Read for Change
June 21, 2021 - Last summer Library Director Connie Urquhart created the first annual, Library-hosted, community reading initiative. It enabled the community to connect in a meaningful way, based on a major paradigm shift in the world. In 2020 it was easy to pick the theme of Racial Equity, as our community, the country, and the world were going through a common crisis.
This year the Library wanted to give our patrons and community a chance to lead us more directly. We started by offering an open-ended survey asking what topics are the most important to the community in 2021. Then, we sent out a second survey, asking people to pick one of the four top topics from the previous survey, which were Climate Change, Community Healing, Racial Equity, and Health. Community Healing won easily. Now that the Library staff knew the topic, we could select a book. We wanted one that would reflect life in Camas and allow a variety of discussions and events to take place. After several discussions amongst the staff, we decided Beartown, by Fredrik Backman, was the best fit.
We have a long list of exciting events related to this year’s winning theme of Community Healing, but I’d like to highlight two that I’m especially looking forward to:
Discussion: What Makes a Community?
Join us for a lively discussion as we contemplate what makes a community. After registering for this in-person event, we'll email you three short articles to read. They'll help you prepare for the conversation on Wednesday, July 14.
We will explore questions such as:
What makes a community successful?
What does it feel like to belong to a community?, or to feel on the outside looking in?
What is your definition of a good community?
One Second of Hate: A Story of Forgiveness
“Where are you from?” his attacker asked before shooting Rais Bhuiyan during a killing spree in Texas shortly after 9/11. The attacker, a white supremacist, had been hunting for “Arabs” and perceived Muslims, though not one of his victims turned out to be from the Middle East. Despite being shot in the face, Bhuiyan survived, but two other victims did not.
Remarkably, not only did Bhuiyan forgive his attacker, but he also spent years trying to save him from death row. In the process, his attacker, a man named Mark Stroman, renounced his white supremacist beliefs and expressed deep regret for his fatal actions. In his final words before his execution in 2011, Stroman said “One second of hate will cause a lifetime of pain.”
Our stories have the power to connect, inspire, heal, and even save lives. As divisiveness continues to permeate our communities, Bhuiyan shares his story of resilience and reconciliation. Stories can help us replace ignorance with understanding, fear with acceptance, and hate with empathy—all pathways toward a more equitable, just, and peaceful society.
Rais Bhuiyan (he/him) is the founder of World Without Hate, a nonprofit focused on preventing and disrupting hate and violence and restoring peace and understanding through storytelling and empathy. His story is chronicled in The True American: Murder & Mercy in Texas by Anand Giridharadas.
This program is presented in partnership with Humanities Washington.
Read for Change has been integrated into the annual programming plan for the Camas Public Library, so you’ll see more of these initiatives in the future. We will continue to align our topics with our community’s current needs. If you would like to read further about community healing, we have put together a recommended reading list, below.
Ellen Miles, Programming & Outreach Coordinator
June 21, 2021
