Skip to main content
close
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.
So You Want to Talk About Race

Registration now closed

Courageous Conversations: So You Want to Talk About Race

4-Week Discussion Series

2023-10-16 17:00:00 2023-10-16 18:15:00 America/New_York Courageous Conversations: So You Want to Talk About Race Join members of Courageous Conversations for a 4-week, in-depth discussion of the themes and issues raised in So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. Memorial Hall Library - Activity Room

Monday, October 16
5:00pm - 6:15pm

Add to Calendar 2023-10-16 17:00:00 2023-10-16 18:15:00 America/New_York Courageous Conversations: So You Want to Talk About Race Join members of Courageous Conversations for a 4-week, in-depth discussion of the themes and issues raised in So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. Memorial Hall Library - Activity Room

Memorial Hall Library

Activity Room

Join members of Courageous Conversations for a 4-week, in-depth discussion of the themes and issues raised in So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.

Talking about race can feel uncomfortable, but not talking about it allows injustice to continue. In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from police brutality and cultural appropriation to the model minority myth in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race, and about how racism infects every aspect of American life. Perfectly positioned to bridge the gap between people of color and white Americans struggling with race complexities, Oluo answers the questions readers don’t dare ask, and explains the concepts that continue to elude everyday Americans.

Each session of this 4-week discussion series will focus on select chapters from So You Want to Talk About Race. Participants are expected to have read the designated chapters before attending the discussion.

  • Week 1 (10/16): Introduction and Chapters 1-4
  • Week 2 (10/23): Chapters 5-7
  • Week 3 (10/30): Chapters 8-12
  • Week 4 (11/6): Chapters 13-17

Copies of the book are available through the library. Find it in the catalog and request a copy.

All are welcome to register for this discussion group, especially if you are looking for an opportunity to increase your understanding of race and anti-racism. This is intended to be a safe, focused space for honest sharing in which to discuss the systematic structures of racism and the work we can do individually and community-wide to dismantle them.

Registration is required for this series and space is limited. We ask that participants commit to attending all 4 sessions as we build on the lessons and discussions from each week.

This discussion series will be facilitated by Aldonsa Pereyra and Deb Olander, active members of the Courageous Conversations planning committee. 

Aldonsa Pereyra is a community organizer who lives in Lawrence and works at MIT’s Sloan School of Management. She is committed to helping people find common ground through courageous conversations. 

Deb Olander is an educator and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion facilitator who lives in Andover. She is committed to helping white people find their place in anti-racism work through courageous conversations. 

This program is in partnership with Courageous Conversations which works to advance and amplify conversations about interpersonal and systemic racism, racial identity and privilege, and antiracism through community reads, films, facilitated conversations, speaker events, and panel discussions. The purpose is to educate ourselves on these issues so that we may better understand the systems that perpetuate racial inequities and reflect on strategies for interrupting and dismantling those systems.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Library Program--Adults |

TAGS: | |

Memorial Hall Library

Phone: 978-623-8400

Hours
 

Today's hours

We're open 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Mon, Jun 16 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Jun 17 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Jun 18 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Jun 19 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Jun 20 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Jun 21 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jun 22 1:00PM to 5:00PM

Upcoming events

Fri, Jun 20, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Fri, Jun 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Memorial Hall
A music program for preschoolers and their caregivers!

Fri, Jun 20, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Activity Room
Play Super Smash Bros on our Nintendo Switch!

Sat, Jun 21, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Sat, Jun 21, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Activity Room
Kids in Grades 2-4 can sign up to learn about different STEM topics each week.
Registration is now closed

Sat, Jun 21, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Children's Room
Drop in to play with some LEGOs!

Sat, Jun 21, 3:30pm - 3:45pm
Activity Room
Children are invited to come work on their read-aloud skills with Rufus the Therapy Dog!

Sat, Jun 21, 3:45pm - 4:00pm
Activity Room
Children are invited to come work on their read-aloud skills with Rufus the Therapy Dog!
This event is full

Sat, Jun 21, 4:00pm - 4:15pm
Activity Room
Children are invited to come work on their read-aloud skills with Rufus the Therapy Dog!
This event is full

Sat, Jun 21, 4:15pm - 4:30pm
Activity Room
Children are invited to come work on their read-aloud skills with Rufus the Therapy Dog!
This event is full

Sun, Jun 22, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Mon, Jun 23, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Mon, Jun 23, 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages 0-5 and their caregivers can sign up for a truck storytime with the Andover DPW at 5 Campanelli Drive in Andover, MA!
This event is full

Mon, Jun 23, 3:00pm - 3:30pm
Outside
Sign up to make slime at the library and take it home after! Please only attend one of the two sessions.
This event is full

Mon, Jun 23, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Room
This week's activity is: rainbow heart window transparencies.

