libraries host 13th annual African American Read-In celebrating storytelling and civic reflection

LaFeya Helmstetter opened the 13th annual African American Read-In with a land acknowledgement, saying the land "should be returned to the indigenous people or they should be fairly compensated" for loss of language, culture and autonomy. The event, held in Lincoln and presented in partnership with Lincoln Public Schools and Lincoln City Libraries, brought students, educators and community members together for readings, songs and reflections.

Peter Ferguson, who identified himself as multicultural coordinator and assistant supervisor of recruitment, framed the program around access to literature and opportunity: "Access to stories is access to possibilities," he said, urging attendees to consider which voices they had been given and which had been missing from their…