Santa Monica Public Library Presents the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge
September 30, 2020 8:30 AM
Santa Monica Public Library recognizes and acknowledges the systemic anti-Black racism that pervades our nation and institutions. In support of the City’s commitment to Social Justice, the Library recognizes our role and responsibility to bring out meaningful change, equity and racial justice through mutual learning and dialogue. As such, we are creating and facilitating opportunities for conversations to discuss race, civic engagement, equity, diversity, inclusivity, and cultural awareness.
We invite you to join the Library's 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, which runs from October 1 through 21, 2020. For 21 days, we encourage you to do one action to further your understanding of power, privilege, supremacy, oppression, and equity. Follow the Library on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn about the daily suggested activity. Activities include readings, podcasts, videos, observations and other ways to form and deepen community connections. Learn more at eddiemoorejr.com/21daychallenge. The Challenge has a social media focus, with some posts tied to related programming that will take place in October and November.
Join us for these free special online events:
Book Discussion: Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption – In this true story about the redeeming potential of mercy, lawyer Bryan Stevenson establishes the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit law office in Montgomery, Alabama, dedicated to defending the poor, the incarcerated, and the wrongly condemned. For teens and adults.
Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00pm| Register via Zoom
Author Talk: Norma Mendoza-Denton, Ph.D. on Language in the Trump Era: Scandals and Emergencies – Using many detailed examples, Dr. Mendoza-Denton’s fascinating and highly topical book reveals how Trump's rallying cries, boasts, accusations, and mockery enlist many of his supporters into his alternate reality. Join us for a virtual presentation and discussion about the mechanisms by which language in the Trump era has widened social divisions.
Saturday, November 21 at 2:00pm| Register via Zoom
Santa Monica Public Library's vision is Preserving the Past, Serving the Present, Shaping the Future, a framework on which we build a strong commitment to ourselves and our community to shape policies and actions that contribute to a society in which every individual can realize their full potential. We want to encourage all of us, and all of you, to actively engage in the work of racial equity and social justice.
To control the spread of COVID-19, the Library buildings remain closed to the public until further notice. Contactless curbside pickup service is available at Santa Monica Public Library. For more information, visit smpl.org/curbside. We encourage you to visit our Online Library and access the Library's many digital services that are available 24/7. Questions? Call us at (310) 458-8600 or email reference@smgov.net. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 4:00pm, and look forward to connecting with you.
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Media Contact
Jennifer Boyce
Librarian II
Jennifer.Boyce@santamonica.gov