Program Engages Community Wide Scholastic Event
By Kate Bartlett
This May, The Jamestown YWCA and Chautauqua Institute have teamed up to launch their first county-wide book event. Readers are invited to join in a community wide book read of Caste: The Origins of our Discontent, by award winning author Isabel Wilkerson. This event is aimed at uniting community members through the unique opportunity to collectively read and discuss a selected book, building connections while breaking down barriers.
“The purpose of this shared book read is to engage Chautauqua County residents, businesses, nonprofit agencies and organizations to help heal our divides and propel participants to be engaged citizens working towards a more inclusive and just society.”
The event is sponsored by multiple organizations with the common goal to bring the community together. We spoke with Amit Taneya at the Chautauqua Institute who has played an integral role in organizing this event. “It was a joint idea between Chautauqua Institute and the YWCA to gather people for community discussion of substantiative topics. This book gets to larger issues in society that we disagree on. We aim to give pathways for healing through conversations across lines of difference on how to work towards a more just society.”
Readers are encouraged to attend one in-person or online group book discussion between May 16-27th, and are invited to join the author for a live lecture at the Chautauqua Institute for YWCA day. Admission and parking is free on this day for Chautauqua residents, preregistration is required. Visit https://www.ywcajamestown.com/chqbookread for more information.
The program currently has 125 people enrolled, and is expecting a good turnout with meaningful conversation. The hope is to have an annual book read, with a similar format, evolving with participant feedback.