Join the Sawyer Free Library on Monday morning, September 8 at 10:45am for a fun and interactive storytime celebrating this year’s Gloucester Reads 2024 children’s book selection, Our Skin: A First Conversation About Raceby Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, with pictures by Isabel Roxas. Following reading the book together, there will be a fun craft to work on!
From Penguin Random House:
While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it’s hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.
Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven picture book begins the conversation on race, with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. No registration needed. For questions, visit: SawyerFreeLibrary.org or 978-325-5500.
Gloucester Reads is a collaboration between the Gloucester Racial Justice Team, the Sawyer Free Library, and Gloucester Health Department.
Citywide Summer Reading Initiative Wraps Up with Panel Discussion Led by Renowned Author
The community is invited to the final event of Gloucester Reads 2024, where best-selling author Clint Smith will join a panel discussion virtually on Tuesday, September 10 at the Gloucester Stage Company, located at 267 East Main Street.
Presented by the Sawyer Free Library in partnership with GloucesterRacial Justice Team, and the Gloucester Health Department, Gloucester Reads 2024 is a community-wide book club designed to spark conversations, inspire new ideas, and encourage introspection about racial equity within our community.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the free event, and the program begins at 7:00 p.m. Clint Smith, the award-winning author of “How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America,” will provide an overview of his work, share selected readings from his book—which was the main selection for Gloucester’s summer book read—and answer pre-submitted questions from a panel of local community members. The evening will end at 8:45 p.m.
Following Smith’s appearance, there will be a discussion on how we can apply the lessons learned to Gloucester. The program will be moderated by Michea McCaffrey, co-chair of the Gloucester Racial Justice Team and a member of the Gloucester Human Rights Commission. The panel will include Doug Rich, owner of Susie’s Reads bookstore in Rockport,and Dominique Hurley, Gloucester’s Director of Public Health. The event is free and open to the public to attend, although registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Clint Smith’s “How the Word is Passed” sheds light on some of America’s most essential yet overlooked stories and emphasizes how much we can gain by paying attention to them. In this narrative nonfiction debut, Smith explores eight sites—including his hometown of New Orleans, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, New York City, and Angola Prison—using archival research and contemporary interviews to uncover how slavery has profoundly shaped our nation’s collective history and memory.
The book, which has won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism, the Stowe Prize, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, was featured on numerous “Best Books of 2021” lists, including being named one of former President Barack Obama’s favorite books.
In addition to this work, Smith is the author of two poetry books, Above Ground and Counting Descent, both of which won the Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and were finalists for NAACP Image Awards. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker,The New York Times Magazine,The New Republic,Poetry Magazine,The Paris Review,The Harvard Educational Review, and other publications.
The Gloucester Reads Panel Discussion with Author Clint Smith is free and open to the public. Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Gloucester Reads is offering to cover childcare expenses for those attending the author’s talk. Participants can request funds through the registration form.
On Monday, July 29 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, 1623 Studios will be hosting a taped facilitated dialogue among five community leaders as they discuss race equity in Gloucester inspired by the community-wide book club selection, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith.
For those interested, there is space for a limited audience to observe the taping. Please note that the audience will only be observing the discussion; they will not have the chance to participate or to appear as a part of the taped program. Registration is required. Space is limited.
The panel, facilitated by Gloucester Racial Justice Co-Chair Michea McCaffrey and Dawn Pratson, of the Gloucester Reads team will include:
Jenny Benedict, Director, Sawyer Free Library Bob Gillis, Tri-Chair, Gloucester 400+ Karen Ristuben, President, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Ben Lummis, Superintendent of Schools Peggy Hegarty-Stack, Director, Action, Inc.
Gloucester Reads2024 is a citywide, intergenerational summer reading initiative. Running through August, this community-wide book club aims to spark conversations, inspire new ideas, and encourage introspection about race equity in our community. Co sponsored by the Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester’s Racial Justice Team and Gloucester Health Department, in collaboration with sixteen additional community partners, the summer reading initiative will explore books reflecting Black experiences in America. For more details visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Together in partnership, the Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester’s Racial Justice Team and Gloucester Health Department, is presenting Gloucester Reads2024, a citywide, intergenerational summer reading initiative. Running through August, this community-wide book club aims to spark conversations, inspire new ideas, and encourage introspection about race equity in our community.
In collaboration with sixteen additional community co-sponsors, Gloucester Reads 2024 will explore books reflecting Black experiences in America. This initiative includes selections for adults, young adults and children. Adults can participate in three ways: reading the book, joining a structured discussion group, and attending the virtual author’s talk.
