Press Releases

January 16, 2008

One Book One Community Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with Read-a-thon

The life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King will be celebrated on Monday, January 21st and Wednesday, January 23rd through a read-a-thon hosted by One Book One Community.  Locations and times are summarized below.  In addition to commemorating King’s message of unity and service, the read-a-thon is also meant to encourage the reading of Freedom Writers Diary, the book currently being promoted by the group.

A number of area political figures, media personalities, and other leaders will be reading aloud from The Freedom Writers Diary, works by Dr. King, or readings from other authors that reflect the themes of diversity, unity, and service.  Celebrity readers will include:  Mayor Jim Schmitt, Senator Dave Hansen, Senator Rob Cowles, Municipal Judge Jerry Hanson, Bishop Robert Banks, Paul Jadin, Karina O’Malley, and Marlene Mielke of Senator Herb Kohl’s office.  Contact Sue Premo for specific times and locations of any of these readrs.

Community members are encouraged to attend one of the readings and be inspired by the perspectives and wisdom of writers from a variety of perspectives.  There are also still a few slots available for people that are interested in reading.  Readers can sign up at www.browncountyreads.org or by calling Sue Premo at 920-606-9996.
 
The Freedom Writers Diary is an uplifting, unforgettable story of how determination and the courage to open up their minds to new ideas changed the lives of a teacher and her students.  It reflects the experience of teens at a violence-ridden school whose students, initially divided by perceived differences, came to understand themselves and each other through reading books that reflected their experiences.  They extended what they learned in the classroom to their personal lives, the community, and their futures. 

Locations/Time

Monday, January 21

7:15 – 7:45; 10:20-1:20

7:15 – 7:30; 10:20-1:20

       Wednesday, January 23

October 1st, 2007

One Book, One Community announces Freedom Writers Diary as next book

Successful initiative will enter its second year 

GREEN BAY – Brown County Executive Tom Hinz, Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt and Superintendent Dan Nerad jointly announced The Freedom Writers Diary as the next reading selection for the One Book, One Community initiative at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at West Green Bay High School.

The selected book will be read by students, reading groups and individuals throughout Brown County, and will be discussed at special sessions over the next six months.

The initiative, which was designed to inspire dialogue across the Brown County community through shared book-reading experiences, will enter its second year with the announcement of this latest selection.

In commemoration of The Freedom Writers Diary, two classes of West Green Bay High School students added journal entries to a mobile Brown County Community Journal during the announcement. The journal will be transported to various locations throughout Brown County in an effort to collect experiences from residents across the community. Laptops will also be available to collect entries.

Nearly 650 copies of the initiative’s first selection, Of Beetles and Angels – a Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard by Mawi Asgedom, were checked out from Brown County libraries. Readings of the second and most recent selection, Night by Ellie Wiesel, were planned in conjunction with a variety of events related to the issues which were explored in the book, including a symposium on the Holocaust featuring professors from UW-Green Bay, an art exhibit on survival and several in-depth discussions. Similar discussions are planned for the community reading of The Freedom Writers Diary.

For more information about the OBOC initiative, contact initiative spokesperson Jaime Leick at 920-436-0112, or visit www.browncountyreads.org.

Organizers of the One Book, One Community initiative include:

Brown County Library  Brown County United Way  Butterfly Books  Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce  Green Bay Area Community Schools   Moving Type  Multicultural Center  The Literacy Council of Brown County  The Reader's Loft  The Volunteer Center  UW Green Bay  YWCA of Green Bay-De Pere

 

January 12, 2007

"ONE BOOK, ONE COMMUNITY. CHAPTER ONE COMES TO A CLOSE"

GREEN BAY, WI - "One Book, One Community" is a reading initiative designed to bring all Brown County residents together through reading and discussing the same book. A coalition of agencies launched this "community read" program to "engage the community in dialog and foster page-turning togetherness."

The group's goal was to get at least 10,000 people in Brown County to read Of Beetles and Angels in the latter half of 2006. As the year winds down, individuals or groups who have read the book are encouraged to register their reactions to the book either at one of the branches of the Brown County Library, or by going to the "One Book, One Community" web site, www.browncountyreads.org.

"We've been really thrilled with the response to 'One Book, One Community,'" commented the organizing team's chair, Jaime Leick, a freelance writer and owner of Moving-Type. "The circulation of the book at the Brown County Library has been very strong, as have sales at local bookstores. In addition, some really spirited conversations about the book have taken place throughout the area through classroom discussions, book clubs, professional organizations, and more." Nearly 650 copies of the book were either checked out at the Brown County Library, or purchased at The Readers Loft or Butterfly Books. It was also read in many local schools.

The next book for the community read program will be Night by Ellie Wiesel. It is a terrifying account of the Nazi death camp horror that turns a young Jewish boy into an agonized witness to the death of his family...the death of his innocence...and the death of his God. Penetrating and powerful, as personal as The Diary Of Anne Frank, Night awakens the shocking memory of evil at its absolute and carries with it the unforgettable message that this horror must never be allowed to happen again.

