Global Issues Through Literature Series (GILS)

The 2025-2026 Global Issues through Literature Series will be announced soon.

2024 - 2025 Series

Global Issues through Literature Series: Exploring Labor

This professional development workshop series is designed for K-12 educators seeking to deepen their understanding of global labor issues through literature. By exploring compelling stories from diverse cultural perspectives, educators will gain insights into the complexities of labor, its impact on individuals and communities, and how to engage students in meaningful discussions around these topics.

Each session features a carefully selected book, paired with interactive discussions, teaching strategies, and cross-disciplinary activities to inspire classroom implementation.

Through the lens of this year’s theme, educators will explore how labor intersects with identity, resilience, inequality, and justice. Participants will examine the personal and societal dimensions of work and its implications for young people across the globe.

Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 6 -7:30 PM (EST). 3 Act 48 credit hours (for PA educators) and a copy of the book and are provided for each session.

Workshop Dates and Featured Books:

January 30, 2025: The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

A powerful story of a young girl in Afghanistan who becomes her family’s breadwinner amidst political upheaval, highlighting gender roles and resilience in the face of adversity.

March 27, 2025: Hope against Hope by Sheena Wilkinson

Set in 1920s Ireland, this historical novel explores labor struggles, class divisions, and the courage of young people navigating societal expectations.

April 24, 2025: City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

A gripping mystery that delves into the realities of corruption, labor exploitation, and survival in modern-day Kenya through the eyes of a teenage girl seeking justice.

May 15, 2025: K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee

This contemporary novel examines the high-pressure world of K-pop training, offering insights into the demands of creative labor, cultural identity, and personal ambition.

Program Highlights:

Deepen your understanding of global labor issues and their relevance to K-12 education.
Participate in guided literary analyses, collaborative discussions, and hands-on activity design.
Gain access to ready-to-use resources and strategies for integrating global perspectives into the classroom.
Network with fellow educators passionate about global issues and literature

Who Should Attend?

K-12 educators across all subject areas who want to bring global perspectives into their classrooms while fostering critical thinking, empathy, and social awareness among their students.

Join us for an enriching journey through literature as we uncover the stories of labor and resilience that shape our world!

Registration is open to all K-12 educators and administrators. Please note that we are able to fund and distribute books to registrants as funding allows. Registration will remain open after this amount is reached. Registrants will be notified if we are unable to provide them with the reading material.

Full List of 2024/25 Titles!

The Breadwinner

by Deborah Ellis

Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 6 PM to 7:30 PM

Learn more about The Breadwinner.

Hope against Hope

by Sheena Wilkinson

Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 6 PM to 7:30 PM

Learn more about Hope against Hope.

City of Saints and Thieves

by Natalie Anderson

Thursday, April 24, 2025 | 6 PM to 7:30 PM

Learn more about City of Saints and Thieves.

K-Pop Confidential

by Stephan Lee

Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 6 PM to 7:30 PM

Learn more about K-Pop Confidential.

2023/24 Titles Below:

A Blue Moon in Poorwater

by Cathryn Hankla

Thursday, October 19th, 2023 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Nancy Caronia, a Teaching Associate Professor in Department of English and Cultural Studies at the University of West Virginia. Learn more about A Blue Moon in Poorwater.

The Roads of the Roma: A PEN Anthology of Gypsy Writers

Thursday, November 16th, 2023 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Sunnie Rucker-Chang, Associate Professor at the Ohio State University and Co-Director of Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Undergraduate Think Tank at Howard University, and STARTALK Workforce Media Development and Year-Long Russian Immersion Programs at the University of Cincinnati. This discussion is co-sponsored by the European Studies Center and the Center for Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies. Learn more about The Roads of Roma.

Halal if You Hear Me: The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 3

Thursday, January 18th, 2023 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This discussion will be facilitated by Yasmine Flodin-Ali, an Islamic Studies PhD Candidate in the Religious Studies department at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and is co-sponsored by the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies (CERIS). Learn more about Halal if You Hear Me.

Hunter School

by Sakinu Ahronglong; translated by Daryl Sterk

Thursday, February 15th, 2024 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Karen Kingsbury, Zuzule Demalalade, and Tien-Li Schneider, and is co-sponsored by the Asian Studies Center and the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA) at the University of Pittsburgh. Learn more about Hunter School.

Home is Not a Country

by Safia Elhillo

Thursday, March 21st, 2024 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Filipo Lubua, Swahili Instructor, Department of Linguistics, University of Pittsburgh, and is co-sponsored by the Center for African Studies. Learn more about Home is Not a Country.

Go: A Coming of Age Novel

by Kazuki Kaneshiro; translated by Takami Nieda

Thursday, April 18th, 2024 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This discussion will be facilitated by David Kenley, PhD, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Dakota State University, and is co-sponsored by the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia. Learn more about Go: A Coming of Age Novel.

2022/23 Titles Below:

Race to Incarcerate: A Graphic Retelling

by Sabrina Jones & Marc Mauer

Thursday, October 20th, 2022 | 5 PM to 8 PM

The discussion was facilitated by Celena Todora, PhD Candidate, Department of English at the University of Pittsburgh. Learn more about Race to Incarcerate: A Graphic Retelling.

All Rise: Resistance and Rebellion in South Africa

by Richard Conyngham

Thursday, November 17th, 2022 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This book discussion was facilitated by Jared Staller, PhD, an Upper School History Faculty member at St. Francis Episcopal School in Houston, Texas, and is co-sponsored by the Center for African Studies and Howard University's Center for African Studies. Learn more about All Rise: Resistance and Rebellion in South Africa.

Threads: From the Refugee Crisis

by Kate Evans

Thursday, January 12th 2023 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This book discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Mark Best, Senior Lecturer in English Literature and Film and Media Studies, and is co-sponsored by the European Studies Center and the Center for European Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Learn more about Threads: From the Refugee Crisis.

They Called Us Enemy

by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, & Steven Scott

Thursday, February 16th, 2023 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This book discussion will be facilitated by English PhD student Sophia Pan from the University of Florida and is cosponsored by the Asian Studies Center. Learn more about They Called Us Enemy

Daria: A Roma Woman's Journey

by Positive Negatives and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Thursday, March 16th, 2023 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This book discussion is facilitated by Sunnie Rucker-Chang, Associate Professor in the Center for Slavic, Eastern European, and Eurasian Studies at The Ohio State University, and is cosponsored by the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and the Center for Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Learn more about Daria: A Roma Woman's Journey

Run for It: Stories Of Slaves Who Fought For Their Freedom

by Marcelo d'Salete

Thursday, April 20th, 2023 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This book discussion will be cosponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies. Learn more about Run for It: Stories of Slaves Who Fought for their Freedom.

Banned Book Club

by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada

Thursday, May 18th, 2023 | 5 PM to 8 PM

This book discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Seung-hwan Shin, Visiting Lecturer of Korean Studies and Film & Media Studies, and is cosponsored by National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA). Learn more about Banned Book Club

For questions about the Global Issues Through Literature Series (GILS), please contact Catherine Fratto at caf166@pitt.edu.