Ocean Park Branch Book Group Discussion: The Food Explorer: The True Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Botanist Who Transformed What America Eats by Daniel Stone. Thursday, February 4 / 4 to 5 p.m. A fascinating look at the adventures and legacy of nineteenth-century botanist and food explorer David Fairchild. Register to attend this program by emailing karen.reitz@smgov.net.
Author Reading and Community Conversation with Catherine Adel West
Thursday, February 11 / 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Register via Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/catherine-adel-west-discusses-saving-ruby-king-tickets-129108526077. Catherine Adel West’s debut novel, Saving Ruby King, takes readers on a journey exploring trauma, friendships, and secrets that intertwine two Southside Chicago families for three generations. This free event is part of the City’s Black History Month programming.
Main Library Book Group Discussion: The Guarded Gate: Bigotry, Eugenics, and the Law that Kept Two Generations of Jews, Italians, and Other European Immigrants Out of America by Daniel Okrent. Monday, February 15 / 7 to 8 p.m. Published in 2019, this acclaimed work explores the history of the racial pseudoscience that shaped United States immigration policy for most of the 20th century. Register to attend this program by emailing jeff.schwartz@smgov.net.
Mystery Book Group Discussion: Black Water Rising by Attica Locke. Tuesday, February 16 / 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. When black lawyer Jay Porter saves a drowning white woman, he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation that puts his practice and his life in danger. Register to attend this program by emailing karen.reitz@smgov.net.
Shane Phillips on The Affordable City. Wednesday, February 17 / 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Access via Bluejeans - https://bluejeans.com/111120582. Housing and development are among the hottest issues for Santa Monica and the Westside. Join Shane Phillips for a presentation and discussion of his book, The Affordable City, which posits 54 policies to address the housing crisis through supply, stability, and subsidy.
Montana Avenue Branch Book Group Discussion: The Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America by Candacy Taylor. Wednesday, February 17 / 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor examines the important historical role of the The Green Book, a “Black travel guide to America” published from 1936 to 1966. Register to attend this program by emailing stephanie.archer@smgov.net.
Community Social Justice Book Discussion: White Fragility: Why It’s so Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
Thursday, February 18 / 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Register via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEudOCgrzkpG9TVKTJCkRIQ2EWhmIFMCIWb
Part of a series of Social Justice Book Discussions, this program is presented by the Library in partnership with the City Manager’s Office. Robin DiAngelo’s groundbreaking book explores the counterproductive reactions white people have, when discussing racism, that serve to protect their positions and maintain racial inequality. Read the book and join the conversation.
Notable Fiction Book Group Discussion: Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. Saturday, February 20 / 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. From one of Britain’s most celebrated writers of color, this novel is a magnificent portrayal of the intersections of identity among an interconnected group of Black British women. Register to attend this program by emailing karen.reitz@smgov.net.
ONGOING CLASSES
• Citizenship Classes
Mondays / 12:00 to 2:30 p.m.
This series of classes is taught by Adult Education Center instructors. Students must be 18 years or older to attend. Enrollment is through the SMMUSD Adult Education Center, located at 2510 Lincoln Blvd., Room 203, Santa Monica, 90405. Contact Olga Saucedo at (310) 664-6222, ext. 76203 or osaucedo@smmusd.org to enroll.
• ESL Classes
ESL, Multi Level LOW Fridays / 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
ESL, Multi Level LOW Saturdays / 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
ESL, Multi Level HIGH Mondays / 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
This series of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes is taught by Adult Education Center instructors. Students must be 18 years or older to attend. Enrollment is through the SMMUSD Adult Education Center, located at 2510 Lincoln Blvd., Room 203, Santa Monica, 90405. Contact Olga Saucedo at (310) 664-6222, ext. 76203 or osaucedo@smmusd.org to enroll.
