The Executive Talk Series presents Shawn McCaney & Laurie Allen | A Fireside Chat
Presented by the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation
Moderated by Monique Moore Pryor, President of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation
Join us for an inspiring evening of conversation, insight, and leadership as two remarkable changemakers sit down for an intimate fireside chat.
The Executive Talk Series brings together leaders who are reshaping their fields and lifting up the communities they serve. This season, we’re honored to welcome Shawn McCaney, President of the William Penn Foundation, for a candid conversation with Laurie Allen of the Library of Congress, inspired by her recent essay for the William Penn Foundation, exploring the vital role public libraries play in sustaining democracy.
In this fireside chat, you’ll discover:
- How philanthropy and public institutions are working together to strengthen communities
- How libraries provide fundamental ingredients for democracy: access to shared knowledge, welcoming public spaces, and skilled staff who help communities use them
- Behind the scenes insights from two of the most influential organizations in the country
- Practical wisdom for professionals looking to grow as leaders in their own fields
- A candid, unscripted dialogue you won’t find anywhere else
This is more than a conversation, it’s a rare opportunity to hear directly from two leaders whose work is helping shape the future of our shared civic spaces.
Whether you’re a nonprofit professional, a civic leader, or simply someone who believes in the power of great leadership, this is your chance to be in the room where big ideas take shape. Come ready to be inspired, challenged, and welcomed into a conversation that matters.
Laurie Allen is a librarian from Philadelphia. She is the Creative Engagement Officer in Research and Collections Services at Library of Congress (though this essay was written in her private capacity). She joined the Library in 2019, after working for nearly 20 years in academic libraries at the intersection of technology and new approaches to scholarship and public engagement. Laurie served as the Director of Digital Scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania until 2019 and was the founding research director of Monument Lab, a public art and history studio based in Philadelphia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Bard College, and a Master’s of Library and Information Science from Simmons College. She resides in South Philadelphia.
Shawn McCaney leads the William Penn Foundation, the largest regional foundation in the Greater Philadelphia area, making $150M per year in grants in support of the healthy development and academic success of young children; helping Philadelphians to access and keep better paying jobs; protecting and improving natural areas and community spaces; expanding access to diverse, inclusive, and high-quality arts and culture experiences; and enabling more people to participate in democratic processes and finding collaborative ways for funders to accelerate regional improvement.
The views expressed by the authors and moderators are strictly their own and do not represent the opinions of the Free Library of Philadelphia or its employees.
