A Book Talk with Dr. Dani Parker Moore

Join Bookmarks and Love Literacy for a conversation with Dr. Dani Parker Moore, author of Let's Normalize Seeing Humanity First: An Anti-Racist Guide for Working with Parents and Families in Schools.

This talk will be moderated by Esharan Monroe-Johnson, Executive Director of Love Literacy.

This is a free event with registration required. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of the book with their registration; copies will also be available for purchase at the event.

Have any questions? Check out our page and email [email protected] for further inquiries.

Let's Normalize Seeing Humanity First: An Anti-Racist Guide for Working with Parents and Families in Schools serves as a critical guide for educators seeking to develop anti-racist practices that center on the humanity of students and their families. Too often, schools view parent engagement through a deficit lens, failing to recognize the cultural wealth and resilience within communities of color. Drawing from historical contexts, national uprisings, and the renewed urgency for justice, this book explores how educators can move beyond traditional notions of "parent involvement" and instead foster authentic partnerships with families. Through a framework of anti-racist praxis, the book challenges educators to interrogate their biases, recognize systemic barriers, and build meaningful relationships that empower students and their caregivers. Essential for teachers, administrators, afterschool workers and school leaders, this book offers a necessary roadmap for creating educational spaces rooted in justice, equity, and collective liberation.

Dr. Dani Parker Moore is an Associate professor of Multicultural Education and the Director of the Schools, Education, and Society Minor at Wake Forest University, She co-edited Mentoring Students of Color: Naming the Politics of Race, Social Class, Gender, and Power (2019) and is the author of (Bloomsbury, 2026).

As the founding Executive Director of the Wake Forest University Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School, Dr. Parker Moore leads a free, six-week summer literacy program for K-8 students. The program is dedicated to empowering youth to thrive academically and socially, cultivating a belief in their capacity to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

In recognition of her service, Dr. Parker Moore received the Faculty Service Excellence Award from Wake Forest’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement in 2020. In 2022, Wake Forest University recognized her with the Martin Luther King Jr. “Building the Dream” award. In 2024, Parker Moore was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from The School of Education at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in 2025, she was honored with the American Education Research Association, Out of School Time Scholar Award.

Esharan Monroe-Johnson is a strategic leader committed to advancing educational equity through literacy. As the Executive Director of Love Literacy—formerly Read Write Spell—Esharan has led the organization through a transformative rebranding that reflects a bold, community-wide vision: ensuring that every child in Forsyth County finds their best future through the benefits of literacy. Esharan has served as the Executive Director of Love Literacy since 2020. She holds a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling, specializing in Couple and Family Therapy.

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