The summer book club’s main selection is How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith. This acclaimed book, which has won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism, the Stowe Prize, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, focuses on the history and present impact of slavery in the United States. Through eight sites, including New Orleans, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, New York City, and Angola Prison, Smith uses archival research and interviews to offer an intergenerational story of how slavery has shaped our nation’s history and memory.
For more information or to sign up for a book discussion, visit, SawyerFreeLibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.
To ensure everyone can participate, Gloucester Reads is offering to cover childcare expenses for those attending discussion groups, the author’s talk, or both. Participants can request funds on the discussion group registration form.
Together in partnership, the Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester’s Racial Justice Team and Gloucester Health Department, announce the launch of Gloucester Reads2024, a citywide, intergenerational summer reading initiative. Running through August, this community-wide book club aims to spark conversations, inspire new ideas, and encourage introspection about race equity in our community.
In collaboration with sixteen additional community co-sponsors, Gloucester Reads 2024 will explore books reflecting Black experiences in America. This initiative includes selections for adults, young adults and children. Adults can participate in three ways: reading the book, joining a structured discussion group, and attending the virtual author’s talk. Young children and their families can participate by attending one of the readings being offered by several co-sponsors.
The summer book club’s main selection is How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith. This acclaimed book, which has won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism, the Stowe Prize, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, focuses on the history and present impact of slavery in the United States. Through eight sites, including New Orleans, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, New York City, and Angola Prison, Smith uses archival research and interviews to offer an intergenerational story of how slavery has shaped our nation’s history and memory.
For teens and tweens participants, the Gloucester Reads selection is The Promise Boys by Nick Brooks. In this murder mystery, the three boys of color accused of murder cunningly work together to discover the truth. For children and families, the picture book, Our Skin, A First Conversation About Race, which explains the range of humanity’s skin colors by Jessica Ralli and Megan Madison and illustrated by Isabel Roxas, will serve as the Family Book Club pick.
“We are honored to spearhead this important citywide reading initiative,” said Sawyer Free Library’s Director Jenny Benedict. “Gloucester Reads 2024 highlights the power of books to ignite empathy and inspire big ideas that promote communication, equity, collaboration, and learning. Bringing our community together helps to create a welcoming Gloucester for everyone.”
“The Gloucester Racial Justice Team is made up of individuals dedicated to fostering an inclusive and thriving city. Our mission—to create a safe and welcoming city where people from all races, ethnicities, and cultures can flourish—sets the stage for this exploration,” added Gloucester Racial Justice Co-Chair Michea McCaffre. “Gloucester Reads 2024 invites the entire community to join this collective endeavor, one that promises not only to enlighten us, but also to spur us to action.”
“Gloucester Reads 2024 intends to draw connections between the past and the present, deepening our understanding of the Black experience in Gloucester and the United States. We also want to cultivate a sense of unity, where every person feels a sense of belonging, in our beloved Gloucester,” said Nancy Goodman, the group’s other Co-Chair.
Moderated discussion groups on How the Word Is Passed will be hosted by different community partners throughout Gloucester between July 28 and August 11. Those interested in participating can find additional information at sawyerfreelibrary.org or by visiting the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street. Participants are asked to pre-register.
Gloucester Reads 2024 will culminate in September with a live-stream panel discussion with Clint Smith, the New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning book How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America. Among his many other accomplishments, Smith is also the author of two poetry books, Above Ground and Counting Descent, both winners of the Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and were finalists for NAACP Image Awards. This exciting and engaging event will be open to the public, with more details forthcoming.
The Sawyer Free Library will distribute free copies How the Word Is Passed at select community events, including the Juneteenth Celebration and Festival on Sunday, June 16 at the Cape Ann Museum. The books are also available for “check-out” at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street. Ebooks and Eaudiobooks are available instantly to anyone with a Library card and the Libby app. All Gloucester Reads books are also available for purchase at The Gloucester Bookstore and Suzie’s Stories in Rockport.
To ensure everyone can participate, Gloucester Reads is offering to cover childcare expenses for those attending discussion groups, the author’s talk, or both. Participants can request funds on the discussion group registration form.
For those looking to learn even more, other recommended Gloucester Reads titles include Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, His Name is George Floydby Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, The Fire This Timeby Jesmyn Ward, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Storeby James McBride and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
For additional details and a complete list of Gloucester Reads 2024 programs, book suggestions, and learning resources on racial equity, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Cape Ann Community 