Pair of special guests on tap for Gadsden Public Library on June 14 and 15

The Gadsden Public Library will feature a pair of special guests on back-to-back days later this month.

Poet Laureate of Alabama Ashley Jones, the first Black woman to hold the title, will be in town June 14, while current National Miss Juneteenth Aceia Spade will be at the library the next day.

More: Gadsden Public Library makes renovations, extends hours

More: Committee calls for Juneteenth city holiday this year, look at overtime loophole

More: Gadsden Public Library receives awards, sets event linked to Webb telescope launch

More: Documentary shows Beautiful Rainbow's success

From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Jones will meet with SPAN students in the GPL and give a reading of some of her work.

From 11 a.m. until noon, there will be lunch in the Beautiful Rainbow Café. From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., a reception and another reading by Jones is on tap. Finally, at around 5:30 p.m., she will read from her latest book, "Reparations Now!," at Jake's Music Room in Gadsden. Copies of the book will be on hand for purchase.

After the reading, a spoken-word session will be held for anyone interested in participating. The reading is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

Also, at some point in the afternoon, Jones will go to Gadsden State Community College to speak and work with college students.

"The Gadsden Public Library is honored to be able to have Ashley Jones join us on June 14th," GPL Public Services Director Rachel Cole said.

This isn't Jones' first interaction with the city and the Gadsden Public Library.

"During the pandemic, Ashley was very kind to have an online program with us as GPL tried to bring interesting and educational programs to our community, especially when things were closed down," GPL Director Craig Scott said.

Spade earned the National Miss Juneteenth crown in November in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Even though she represented the state of Oregon at the event, Spade has a strong connection to the local area.

"I went to middle school and high school with Aceia's mother, Elizabeth Spade (who lives in Gadsden)," Cole said. "To know Elizabeth is a gift. She always marched to her own beat and did wonderful performances of African dances in front of the entire school.

"I think that is when I realized how special she is and how special her daughter is, also," Cole continued. "And now to see and hear that Ace has been crowned as Miss National Juneteenth is no surprise really – she is simply following in her mother's footsteps. Aceia's family is destined to make our world a better place. Aceia Spade is an amazing young lady who is already reaching for the stars."

During her visit, Spade will visit the GPL's Children's Department to speak with youngsters and read from a Juneteenth brook from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., then she will head over to the Teen Hive from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and talk with some young adults.

"She will be discussing her perseverance and dedication to everything she does in life," Cole said. "She will explain the Miss Juneteenth competition and what it entails and will be inspiring them to succeed in life."

"It really is perfect timing for Ace (Spade's nickname) to be at the library and help educate our young children and teenagers, and adults, about the importance of Juneteenth," Scott added. "We expect a large audience, and it is so appropriate to have Aceia at the library just after our city council has declared Juneteenth to be a city holiday."

Cole said to be on the lookout for more upcoming events from the Gadsden Public Library, including one already planned.

"We strive to plan new and innovative programs for every age group," she said. "We will have a huge James Webb Space Telescope event this summer; details will follow very soon."

More information about the GPL can be found at its website, https://gadsdenlibrary.org/, or on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gadsdenlibrary/.

J.J. Hicks is a news reporter at The Gadsden Times. He can be reached at jhicks1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Poet laureate, National Miss Juneteenth to visit Gadsden Public Library