About
Get to know The Íllars, individually and in collaboration!
Our collaboration covers over a decade of discussion, travel, friendship, and more, centered in our home base of Jersey City. One of our favorite ways to spend a day is walking the Hudson River waterfront, where we've logged about a zillion hours of conversation with the Manhattan skyline as our backdrop. Our voltas (Greek for a lovely evening stroll) hatched our collaborative Liberatory Literacy project, in which we write and dream about the liberatory potential of teaching all students to read well and with a critical lens, and creating learning environments of joy and freedom. Check out our Coaching and Consultation page for more about our Liberatory Literacy work in the world.
Our musical collaboration began, like so many new skills, during our extended time at home in 2020, when we both picked up new instruments and started jamming together. The music and art scene in Jersey City has been a rich environment to bring our music out into the world, and we've brought our songs and stories to venues around Jersey City and throughout New Jersey, New York, Cape Cod, and even Paris! We love sharing our music, tales, and good vibes, and connecting with music friends everywhere we go. Visit our Music page to learn more and check out videos, and our Contact page to reach out about booking us!
Our musical collaboration began, like so many new skills, during our extended time at home in 2020, when we both picked up new instruments and started jamming together. The music and art scene in Jersey City has been a rich environment to bring our music out into the world, and we've brought our songs and stories to venues around Jersey City and throughout New Jersey, New York, Cape Cod, and even Paris! We love sharing our music, tales, and good vibes, and connecting with music friends everywhere we go. Visit our Music page to learn more and check out videos, and our Contact page to reach out about booking us!
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From Brandyn Adeo: I am a philosopher, performing artist, and educator. I received my PhD in philosophy at the New School for Social Research (2020). My research explores the nexus of philosophy, comedy, and revolution. I am an assistant professor in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department at Pace University in NYC, and I am also one half of the reggae-folk-hop duo The Íllars, performing in/around NYC and Paris.
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From Meredith: I am a literacy coach, reading specialist, special educator, singer, and ukulele player. In my school life, I'm a literacy coach in NJ public schools, planted in a K-4 elementary school where I support teachers in their literacy work and students in their literacy learning, while sprinkling the fairy dust of book joy and encouragement everywhere I go. I also create and deliver a variety of professional development and continuing education experiences through my coaching work. I spent the first fifteen years of my career as a special educator in a multiple disabilities classroom, and while my day-to-day is no longer centered around this work, my heart and eyes are always attuned to accessibility and inclusion. I have an MA in Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities and Autism from Columbia Teachers College, and more recently I received an M.Ed as a Literacy Specialist from Rutgers University. I'm also the creator and curator of The Liberatory Library, an online space where I share and uplift books, resources, and reflections about the work of practicing literacy and freedom with small humans. In The Íllars band, I sing both lead and supporting vocals and play my ukulele, whose name is Evangeline and who hails from Paris. I also have fun adding as many accoutrements as possible to our tunes, including my kazoo, because sometimes a song needs a little horn!
Connect to The Liberatory Library online at The Liberatory Library site, and by clicking below!
Connect to The Liberatory Library online at The Liberatory Library site, and by clicking below!
