How the Foundation is supporting Community Read

Community, Events

The Library’s month-long event — Community Read — inspires an active dialogue through discussions, book clubs and events hosted with community partners. This year’s spokespeople Library CEO and Chief Librarian Marcellus “MT” Turner and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles will help amplify the importance of this year’s event theme and join a goal of 10,000 participants. That’s 10% of Mecklenburg County!

This year’s focus will be on themes of gentrification and urban renewal, an increasingly relevant topic as Charlotte’s population and housing market remains one of the fastest growing in the U.S. The signature title, Tomorrow’s Bread by Anna Jean Mayhew, explores these themes in a historical novel set in the former Brooklyn neighborhood of Charlotte.

 

Adults are encouraged to read and discuss the main title, and the Library selected companion titles for children and teens including:

Windows
Julia Denos (children)

The Blue House
Phoebe Wahl (children)

Take Back the Block 
Chrystal D. Giles (middle grade)

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
Pablo Cartaya (middle grade)

Pride
Ibi Aanu Zoboi (teen)

Take a look at Charlotte’s former Brooklyn Neighborhood

5th Grade Class Alexander Street School
AE Spears and Kelly Alexander 1923
AfroAmerican newspaper carriers
Business People front of Queen City Drug
Jessie and Henry Davis family
Kenneth Diamond Family
Little Rock AME Zion
Mabel and Ethel Wyche
Second Ward Cheerleaders
WWII Rationing Board

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities provided $40,000 to ensure all community members have access to this year’s Community Read selections. Over 4,500 additional books, eBooks, and audiobooks have been added to the collection as well as upcoming book giveaways. Everyone is encouraged to take part — read a book, share perspectives, attend a program, engage on social media and build a stronger community together.

To learn more about Community Read, visit the website.

To make an unrestricted gift to ensure the broad reach and strength of future Community Read events and much more, click here to donate.

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