The 2nd Annual Chautauqua County Book Read is underway. Officials from the Jamestown YWCA tell us more.

County residents are invited to read “Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation” by Linda Villarosa.

The purpose of the shared book read is to engage Chautauqua County residents, businesses, nonprofits and organizations to help heal  divides and propel participants to be engaged citizens working towards a more inclusive and just society.

Each participant is also encouraged to attend one book discussion group between April 17 and 28, 2023. In-person and online book discussion groups will be offered.

To register for a book discussion, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_fNuj5EcsSwIutCnkVacD03U19GS-jvnwk9-rJupqF1-55A/viewform

Additionally, participants are invited to attend a live lecture at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, July 20 with the author, Linda Villarosa, at the Hall of Philosophy on the Chautauqua Institution grounds.
This day has been designated as “Chautauqua County Day” at the Institution, and all Chautauqua County residents are eligible for free admission and parking.

Tickets for this day will be available beginning June 1 by calling the Chautauqua Institution Ticket Office at 716-357-6250. Free parking is only available with ticket orders made by July 11. This offer may not be combined with a long-term ticket.

For more information on “Chautauqua County Day,” visit: chqcounty.chq.org

While participants are encouraged to purchase their own copy of the book, the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System has a limited amount of the title to borrow as well.

More information on the times and locations of the book discussions is available via the registration link and at https://www.ywcajamestown.com/chqbookread

Jamestown YWCA‘s Alize Scott and Chautauqua Institution‘s Amit Taneja talk about the “Book Read” happening across the county.

The book “Caste: The Origins of our Discontent” by Isabel Wilkerson has been chosen for the community read.

Chautauqua Institution’s Senior Vice President & Chief Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Officer Amit Taneja said community groups have been working on how to engage more people in Chautauqua County in creating a more inclusive and just society.

He said YWCA Executive Director Amanda Gesing reached out to the Institution after she learned that they would be hosting author Isabel Wilkerson this summer, “And so she reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, can we collaborate on this?’ and I said, ‘Great!’ because I had been thinking about how do we get everybody in Chautauqua involved and so that was sort of the birth of that program idea that everybody in Chautauqua County is reading the same book, focused on issues of justice and inclusion. And hopefully it sparks a lot of good conversation in the community.”

Taneja said the book touches on a lot of topics that society is struggling with and the hope is that the book discussions would give space to talk about things that are difficult, “Cause a lot of times I think fear of disagreement or opposition keeps us from talking about difficult things when really if we want to move the needle forward we need to come together in the spirit of mutual understanding even if we disagree on a few things so that’s kind of the hope out of this and this book gives us the tools to do that.”

Taneja said the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System has copies of Wilkerson’s book available for those interested in taking part. People who are interested in participating in a group discussion, whether in person or online, can register at https://www.ywcajamestown.com/chqbookread. The discussions will be scheduled for May 16 through 27.

Also, Chautauqua Institution is holding a “Chautauqua County Day” on Thursday, July 21 where county residents are eligible for free admission and parking in order to attend the live lecture by author Isabel Wilkerson. That lecture will take place at 10:45 a.m. at the Amphitheater on the Chautauqua Institution grounds. Tickets for this day will be available beginning June 1 by calling the Chautauqua Institution Ticket Office at 716-357-6250. Free parking is only available with ticket orders made by July 11.