Salem Reads - 2018
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Outcasts United by Warren St. John was chosen for the second season of Salem Reads: One Book, One Community. Outcasts United is the real-life story of refugees seeking new lives set against the backdrop of a fading American town struggling to accommodate its new arrivals. Together, an inspiring group of refugees and a woman, who with tough love and fiery determination, changes an entire community for the better.
The Salem Public Library Foundation sees Salem Reads as an opportunity to increase the Library’s visibility, and act as a catalyst to bring the community together around shared values. The committee selected Outcasts United because the book has many dimensions that lend to broad community engagement. These include education, immigration, refugees, and creating welcoming, healthy communities for all people. Our Reads program is distinctive from other similar programs in Oregon in that we are targeting the participation of young people in our middle and high schools with the goal of having a rich multi-generational experience for everyone who participates. The Salem Reads Program was warmly embraced by the citizens of Salem. Its success was made possible by hard working volunteers, as well as our generous partners and sponsors: The Salem Public Library, Oregon Public Library Innovation Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, The Salem Library Advisory Board, and Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Salem Foundation, Capitol Toyota, Robert Welle, CFP of Ameriprise Financial, Roth’s Fresh Markets, and Salem Weekly. In response to the Salem Reads program, patrons shared their praise for the program, stating: "It was great to read book I probably would not have heard about without Salem Reads.”, “I love the idea of a whole community reading the same book.”, “I enjoyed feeling connected to the broader Salem community.”, and "I loved the ability to delve further into social justice issues and learn about my communities response.” |
If you've already read Outcasts United, you might also enjoy one of these titles!
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The 2018 program included over 2,500 participants in more than two dozen events centered around the book. Program highlights included: Nine hundred free books given to Salem-Keizer School District middle and high schools for class room literature kits, 300 free books given to library patrons, the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project bringing Oregonians together to talk about important issues and ideas, over 200 attendees of the Salem Reads opening reception and art exhibit, thirty plus private book clubs reading/discussing the book, and a visit from Outcasts United author Warren St. John. Also part of the program was a month long Outcasts United Art Exhibit on the main floor of the library, in which Salem artists displayed their artistic interpretations of the chosen book. Ann Altman’s "On Goal" is now part of the Salem Public Library Foundation's permanent art collection. The art exhibit traveled on to spend a month each of these regional libraries in Stayton, Scio, and Silverton.
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See the Fugees display at the Smithsonian National Museum of America History
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