LWV Solano County Presents
The Sum of Us Book Discussion Group
Starts Wednesday, February 16th
Series of 5 Consecutive Wednesday Sessions via Zoom
With 2 session times available each date at 3 pm & 7 pm
Program Host, Craig Paterson
Hi, LWV Solano County Friends!
I’m happy to share the initial dates for our book discussion sessions on The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee. According to my records, you have expressed an interest in joining in these timely and important discussions. Our sessions will be conducted via Zoom meetings, so we can all be safe.
The Sum of Us has become very popular. Subsequently, I’ve been able to find several excellent resources to assist in the development of five discussion sessions to cover a variety of topics in the book. I’m focusing on 90-minute discussions each week.
We will meet on five consecutive Wednesdays, starting on February 16th. To meet the needs of as many people as possible, we’ll have two options on each of these Wednesdays… an afternoon session and an evening session.
- February 16th 3:00 to 4:30pm OR 7:00 to 8:30pm
- February 23rd 3:00 to 4:30pm OR 7:00 to 8:30pm
- March 2nd 3:00 to 4:30pm OR 7:00 to 8:30pm
- March 9th 3:00 to 4:30pm OR 7:00 to 8:30pm
- March16th 3:00 to 4:30pm OR 7:00 to 8:30pm
It will be most helpful for book group members to choose either the afternoon session or the evening session. Having a consistent group of discussion partners is always best… particularly when discussing issues and experiences that can be emotionally charged. But… if the alternative time becomes the only option for attendance for a week, book group members are welcome to attend at the alternative time.
Please email me with your choice of sessions… either afternoon or evening at patersoncc [at] gmail.com?subject=Sum%20of%20Us" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="mailto:patersoncc [at] gmail.com?subject=Sum%20of%20Us">patersoncc [at] gmail.com
I’ll share the Zoom link when we’re closer to the start date… and will share it again as a reminder a day or so before each session. And… feel free to invite your friends and neighbors to join us!
Thanks, all! I’m enthusiastic about the opportunity to discuss Heather McGhee’s insights and wisdom.
Craig
"The Sum of Us" Study Group Background
“I’m just overwhelmed!” This was the response of several participants of a recent Zoom gathering of LWV members and some community members focusing on diversity, inclusion, and equity. “Where should we start?” “What can we do?”
Starting in January 2022, LWV Solano County will organize small group conversations inspired by the research and writing of Heather McGhee. Our recent virtual gathering started with a popular Ted Talk that featured Dr. McGhee. If you haven’t already seen this inspiring short video, here is the link:
https://www.ted.com/talks/heather_c_mcghee_racism_has_a_cost_for_everyone
We’re proposing a five-session book group conversation about Heather McGhee’s bestseller book, The Sum of Us. Each session will be 90 minutes. Each conversation group will ideally be composed of 8-12 people. A set of conversation questions will be available prior to each session and will provide the entry points for each discussion.
THE SUM OF US: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together
Heather McGhee 2021
In bookstores and Amazon:
Hardcover $21.80
Kindle (Amazon) $13.99
“Heather McGhee’s specialty is the American economy… and the mystery of why it so often fails the American public. The Sum of Us is a brilliant analysis of how we arrived here: divided, and self-destructing, materially rich but spiritually starved and vastly unequal. With startling empathy, this heartfelt message from a Black woman to a multiracial America leaves us with a new vision for a future in which we finally realize that life can be more than a zero-sum game.”
We CAN discover a path to local action! This path CAN be discovered as we talk, listen, and discern together.
- Confirm TODAY your interest in a conversation group on The Sum of Us by identifying your preferred schedule option. We’ll find a group for you.
- Invite a friend (or several friends) to participate in The Sum of Us conversations… feel free to forward this invitation.
- Share this project with a community group to create a unique conversation group, if that would be desired… or to have them as a partner sponsor of the conversations.
Contact Craig Paterson, Program Coordinator at patersoncc [at] gmail.com to get involved. Let’s talk! Let’s listen! Let’s discover a path forward… together!
