FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robyn Truslow
410-535-0291
On Wednesday, September 3, at 6:00pm, Calvert Library kicks off a series of events and workshops related to the One Maryland One Book title, The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande. The first event will be a Cinema Café showing of an Academy Award-nominated documentary about unaccompanied child migrants as they try to make their way, through Mexico, to the United States. We will follow this documentary with a discussion of the immigration question as it relates to children. Lights go down at 6:00pm. Popcorn and coffee will be served.
The Distance Between Us is the author's compelling story of her childhood before and after entering the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant. At age nine the author left Mexico and the overburdened household of her stern grandmother and entered the U.S. to live with her father. She quickly realized that life in America and with her father was far from perfect. Her story opens up many avenues of conversation on dozens of themes such as the American Dream, family history, abuse, abandonment, immigration, poverty, ideals, freedom, opportunity, acceptance, diversity, education, home, pursuit of happiness and achievement.
Copies of the book are available at all Calvert Library locations and also can be downloaded as an audio or eBook from the library's website. A few copies have been left in public places around the tri-county to be picked up, read, and passed on. Each library location will be hosting discussions of the book. Calvert Library Prince Frederick hosts one on Tuesday, September 16 at 7pm; Southern Branch on Wednesday, September 17 at 7pm; Fairview Branch on Wednesday, October 15 at 2pm; and Twin Beaches Branch on Monday, October 20 at 7pm.
For those creative members of our community, the College of Southern Maryland Diversity Institute and the public library systems of Southern Maryland have partnered to put together a story writing contest on the themes found in the book. The team expects to publish a book containing all acceptable entries and donate a copy of the book to each public library branch and each middle and high school media center in Southern Maryland. In addition to the pleasure of seeing one’s words published, there will be a $100 prize for the winning entry in both the adult and youth categories. Calvert Library will be hosting writing workshops for adults (Memoir & Creative Writing Workshops on September 10 and October 8) and teens (What’s Your Story? on September 25 and October 8) to provide editing support and writing inspiration.
For those who want to base their story on their family history, there will be a genealogy workshop on Monday, October 6 at 7pm focusing on immigration records, specifically Maryland records taught by National Archives Specialist, John Deeben. This will include hands-on practice with the library’s subscription to Ancestry.com.
Further discussions will center on author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s work around the theme, The Danger of a Single Story. Her book Americanah and her TEDTalk will be discussed on separate dates in October. These conversations will be facilitated by the Community Mediation Center of Calvert County as part of the Civil Discourse series. Additional partners for Calvert Library’s One Maryland One Book activities include Calvert County Public Schools, College of Southern Maryland Diversity Institute, Friends of Calvert Library, Charles County Library, Maryland Humanities Council , Southern Maryland Regional Library Association and St. Mary’s County Library. For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-535-0291.
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Robyn Truslow
Public Relations Coordinator
Calvert Library
850 Costley Way
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-0291
410-535-3022 (fax)
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