With the month of October in full swing, it’s time to get excited about all the great events happening in Albion. Throughout the month there will be Albion’s Big Read events and discussions surrounding around a common reading. This year’s common read is Mighty Inside by Sundee T. Frazier. Set in 1955, Melvin Robinson learns to navigate his way through is first year of high school in a majority white school system while dealing with personal interests and a stutter that makes it difficult for him to speak.
The exciting events to come from this year’s Albion’s Big Read include three Big Read Discussions the 7th, 14th, and the 17th. These discussions will be led by the Big Read Leaders. There will also be free films every Wednesday at 7PM at the Bohm Theatre.
One highly anticipated events is a lecture by Bettina Love author of Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal, at the Bohm Theatre at 6PM on Thursday the 19th. As Big Read Director, Jess Roberts, and Assistant Director, Akaiia Ridley, shared the excitement around Love’s lecture is due to the impact that Punished for Dreaming can have on Albion as it directly relates and assists in the explanation of our community’s public school experiences.
Albion’s own Akaiia Ridley, Big Read Assistant Director, Eastern Michigan University (EMU) Archives Graduate Assistant, and Albion College Alumna along with Alexis Brain Marks, EMU Archivist, and Matt Jones, EMU Archives Lecturer, will be discussing oral histories with the mobile recording booth for the Marilyn Crandell Schleg Memorial Lecture: Finding Community Through the Practice of Oral History. This lecture will take place Thursday the 26th at 7PM at Bobbitt Auditorium on Albion College’s campus.
And to round out the Big Read month, join them at the Bohm Theatre on Thursday, November 2nd at 7PM for the Big Read Celebration with guest speaker, Sundee Fraizer.
Albion’s Big Read also gives opportunities to younger students in our community. This year is the second year of Albion’s Little Big Read. This spin-off is hosted at Harrington Elementary School as K-2nd read the book Little Penguins and 3rd-5th read Lowriders in Space. During the Little Big Read students read collectively as well as have special guests in school.
Albion’s Big Read program, made specifically for Albion youth, is also made specifically for the Albion community as a collaborative time to come together through reading. As Roberts shared it’s about “making a space where they [Big Read Leaders] can say who they are out loud”. It is a time to reflect, to learn, and to grow, together as a community. It gives us an opportunity to show love to our Albion students while expanding our knowledge and understanding of one another. To read more about the Big Read check out “Built on Love: The Background of Albion’s Big Read”. Hope to see you reading this October!
