Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to speak in Ogden on Thursday for Ogden School Foundation
OGDEN — Each year, members of the Ogden School Foundation work to bring in a notable author to speak to the general public and a select group of high school students. After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event returns Thursday to the Eccles Conference Center for its 25th iteration.
Originally scheduled for 2020, noted author, activist and athlete Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be speaking at the sold-out event. The decision to invite Abdul-Jabbar, known more for his basketball exploits, was simple for Ogden School Foundation Executive Director Janis Vause and the organization.
“Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a name that I think everyone on the planet knows, but not many people know he is a writer. When I discovered from my husband, Mike, that he had written a trilogy on Mycroft Holmes — one of which he had read and really enjoyed — and that he had authored 15 New York Times best-selling books, we thought he would be the perfect fit to bring to Ogden to celebrate our event,” Vause said.
This will be the first time in Ogden for Abdul-Jabbar. He is also the chairman of the Skyhook Foundation, which aims to bring STEM opportunities to children in underserved communities. The decision to speak at the event was just as simple of a decision for the guest of honor.
“One of the main reasons I like to speak at authors’ events is because I appreciate the sincerity and dedication of the people who are interested in writing. As an activist, I have tried to use my fame as a platform to speak out for those without a voice. But writing gives everyone the opportunity to find their voice and tell the world their truth,” Abdul-Jabbar said in an email. “That is exciting and exhilarating for everyone. So many writers are people like me, who have had a career doing something else and now want to try their hand at writing. I hope to inspire those people to keep at it too.”
Abdul-Jabbar’s first career began in 1969 as the first-overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He played 20 years in the NBA for the Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, winning six championships, six MVP awards and becoming the league’s all-time scoring leader. During his NBA career, in 1983, he released his first book, “Giant Steps: The autobiography of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.” He has since published 15 more books, both fiction and nonfiction. More of Abdul-Jabbar’s writing can be found on https://kareem.substack.com/.
“He is definitely known more for his acumen on the basketball court. But after we discovered the quality of his writing, we thought why not? Most of our past authors have had a different demographic of who they have appealed to, and it will likely be the same with Kareem,” Vause said.
The event itself will take place in two parts. Thursday evening at the conference center, there will be a social hour and book sale in the grand ballroom beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the presentation at 7:30 p.m. and a book signing from 8:30-9.
The next morning will be a discussion between Abdul-Jabbar and the 11 students who won the district’s essay contest before an assembly for the rest of the student body at Ogden High School.
In alphabetical order, the students who won the contest are:
- Sydney D’Hulst
- Jami Jane Elbrader
- Joseph Gibson
- Alicia Martinez Granados
- Elizabeth Hansen
- Brook Hardin
- Danielle Johns
- Sae Obayashi
- Ruben Ortiz
- Kel Petersen
- Reagan Wilcox
Few have lived lives as wide-reaching as Abdul-Jabbar, and he hopes the experiences in Ogden provide meaningful memories for all attendees.
“I want them to understand that the only way for humanity to progress beyond the hateful divisiveness is for us to understand each other’s hearts. The best way for that to happen is for people to make a friend who doesn’t look like them and learn from them an appreciation for their life’s journey and the wonders of their culture,” he said. “The second best way is to read the words we share about our lives, our thoughts, our beliefs, our experiences. Studies have shown that people who read a lot are more empathetic toward each other. I hope to encourage that goal, in my writing and in my activism.”
Limited tickets are still available for the overflow room of the event. Attendees in the overflow room will be provided dinner and have a chance to watch the presentation via a live feed. They will also be able to attend the social hour and book signing. Tickets for the overflow room are $70 per person and can be purchased on the Ogden School Foundation website.
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- Former NBA superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be the featured speaker at the Ogden School Foundation’s Fall Author Event on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021.
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- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reacts during the first half of Game 4 of basketball’s NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Milwaukee.