Dr. Sheila Lloyd, Assistant Professor of English at University of Redlands, speaks to Mark Olsen's English class at Independence High School, which is reading "The Other Wes Moore" using high school curriculum developed in partnership with CSU Bakersfield as part of One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern.

Hi All – What happens when a community comes together to discuss the strong themes of one great book?  Isn’t it time you saw first hand what effect this Read is having in our community?

Here’s your next opportunity to find out!  Saturday, Oct. 22; 11 a.m., 2nd Floor Founders Mt. Room – The Legacy of Friendship House.  For over five decades, the Friendship House on Cottonwood Road has inspired and mentored families of Southeast Bakersfield.  Friendship House pioneer Fuchsia Ward, will tell the story of the founding of the Friendship House against the backdrop of an era of exciting political change.  Please support Fuchsia in telling the story of one of our community’s great mentoring resources by your attendance.

Program treats you may have missed:

Moore or Less: You Get What You Give – An evening of dramatic readings. Approximately 32 folks enjoyed great art, wine, conversation, and terrific excerpts from The Other Wes Moore given by Empty Space and Bakersfield Community Theatre actors.  A winning combination!

Winning our Future and Life Choices panel discussions on Oct. 15 and 18 – If there is a better way to present the themes of a great book than a panel discussion, it is hard to say what it would be.  Thanks to Harlem and Beyond for creating the Winning our Future panel, which cleverly chose community members – parents, grandparents, single mothers, ex-gang members, teachers, military boot camp personnel, all who reflected characters in Wes Moore’s memoir. (50 people attending)  The Life Choices panel at Bakersfield College, sponsored by Safe Streets Partnership and coordinated by One Book community partner, Bakersfield Police Department Sgt. Mary DeGeare, featured memorable, heartfelt life stories from local ex-gang members as well as  longtime youth mentors. (over 100 attending)

We’re in the home stretch for our The Other Wes Moore programming. Make it your business to attend one of remaining programs, so you can put our Nov. 8 Evening with Wes Moore, in a local context.

– Kristie Coons, Coordinator of One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern