Cleared for Takeoff comes to Brooklyn.
Captain Nia Gilliam joins us on September 10th, less than 24 hours shy of the 25th anniversary of the day that changed the world forever, to recount the unforgettable moment she escaped the chaos of what she witnessed while also sharing a coming-of-age story of a young woman whose dreams were nurtured.
Long before she became a commercial airline captain, Nia dreamed of taking to the skies, inspired by pioneering Black aviators like Bessie Coleman, Janet Harmon Bragg, and the Tuskegee Airmen. Then, on September 11, 2001, everything changed. While waiting to be cleared for takeoff, she watched United Airlines Flight 175 crash into the South Tower from her cockpit window, a moment that would reshape her relationship with flying, her career, and herself.
She’ll be joined in conversation by Kamilah Forbes, Executive Producer of the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, whose leadership has expanded the Apollo’s artistic reach and transformed it into one of the nation’s leading contemporary performing arts centers.
The evening includes:
- An author talk with Captain Nia Gilliam
- A conversation with Kamilah Forbes
- A discussion on Black women in aviation and the pioneers who paved the way
- A book signing
Event details
📅 Thursday, September 10, 2026
🕐 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM EDT
📍 Barnes & Noble, Park Slope, 267 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
🎟️ Free to attend. To participate in the book signing, purchase of Cleared for Takeoff is required in-store on the day of the event.
This is a free event