Sparked by backlash to a neo-Nazi rally and a stream of strict anti-immigrant laws passing in Arizona, a group of activists organize to build Phoenix Allies for Community Health, a unique free clinic serving undocumented immigrants. This critically-acclaimed 2017 documentary, directed by Juan Freitez,  follows their journey, delves into the heart and history of the clinic, and chronicles the poignant stories of undocumented patients as well as their courage and resilience.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, this event has been canceled.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

For those of you interested in the topic, Washtenaw Literacy has two upcoming sessions called the ABCs of Washtenaw Literacy:

Much attention has been given to the opportunity gap between white and minority students, especially African-American children. Using research and years of experience, author and educator Dr. Debra Sullivan breaks down the cultural influences on learning style and provides a practical approach to helping black children thrive in the classroom. 

Join AADL staff and community members for a discussion of the 2019 Washtenaw Reads title, Reading With Patrick, by Michelle Kuo.

Recently graduated from Harvard University, Michelle Kuo arrived in the rural town of Helena, Arkansas, as a Teach for America volunteer, bursting with optimism and drive. But she soon encountered the jarring realities of life in one of the poorest counties in America, still disabled by the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow. In this stirring memoir, Kuo, the child of Taiwanese immigrants, shares the story of her complicated but rewarding mentorship of one student, Patrick Browning, and his remarkable literary and personal awakening.

2018 Institute for the Humanities Jill S. Harris Memorial Lecture

The Institute for the Humanities at the University of Michigan will host a conversation with Yaa Gyasi, author of Homegoing (2016), the 2018 selection for Washtenaw Reads.

Homegoing tells the stories of two West African half-sisters and their descendants. One sister, Esi, is captured and brought to the Americas as a slave; the other sister, Effia, stays in Africa and marries a British slaver. Over the course of seven generations, Gyasi illuminates the legacies of slavery and the wide spectrum of colonial African and African-American experiences.

Each of the novel's fourteen chapters centers on the life of a person descended from Effia or Esi. Through these stories, Gyasi narrates their every day lives, as well as their roles in major historical events. The novel begins in the late eighteenth century and ends in the present day, so that by the end we feel the full weight of history behind her characters.

Yaa Gyasi was born in Ghana and came to the United States as a child. She is a graduate of Stanford and received her Masters of Fine Arts from the Iowa Writers Workshop. In 2016, she was chosen for the National Book Foundation's "5 under 35" award. Homegoing, her debut novel, has been nominated for the several awards and won the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award in 2017.

About Jill S. Harris: The Jill S. Harris Memorial Endowment was established in 1985 in memory of Jill Harris, a resident of Chicago and undergraduate student at U-M who passed away due to injuries from an auto accident. Established by Roger and Meredith Harris, Jill’s parents, her grandparents Allan and Norma Harris, and friends, the fund brings a distinguished visitor to campus each year who will appeal to undergraduate students interested in the humanities and the arts.

This event is part of the 2018 Washtenaw Read. The Washtenaw Reads program is a community initiative to promote reading and civic dialogue through the shared experience of reading and discussing a common book. Participating libraries include Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Milan, Northfield Township, Saline, and Ypsilanti. For more information about Washtenaw Reads and previous years' reads, go to wread.org.

Attend an interactive workshop for music and art lovers with discussion of the 2018 Washtenaw Read, Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi. Drawing from the African American Cultural Humanities (AC) curriculum, Ms Shields examines the social and historical contexts presented in Homegoing using music and pieces from the Detroit Institute of Art collection. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the influence of West Africa on American music styles.

Victoria Shields is a doctoral student in the Eastern Michigan University Urban Education program focusing on curriculum development and programming. She conducts teacher training at state and national conferences and focuses on the development of Humanities and Social Science curriculum with the integration of music, dance and pieces from the Detroit Institute of Art collection.

This event is part of the 2018 Washtenaw Read.

Join AADL storyteller Elizabeth as she shares folktales from West Africa in a special storytime for kids, created in conjunction with this year's Washtenaw Reads. The Read this year is Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi. Much of the book takes place in West Africa.

Join AADL staff and other community members for a discussion of the 2018 Washtenaw Read, Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi.

Gyasi will speak on February 6 at 7:00pm at Rackham Auditorium. Another discussion of the book will take place at the Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room on January 30 at 7:00pm.

Join AADL staff and other community members for a discussion of the 2018 Washtenaw Read, Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi.

Yaa Gyasi will speak on February 6 at 7:00pm at Rackham Auditorium. Another discussion of the book will take place at the Pittsfield Branch on February 11 at 2:00pm.