Edwidge Danticat has written eloquently about both the beauty and suffering of the people of Haiti, and its unique place in the world as the second nation in the western hemisphere to declare independence from its colonial ruler, the first being the United States. Danticat’s many novels recognize the despair that comes with repeated betrayals experienced by the nation and her people, both from within and without, and the consequences of allowing a legacy of freedom and courage to molder under many layers of corruption and violence. Mostly, Danticat writes of love: for her people and her island, and the love they share with each other. Our conversation at Teachers College, Columbia University was attended by dozens of educators who sought ways to integrate her writing into their curriculums, and they drew inspiration from her many stories of writing, speaking and engaging with young people worldwide.