Westerville students, staff and community members are invited to participate in a shared book read across the district and city to inspire conversations around race and social justice.
As part of the Reading for Justice: One Community One Book project, participants can read “STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi and join virtual meetings throughout December and January to discuss the book. The first meeting is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Brandi Young, media specialist at Westerville South High School, launched the program for Westerville’s middle and high schools after learning about a similar effort currently underway across eight central Ohio library systems called Let’s Talk About Race: One Book – One Community where participants are also encouraged to read STAMPED.
Young proposed a community read across the district designed to cultivate conversations about race and social justice among middle and high school students and staff.
Thanks to financial support from the Westerville Student Education Foundation, the Westerville Partners of Education, Kemba Financial Group Credit Union as well as a $7,800 grant from the Westerville Education Foundation, Young was able to purchase more than 1,100 books for students, staff and interested community members.
The program also offers professional development opportunities for staff members interested in contact hours or graduate credit through Ashland University. Staff who are interested will read the book “Not Light But Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom” by Matthew R. Kay.
Young hopes the project inspires conversations between students, staff and community members.
“Race and social justice and equity is a huge issue everywhere but also here in Westerville,” she said.
As of Wednesday, more than 80 community members and 130 staff members districtwide have signed up to participate. The community read project culminates with a virtual author talk with Reynolds at 4 p.m. Jan. 24.
Staff members interested in participating in the Reading for Justice: One Community One Book project can sign up here. Students can sign up by contacting their school’s media specialist. Community members can sign up here.