Eve L. Ewing to Host Loeschner Leadership Series Event
Chicago writer and sociologist of education Dr. Eve L. Ewing will discuss scholarship, leadership and effective community activism as part of the Nancy and Ray Loeschner Leadership Series at Northwestern University.
Ewing, the author of several books, including Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago’s South Side, is the fifth speaker in the series, which presents visionary leaders in education and other fields.
Her community-wide conversation will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 at Ryan Auditorium, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston. RSVP for the Loeschner talk here.
In a related event, the School of Education and Social Policy is hosting a brown bag book discussion about Ewing’s book on Chicago school closings. The Ghosts in the Schoolyard discussion, which does not feature Ewing in person, will be 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. April 15 in Annenberg 345. RSVP for the book discussion here.
Ewing’s research focuses on racism, social inequality, and urban policy, and the impact of these forces on American public schools and the lives of young people. She is
Her book Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism & School Closings on Chicago's South Side explores the relationship between the closing of public schools and the structural history of race and racism in Chicago's Bronzeville community. She often uses public platforms to discuss these social issues, particularly Twitter, where she is a well-recognized commentator with over 190,000 followers and tens of millions of views each month.
In addition to books and poetry, Ewing also writes the Ironheart series for Marvel Comics. She co-directs Crescendo Literary, a partnership that develops community-engaged arts events and educational resources as a form of cultural organizing. She is also the host of the podcast Bughouse Square with Eve Ewing.
Ewing has been an educator in both traditional and community-based settings, including Chicago Public Schools, After School Matters, Harvard University, and Wellesley College. She also is an instructor for the Prison + Neighborhood Art Project, a visual arts and humanities project that connects teaching artists and scholars to men at Stateville Maximum Security Prison through classes, workshops, and guest lectures.
She serves on the Board of Directors of MassLEAP, a non-profit organization dedicated to building and supporting spaces for youth, artist-educators, and organizers to foster positive youth development through spoken word poetry forums throughout Massachusetts.
Born and raised in Chicago’s Logan Square community, Ewing is a proud alumna of Chicago Public Schools. She completed her doctorate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to that, she received an undergraduate degree with honors in English Language & Literature from the University of Chicago, with a focus on African-American literature of the twentieth century.
Previous speakers in the Loeschner Leadership Series include alumnus Chuck Friedman (BS88)of Microsoft (2018); economist Mischa Fisher (2018); Eva Moskowitz (2015), founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools; and Wendy Kopp (2013), founder of Teach for America.
The lecture was established with a gift from SESP alumnus Ray Loeschner (MA57) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the former president of Olivet University and a trailblazer in higher education. Loeschner also received his