Neighbor News
Library Invites the Community to Find Common Ground
Northbrook Public Library Invites the Community to Come Together to Bridge Political Divides with a New Series of Programs Starting in May
The Northbrook Public library invites the community to a specially curated series designed to bring people with various viewpoints and perspectives together to respectfully bridge political divides.
Librarian Tracy Gossage is excited to bring this special series to Northbrook. “This is an opportunity for the library to provide a safe, neutral space where people can talk with others who may not hold the same views as they do.”
Northbrook Public Library was one of only 50 public libraries in the country to receive a grant from the American Library Association (ALA) to host “American Creed: Community Conversation,” a program that invites the community to consider what America’s ideals and identity ought to be through screenings and community discussions.
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To kick off the program, on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:00pm, the library will screen American Creed, a PBS documentary that seeks to discover what unites us as Americans, which will be followed by a discussion moderated by trained facilitators from the National Writing Project. This documentary is a collection of stories about activists across the country who bring communities together.
On Tuesday, June 4 at 7:00pm, the library will screen PBS documentary American Denial, which explores who is represented and who is left behind by the so-called American Dream. This event is in partnership with Racial Awareness in the North Shore (RAIN). A discussion will follow the screening.
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The conversation continues on July 25 at 7:00pm, with a panel comprised community representatives including Village President Sandy Frum, Historical Society President Judy Hughes, and Civic Foundation President Matt Settler. This discussion will focus on Northbrook’s past, present, and future as explore ideas on how we can all get more involved with our community.
“This series of programs aligns with the library’s values and strategic goals of being a welcoming, inclusive space that expands or deepens community-centered initiatives and partnerships,” Gossage said.
Visit www.northbrook.info/american-creed for details.
American Creed: Community Conversations is a project of Citizen Film in partnership with the American Library Association and the National Writing Project, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
