A North Carolina author is sharing her talents with Weldon’s youngest readers.

The Center for Energy Education is partnering with Weldon City Schools to welcome Michelle Lanier on April 11 to read her book — My N.C. from A-Z — to Weldon Elementary Global Academy students. 

She will visit kindergarteners at noon and first graders at 12:30 p.m.

Public historian, folklorist, filmmaker and multi-genre author rooted in the South, Lanier is visiting the area to participate in commemoration activities for the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Halifax Resolves. 

She plans to share her book that “celebrates pride of place, creates connections to North Carolina’s rich African American heritage, and teaches children about human equality and social justice.” 

The book is published in association with the NC African American Heritage Commission.

A graduate of Spelman College and UNC-Chapel Hill, Lanier serves as the director of North Carolina's historic sites, a constellation of 27 museum spaces, historic structures and landscapes. 

She also served as the first executive director of North Carolina’s African American Heritage Commission, which strives to preserve, promote, and protect the state's African American history, arts, and culture for all people. 

With roots in North Carolina on both sides of her family, she has familial ties to Historic Stagville, the state's African American Music Trail, the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum — Palmer Memorial Institute — Black Wall Street, and many of the state's historically black colleges and universities

“Weldon Elementary Global Academy is the sole elementary school in the Weldon City School District,” said Principal Tenesha Lee. “Our 303 students recently invited community members to visit classrooms and read stories to students during their celebration of Read Across America. The enthusiasm and participation have made such a positive impact on our school. We are excited to welcome Ms. Lanier to continue our charge of cultivating a community of diverse readers.”

Mozine Lowe, C4EE’s executive director, said, “This art-infused collaboration further strengthens the school’s literacy and engagement initiatives. This experience provides a creative, impactful classroom boost.”

Details about the people and places featured in My N.C. from A-Z, are outlined in an online companion guide compiled by the State Library of North Carolina. 

More information about the book is available on the UNC Press website