Got a creative project that will make the community a better place? We’re taking a look at creating change locally through in our next Change Academy read.  

We found a fun book that is available at Book No Further.  While the book is self-published by Spud Marshall through Amazon, you can buy it locally for just under $20 at our city’s independent book store and keep more money in the local economy. Additionally, our partner, Roanoke Public Libraries will have a few copies on hand for loan.

The book is titled: Designing Creative Communities: Your Town is Your Canvas. Learn How to Make Your Mark.

This spring read is also aligned with the Year of the Artist preparations.  Over the next 18 months or so, we are focusing collective energy toward aligning and strengthening the work of individual artists toward outcomes of greater community wellness, justice and inclusion. 

You can learn more about the City’s investments in these areas at https://roanokearts.org/yota/. Grants are available to undertake art projects that advance equity in the ways we’ve been discussing.  Remember the stumbling stones mentioned in Caste and The Cooking Gene?
  
Four in-person sessions will take place on Monday evenings at 6 PM, each at a different branch library.  

Monday, April 11 – Belmont Library – (through page 68)
Monday, April 25 – Williamson Road Library (page 71 – 162)
Monday, May 2 – Melrose Library (page 165 – 266)
Monday, May 9 – Main Library (pages 269-330) and wrap-up

Register here

We hope to see you!