Sneaker Theory with Professor J and Zoé Stewart

Join us for a fun program on sneaker theory!

Have you ever wondered how DC’s fashion trends have influenced pop culture and the world of sports? With a city full of universities, student athletes, and a bustling sports scene, it’s inevitable that sneaker culture would be heavily shaped by DC’s student athletes and sports teams like the Washington Mystics and the Washington Wizards. Sneakers are more than just a fashion pieces; they are forms of self-expression and signifiers for the world around us. Stop by your favorite library to explore the many ways sneaker theory influences the world around you.

There will also be an activity with student athletes, a Q&A, and giveaways!

Professor J is an award-winning journalist and veteran journalism professor who has taught at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee, and the University of Maryland at College Park. To promote the study of sneakers in America's public schools, Jamaal founded Sneaker Theory in 2024 after enrolling in the "Sneaker Essentials" course at the Fashion Institute of Technology. He is an active investigative journalist, an avid chess player and a lifelong fan of the Milwaukee Bucks. He resides in Washington, D.C.

Zoé Stewart, a native of Terre Haute, Indiana, wears the #23 jersey as guard for the women’s basketball team at Howard University, where she is majoring in sociology. Zoé is a 2026 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season and tournament champion. Zoé was named to the MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Team, selected to the All-MEAC First Team and won “MEAC Player of the Week.” Zoé topped the MEAC in field goal percentage – shooting 43-percent - and was also among the league leaders in points per game and three-pointers. 

Join us in the Children's Amphitheater in the Children's Room on the 2nd floor to hear from Professor J and Zoé Stewart & participate in the activity!

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