Foley & Lardner LLP is celebrating World Storytelling Day on March 20 by highlighting our Author Series program in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Since launching the first event in early 2023 with youth author Zahra Bryan, the Author Series has become one of Foley's signature national initiatives. The program is also a great way for our volunteers to engage with the kids at our local Clubs, providing age-appropriate books in support of youth development and to promote literacy.
Each Author Series event kicks off with Foley volunteers engaging in an interactive activity and sharing a healthy meal with the Club kids. Then the guest author reads their story aloud and is interviewed by one of the Club kids. Each Club kid in attendance receives their own copy of the featured book. These events are recorded and saved in a Foley 'library' to be replayed for any partner Clubs interested in sharing these stories and hearing directly from the authors.
To date, Foley has featured six amazing authors across North America with a variety of themes and stories suited for ages 4-12 and 16+:
- Zahra Bryan (age 11) Black Girl Magic – Miami, February 2023
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee Running for the Gold – Houston, July 2023
- Dinah Johnson Ida B. Wells Marches for the Vote – Washington, D.C., February 2024
- Jeanette Opheim Annie and Khalil – Denver, June 2024
- Paulina Segui Vizcaino Soy y Pertenezco – Mexico City, September 2024
- Arshay Cooper Let Me Be Real With You – Chicago, October 2025
Foley is excited to continue the Author Series in 2026 with several additional authors, including author and artist Harmonia Rosales and her book Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic in April in Boston.
Established in 2021, Foley is thrilled to be the first law firm to partner with BGCA on a national scale, supporting the organization's national youth leadership development strategy through programs and initiatives that open doors for the next generation to thrive.
All the firm's 25 North American offices have engaged with local Clubs on programs and initiatives that are responsive to the Clubs' needs in that community — with a focus on activating the potential of kids and building more inclusive and equitable futures. Click here to learn more.