A growing number of young people today are navigating life between different identities, cultures, and expectations. At the same time, questions of representation, and belonging are becoming increasingly important in schools, media, and society. What does it mean to live “in between”? And how can storytelling help us better understand ourselves and others?

This event takes Shannon Gibney's award-winning book The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be as a point of departure and brings together literary storytelling and personal reflection. Combining elements of memoir and imagination, Gibney explores the experience of growing up as a Black adoptee in a white family while searching for a sense of identity and belonging. Through her talk and the following discussion, she offers insights into the power of embracing complexity and the creative possibilities of “in-between” spaces. 

Shannon Gibney is a professor in the English Department at Minneapolis Community and Technical College in Minnesota and an award-winning author and editor of novels, anthologies, picture books, and young adult literature. Among her best-known works are The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be (2024), We Miss You, George Floyd (2024), and Dream Country (2018).

Laura Hartmann holds a PhD in Literary and Cultural Studies and works as a lecturer. In her doctoral research project, she examined transnational relationships and solidarities in narratives by women from the United States and South Africa. Her research and teaching focus on Transnational American Studies, African American Studies, South African Studies, Literary and Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, and Decolonial Research Methodologies. In addition, she has been actively involved for many years in volunteer work in the fields of cultural and political education. She has experience in literary mediation and education, with a focus on Black literatures and feminist literatures, and has also completed training as an awareness facilitator.

REGISTER HERE!

Seats are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We kindly ask you to only reserve the number of tickets that you will definitely use.

You do not need to print out your Eventbrite ticket. The name under which you reserved your tickets will suffice to enter.

The venue is wheelchair accessible. 

This event is kindly supported by the Federal Foreign Office.