Hayward Book-to-Action 2018 takes on immigration
Book discussions, author keynote, citywide community conversation, social media campaign part of annual project inspiring civic engagement and action through reading
HAYWARD, Calif., Feb. 1, 2018—Hayward Book to Action, a collaborative project of the Hayward Public Library and Cal State University East Bay, has opened its 2018 program—a series of book discussions and community events centered on the issue of immigration and the memoir, In the Country We Love: My Family Divided.
In the book, Diane Guerrero, the television actress from the hit shows Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin, presents her personal story of the real plight of undocumented immigrants in this country. Guerrero was age 14 the day her parents were detained and deported while she was at school. Born in the United States, she was able to remain in the country, continue her education, and build her life and career, relying on the kindness of family friends but without the support system of her family.
Book-to-Action inspires readers to put new-found knowledge to work in their neighborhoods and communities. You can request a free copy of In the Country We Love, in English or Spanish, by registering for Book-to-Action at www.haywardbooktoaction.org. There, you also can request one of the limited number of free tickets to the 2018 Book-to-Action keynote event with Guerrero at 4 p.m. Feb. 22 at CSU East Bay University Theater.
Other scheduled activities and events include book discussions in Spanish and English—starting this weekend, at 2 p.m. Feb. 3 with a discussion to be led in Spanish by Hayward Council Member Francisco Zermeño at Hayward Main Library. Discussions in English are scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Main Library, and at noon Feb. 8 at Eko Coffee House, 1075 B Street, downtown Hayward.
A social media campaign “We are all Dreamers” encourages people to take a selfie with a message on a white-board or sign conveying a personal hope or dream about the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration policy, and post the image to a social media platform with the hashtag, #HaywardBooktoAction. White boards and assistance taking and posting selfies are available at Hayward Main Library.
On May 12, a community conversation about immigration and what it means for Hayward to be a sanctuary city is planned at Weekes Community Center and Park as part of a broader annual citywide community clean-up and civic festival that is still in the planning stages. This will be an opportunity for community members to collaborate with city staff to implement the newly accepted Commitment for an Inclusive, Equitable and Compassionate Community.
In 2011, the Hayward Public Library launched the first Book-to-Action program in the state of California. It was adopted by and became a statewide initiative of the California State Library and the California Center for the Book. In 2015, Hayward Book-to-Action became a joint project of the City of Hayward and CSUEB.
Download the full press release.