A variety of events related to Night are being planned. These include a symposium on the Holocaust featuring professors from UW-Green Bay, an art exhibit on survival, and several discussions of the book.

 

Organizers of the One Book, One Community program include the YWCA of Green Bay-De Pere, Moving-Type, the Brown County Library, Green Bay Area Public Schools, UW-Green Bay, The Reader's Loft, Butterfly Books, the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, The Volunteer Center, The Literacy Council of Brown County, and Brown County United Way.

August 3, 2006

ONE BOOK, ONE COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTES FREE BOOKS

GREEN BAY, WI – The One Book, One Community coalition will be distributing free copies of the book Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom throughout the community beginning Wednesday, August 9.  Distribution will begin after the noon to 1 p.m. discussion group “under the beetle” in Jackson Square Park.  The books will be marked with a special sticker on the cover encouraging readers to "Pass It Along" after they have finished reading it.  Through a donation from Preble Park Presbyterian Church of Green Bay, 22 copies of the book will be purchased and passed along to youth organizations and area shelters in Brown County.

The "Pass It Along" program has been successful in other areas holding community-wide reading programs. "We are excited to be able to share this book with people who may not be able to purchase their own copy. When you finish the book, we encourage you to give it to a friend or leave it in a public place, such as a doctor's office, laundromat, waiting room, or a shopping mall. Our goal is to get everyone in Brown County reading and talking about the same book," says Valerie Plasky, YWCA Community Services Director and coalition member.

The coalition members encourage everyone who has read the book to pass their copy on, and then log into the Web site, www.browncountyreads.org to share their opinion.  Individuals or organizations that would like to donate copies of the book to circulate can contact Valerie Plasky
at the YWCA, 432-5581, ext. 127.

One Book, One Community is designed to bring all Brown County residents together by reading and discussing the same book. The purpose of the program is to engage the community in dialog and foster page-turning togetherness."  Organizers of the One Book, One Community program include the YWCA of Green Bay-De Pere, Moving Type, the Brown County Library, Green Bay Area Community Schools, the Multicultural Center, UW-Green Bay, The Reader's Loft, Butterfly Books, the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, The Volunteer Center, The Literacy Council of Brown County, and Brown County United Way.

August 1, 2006

BOOK DISCUSSION HELD “UNDER THE BEETLE”

GREEN BAY, WI – A discussion group for the book Of Beetles and Angels–a Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard will be held on Wednesday, August 9, from noon to        
1 p.m. in Jackson Square Park in downtown Green Bay.  Readers will meet under the Einstein Project “beetle,” which is hanging from a tree in the park.
Of Beetles and Angels–a Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard by Mawi Asgedom is the first selection of the One Book, One Community Coalition communitywide reading initiative.  It is the unforgettable story of a young boy's remarkable journey from civil war in east Africa to a refugee camp in Sudan, to a childhood on welfare in an affluent American suburb, and eventually to a full-tuition scholarship at Harvard University.  Asgedom overcomes the challenges of racial prejudice, language barriers and financial disadvantage to build a fulfilling, successful life for himself in his new home. 
A number of book discussion groups have been held throughout the summer months.  Over 200 readers have checked the book out from the Brown County Library, and it has been one of the top two best selling books at the Reader’s Loft and Butterfly Books.  The book is also available at Barnes & Noble.
One Book, One Community is designed to bring all Brown County residents together by reading and discussing the same book. The purpose of the program is to engage the community in dialog and foster page-turning togetherness."  Organizers of the One Book, One Community program include the YWCA of Green Bay-De Pere, Moving Type, the Brown County Library, Green Bay Area Community Schools, the Multicultural Center, UW-Green Bay, The Reader's Loft, Butterfly Books, the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, The Volunteer Center, The Literacy Council of Brown County, Brown County United Way and Wisconsin Public Radio.

For more information, contact Valerie Plasky, YWCA Community Services Director, at 432-5581, ext. 127 or visit the program Web site at www.browncountyreads.org.

May 23, 2006

Contact: Valerie Plasky, Community Services Director (920) 432-5581, ext. 127

ONE BOOK, ONE COMMUNITY KICK OFF

GREEN BAY, WI - On Friday, May 26, at 10:15 a.m., Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt and Green Bay Area Public School District Superintendent Daniel Nerad will visit Franklin Middle School in Green Bay to kick off the One Book, One Community program. Schmitt and Nerad will read sections of the selected book, Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom.

One Book, One Community is a reading initiative designed to bring all Brown County residents together through reading and discussing the same book. A coalition of agencies launched One Book, One Community to "engage the community in dialog and foster page-turning togetherness." Throughout the remainder of 2006, book discussion groups and events centering around Of Beetles and Angels will take place all over Brown County.

Organizers of One Book One Community include the YWCA of Green Bay-De Pere, Moving Type, the Brown County Library, Green Bay Area Public Schools, the Multicultural Center, UW-Green Bay, The Reader's Loft, Butterfly Books, the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Brown County United Way and Wisconsin Public Radio.

For more information regarding the program, contact Valerie Plasky at the YWCA at 432-5581 or visit the One Book One Community Web site at www.browncountyreads.org.