Last year, the International Literacy Association (ILA) started a conversation about literacy leadership, beginning with the impact collective action makes on eliminating illiteracy around the world. To propel the movement forward, experts in the field were brought together on April 14, 2015, to share ideas and inspiration.

This April 14, ILA will convene its second annual Leaders for Literacy Day gathering in New York City. This year’s program Literacy Leadership: A Critical Driver to Advancing Literacy for All will focus on how leaders must steer conversation and action in the #AgeofLiteracy.

We'll hear from leaders in the field through keynote and spotlight addresses and then a dynamic panel to allow discussion among experts. These leaders will address collaborative approaches to develop and advance literacy worldwide, offering multidisciplinary approaches from their varied backgrounds in the education, nonprofit, private, and public sectors. Afterward, discussions will be more informal as panelists and attendees come together for networking and continued engagement. All of the action will be live-tweeted and then covered in depth on Literacy Daily.

This year’s literacy leaders include Lily Valtchanova, Research Liaison Officer at UNESCO; Rebecca McDonald, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Library for All; Steven Duggan, Director of Worldwide Education Strategy at Microsoft; Leslie Engle Young, Director of Impact at Pencils of Promise; Jody Spiro, Director of Education Leadership at the Wallace Foundation; Christie Vilsack, Senior Advisor for International Education at USAID; Marcie Craig Post, Executive Director of ILA. The panel will be moderated by Liz Willen, Editor in Chief at The Hechinger Report.

Celebrate Leaders for Literacy Day and join the conversation April 14 starting at 10 a.m. ET by following @ILAToday and #AgeofLiteracy on Twitter. Engage in our virtual dialogue by writing about the topic on your personal or your organization’s blog or by posting about the event and theme to your social media channels using #AgeofLiteracy. And, if you are in New York, please RSVP today and join us at the Institute of International Education.

Nicole Lund is ILA’s communications intern.