Mon, Jun 23, 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Outside
Sign up to make slime at the library and take it home after! Please only attend one of the two sessions.
This event is full

Mon, Jun 23, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Activity Room
Join a conversation group for English language learners.
Register

Tue, Jun 24, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Tue, Jun 24, 9:30am - 10:00am
Activity Room
An early literacy storytime with songs, rhymes and stories for birth to 18 months with their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Monday, June 23 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Jun 24, 10:15am - 10:45am
Activity Room
Stories, songs and crafts for ages 18 months - 3 years and their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Monday, June 23 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Jun 24, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Memorial Hall
Rainbow Club is a safe space for LGBTQIA+ teens and allies that meets the last Tuesday of every month, starting in February 2025.

Tue, Jun 24, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Activity Room
Beginner level D&D for ages 9-12 years old!
This event is full

Tue, Jun 24, 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Activity Room
The Great Books Discussion Group meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday of each month from September to June.

Wed, Jun 25, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Wed, Jun 25, 9:30am - 10:00am
Activity Room
Stories, songs and crafts for ages 18 months - 3 years and their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Tuesday, June 24 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jun 25, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Memorial Hall
Join us for a relaxed film screening in Memorial Hall.

Wed, Jun 25, 10:15am - 10:45am
Activity Room
An early literacy storytime with songs, rhymes and stories for birth to 18 months with their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Tuesday, June 24 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jun 25, 11:00am - 11:30am
Activity Room
Stories and crafts or activities for ages 3-5 and their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Tuesday, June 24 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jun 25, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Activity Room
Play MHL themed bingo and possibly win a prize!

Wed, Jun 25, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Activity Room
Beginner level D&D for ages 8-11 years old!

Wed, Jun 25, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Teen Room
Teens, are you interested in volunteering at MHL? Check out our Teen Advisory Board (TAB)!

Thu, Jun 26, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Thu, Jun 26, 9:30am - 10:00am
Activity Room
An early literacy storytime with songs, rhymes and stories for birth to 18 months with their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Wednesday, June 25 2025 at 9:00am

Thu, Jun 26, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Memorial Hall
Can your team complete a jigsaw puzzle faster than your friends and neighbors?
This event is full

Thu, Jun 26, 10:15am - 10:45am
Activity Room
Stories, songs and crafts for ages 18 months - 3 years and their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Wednesday, June 25 2025 at 9:00am

Thu, Jun 26, 3:30pm - 4:45pm
Memorial Hall
Play D&D with teens in grades 6 - 12; no RPG experience necessary!

Thu, Jun 26, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Alcove 1
A book club for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Join us to enjoy good stories and fun conversations.

Thu, Jun 26, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Children's Room
Ages 5-18 can meet up with their Pokémon cards to trade and battle!

Thu, Jun 26, 7:00pm - 7:30pm
Activity Room
Join us for an evening story time!

Fri, Jun 27, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Fri, Jun 27, 10:00am - 11:00am
Memorial Hall
Join us for a comedy juggling show like no other! Sponsored by the Friends of Memorial Hall Library!

Fri, Jun 27, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Activity Room
Play Super Smash Bros on our Nintendo Switch!

Sat, Jun 28, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Sat, Jun 28, 10:00am - 10:30am
Outside
Join us for an outdoor storytime on the back steps of the library - weather permitting!

Sun, Jun 29, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Mon, Jun 30, All day
Visit the Children’s Room to design a bracelet with all of your favorite colors!

Mon, Jun 30, 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages 0-5 and their caregivers are invited to join us for an outdoor storytime! Please note: this program is held weather permitting.

Mon, Jun 30, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Room
This week's activity is: guessing jar!

Mon, Jun 30, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Teen Room
Turn rocks into art to spread positivity!

Mon, Jun 30, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Activity Room
Join a conversation group for English language learners.
Register

Tue, Jul 01, 9:30am - 10:00am
Activity Room
An early literacy storytime with songs, rhymes and stories for birth to 18 months with their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Monday, June 30 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Jul 01, 10:15am - 10:45am
Activity Room
Stories, songs and crafts for ages 18 months - 3 years and their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Monday, June 30 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Jul 01, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Activity Room
Make your own tray for rolling dice!

Wed, Jul 02, 9:30am - 10:00am
Activity Room
Stories, songs and crafts for ages 18 months - 3 years and their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Tuesday, July 1 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jul 02, 10:15am - 10:45am
Activity Room
An early literacy storytime with songs, rhymes and stories for birth to 18 months with their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Tuesday, July 1 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jul 02, 11:00am - 11:30am
Activity Room
Stories and crafts or activities for ages 3-5 and their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Tuesday, July 1 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jul 02, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Activity Room
The Nonfiction Book Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month.

Thu, Jul 03, 9:30am - 10:00am
Activity Room
An early literacy storytime with songs, rhymes and stories for birth to 18 months with their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Wednesday, July 2 2025 at 9:00am

Thu, Jul 03, 10:15am - 10:45am
Activity Room
Stories, songs and crafts for ages 18 months - 3 years and their caregivers! *Please register all adults and children when signing up*
Registration opens Wednesday, July 2 2025 at 9:00am

Thu, Jul 03, 5:00pm - 9:00pm
The Library closes early at 5:00pm on July 3rd.

Fri, Jul 04, All day
The Library is closed.

Cancelled
Fri, Jul 04, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Play Super Smash Bros on our Nintendo Switch!