Brad Ryan — Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time - with Jennifer D. Roberts — at Conn Ave

Brad Ryan, a veterinarian, wildlife conservationist, and mental health advocate, brings his deeply moving true story to Politics and Prose for an evening in conversation with Jennifer D. Roberts. His book, *Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time*, chronicles the seven-year odyssey he undertook with his grandmother, Joy Ryan, to visit all sixty-three US National Parks. Raised in Appalachia, Grandma Joy had known a life of constraints and hardship, while Brad carried the weight of family rifts and unresolved pain. Together they set out not only to witness the majesty of America’s wild landscapes—from Denali’s towering peaks to the Everglades’ otherworldly beauty—but also to heal generations of struggle and misunderstanding. Their intergenerational adventure, which made Joy Ryan the oldest person to visit every US National Park, became a profound classroom in nature, resilience, and forgiveness. Brad Ryan is joined in conversation by Jennifer D. Roberts, a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, whose scholarship examines the impact of built, social, and natural environments on physical activity and public health outcomes, especially for marginalized communities. This event is free and held with first-come, first-served seating, and the book will be available for purchase.

When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

Place: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008.

Tickets: Free admission; seating is first come, first served.

Lineup: Brad Ryan (author, veterinarian, wildlife conservationist, social media influencer, mental health advocate) in conversation with Jennifer D. Roberts (Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Public Health; Executive Founding Director of the Wekesa Earth Center; Co-Founder/Co-Director of NatureRx@UMD; Chair of the Nature and Health Alliance).

Book: *Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time* by Brad Ryan (hardcover, $29.00, ISBN 9781668099261, publish date June 16, 2026). Copies are available at the event.

Ages: Not specified; all ages welcome unless otherwise noted by the venue.

Accessibility: To request accommodations or inquire about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally one week in advance of the event date. The venue will make an effort to accommodate all requests up until the time of the event.

Note: This event is free and open to the public with first-come, first-served seating. No reservation required.