Cuyahoga County Cities, Organizations Join Forces to Encourage Reading and Dialogue about Issues Affecting Our Society

What happens when nine public library systems, Playhouse Square and The City Club of Cleveland get together? One Community Reads. It’s a Cuyahoga County-wide initiative to encourage reading and cultivate dialogue about social issues affecting our communities. One Community Reads kicks off Monday, January 20 and runs through May 2020. This year’s book is Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life by Eric Klinenberg. Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish serves as the Honorary Chair of the One Community Reads program. “As County Executive, it is vitally important to me that we identify and support the places that make our county strong and connected. Please join us as we celebrate the power of social infrastructures, and how they can shape our future through education, information, and access,” said Budish.

The One Community Reads celebration will be held on Monday, January 20 at  4:30 p.m. at Cleveland Public Library in downtown Cleveland. The backdrop is an exhibition called Cleveland 20/20: A Photographic Exploration of Cleveland which showcases everyday life in our great city. Located on the 1^st Floor of Main Library in Brett Hall, “This exhibition highlights diversity, the changing faces of Cleveland and social infrastructure which is the essence of this year’s One Community Reads book, Palaces for the People,” said Felton Thomas, Jr., Executive Director and CEO of Cleveland Public Library. “We hope this photography exhibit along with Klinenberg’s book will spark thought-provoking conversation about how we build powerful relationships across the county, open doors for people to help them achieve success as well as protect and invest more resources in public institutions such as the Library.”

“I’m honored Cuyahoga County has chosen Palaces for the People as its One Community Reads book. It’s a book about how we rebuild common ground and revitalize our democratic culture, and I can’t think of a better place to do that than Cleveland, which will play such a big role in American politics during the next year,” said Klinenberg, who is also a social science professor at New York University. 2020 is the year to make sure voices are heard; votes are cast, and households get counted. “I hope readers in Cleveland find new ideas in the book – not just for intellectual stimulation, but for practical action and policy-making, too,” Klinenberg remarks.

Cuyahoga County Public Library Executive Director Tracy Strobel agrees. “The One Community Reads collaboration strives to ignite interest in an issue of social importance and foster conversations that will lead to solutions for strengthening Greater Cleveland.  I hope that reading and talking about this year’s One Community Reads title, Palaces for the People, highlights the value of public libraries and other civic spaces and encourages participants to invest in social infrastructure,” said Strobel.

Participating Libraries, Playhouse Square and The City Club of Cleveland will hold events during One Community Reads. Author Eric Klinenberg will visit Cleveland on Monday, March 9, 2020 for a book discussion at the Playhouse Square Mimi Ohio Theatre at 7:00 p.m. Registration is required. Our streaming partner, ideastream, will broadcast the Playhouse Square event live at the following libraries: Euclid, Heights Lee Road Branch, Lakewood Main Library, Rocky River, and Westlake Porter. Call (216) 241-6000 or visit onecommunityreads.org or playhousesquare.org for registration and information.

One Community Reads Programs and Events 

Monday Morning Movie: The Public

An act of civil disobedience turns into a standoff with police when homeless people in Cincinnati take over the public library to seek shelter from the bitter cold. Written and directed by Emilio Esteves and starring Michael K. Williams and Alec Baldwin (PG-13; 119 min)
Euclid Public Library – Shore Meeting Room, Monday, January 27, 10:15 a.m.

Palaces for the People Book Discussion

Join us for a discussion of the One Community Reads title, Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life, led by Senior Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk and Shaker Heights City Councilwoman Juliana Senturia.

Please RSVP to Staci Cohen, (216) 464-5890 or scohen@fairmounttemple.org
Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, Monday, January 27, 7:00 p.m.

Lakewood’s Shared Spaces: Panel Discussion

Lakewood is a thriving city known for its progressive, vibrant and diverse community. Join us for a panel discussion highlighting the physical places, organizations, and individuals who shape the way our community interacts and add to our own social infrastructure. Hear how we can use our communal sense of belonging to strengthen our city, spaces and citizens.
Lakewood Public Library – Main Library Auditorium, Wednesday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Palaces for the People Book Discussion

Join us for a discussion of Dr. Eric Klinenberg’s book, Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life.
Westlake Porter Public Library, Wednesday, February 12, 7:00 p.m.

The City Club of Cleveland Book Club

Join The City Club of Cleveland Book Club for lunch and conversation as we join the rest of our community in reading Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life by Eric Klinenberg. $10.00 fee. Lunch included.
The City Club of Cleveland – 2^nd Floor, Thursday, February 13, 12:00 p.m.

Palaces for the People Book Discussion

Join us for a discussion of Dr. Eric Klinenberg’s book, Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life.
Heights Libraries Lee Road Branch – Levey Room, Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m.

Meet Author Colum McCann

The award-winning author will discuss the novel, Apeirogon, set against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is rooted in the real-life friendship between two men united by loss.
Cuyahoga Co. Public Library – Parma-Snow Branch, Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m.

One Community Reads Trolley Tour  

Enjoy a trolley tour focusing on the places that bring us together as a community in the MetroWest and Tremont neighborhoods. Tours depart from and return to the South Branch. Trolley Tours are free. Registration is required.
Cleveland Public Library – South Branch, Sat., March 7, 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m.

Palaces for the People Book Discussion

Join us for a discussion of Eric Klinenberg’s book, Palaces for the People. Books will be available at the Bertram Woods Circulation desk one month before the discussion. All are welcome.
Shaker Public Library – Bertram Woods Branch, Saturday, March 14, 2:00 p.m.

Palaces for the People & 2020 Census Celebration

Join East Cleveland Public Library as we celebrate and participate in the first online census. In addition, tune in for a podcast discussion of the book, Palaces for the People.
East Cleveland Public Library, Saturday, March 14, 1:00 p.m.

Battle for the Ballot: Cleveland’s Suffragette Movement

Learn about a band of women who dedicated themselves to the public interest and grew into an organization that won the respect and confidence of the nation. This program will tell the story behind the Cleveland women who advocated for suffrage as members of the League of Women Voters. Presented by The Western Reserve Historical Society.
Rocky River Public Library – Auditorium, Thursday, March 26, 7:00 p.m.

Celebrate National Census Day!

Join us on National Census Day by coming to the Library and filling out your Census with help from library staff. What’s at stake? Billions of federal dollars for schools and other community programs as well as accurate Congressional representation. Get counted!
Participating Public Libraries: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, East Cleveland, Euclid, Heights Libraries, Lakewood, Rocky River, Shaker, Westlake Porter – Wednesday, April 1, ALL DAY

 

For a complete list of One Community Reads events, visit onecommunityreads.org. For images and photos, click here.