Racial Equity

[close] This is a book club for people in Middletown, CT who are learning about racial justice, institutional and structural racism, and all related topics.

[close] YWCA Central Maine will host book clubs that focus on social justice issues in line with our mission to eliminate racism and empower women. We hope that this book club will open important and meaningful community conversations on topics that are difficult to discuss by centering others' experiences as portrayed by literature. The club is open for all ages (with parent permission for those under 18) and meets *virtually* during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why should you join us? -->“The act of reading in a community can help you read more deeply and better understand diverse perspectives,” John Coleman writes in the Harvard Business Review. -->You read things that you would not otherwise read. -->Some books need to be discussed. -->As Joyce Carol Oates said, “Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” -->We encourage meaningful and approachable discussions. You don't have to be a literary scholar or feel like an authority on social justice language. Just do the reading and show up to the discussion with an open mind and heart.

[close] International Anti-Black Racism

[close] DC SAFE is the only 24/7 bilingual crisis intervention agency for domestic violence in Washington, DC. Our mission is to ensure safety and self-determination for survivors of domestic violence through emergency services, court advocacy, and system reform. Our Advocates support nearly 8,000 survivors annually, leading city-wide programs that are essential to the District’s public safety infrastructure. Systems reform has always been central to our mission. We work with DC systems every day to ensure that survivors are treated with fairness and respect. We believe that our community has a unique and important perspective on racial equity, systemic reform, and alternatives to justice. Our goal in launching this book club is to create community engagement, spark conversations, and learn from each other. We will recommend a relevant book each month with one or more discussion prompts. We encourage everyone to submit recommendations!