One book One Stratford -- reaching Stratford and beyond

Stratford Library's recent "One Book, One Stratford" event brought an impressive number of people to the library for the first time, drawn by their interest in author Jennifer Baszile's memoir. Prof. Baszile's book is a candid look at growing up during the 1970s-- a transitional time in American race relations-- when school integration was the law of the land but informal barriers to social integration were still prevalent. Many people told us they appreciated these discussions as a chance to share their own stories and learn from the experiences of others. One of our library staff members, Ann Stockman, recently had the opportunity to tell Prof. Camille Cooper of Yale University's Comer School Development Program about the success of the "One book" program. The two women met at a public program on improving public schools, which Ann attended as part of her involvement with Stratford's C.A.R.E. group. After viewing pictures and receiving email about our program with author Jennifer Baszile, Prof. Cooper has expressed interest in being kept informed about about future happenings at the library.

Spotlight on: C.A.R.E. Ann is an active member of the Stratford group, Stratford Citizens Addressing Racial Equality. C.A.R.E. volunteers work to open communication among residents of all ages, socio-economic groups, races and ethnicities in non-confrontational ways to break down stereotypes, build trust and find ways to work together. For more information on how Stratford C.A.R.E., or to become a member, please contact Stratford Community Services at 203.385.4095 or send an e-mail to communityservices@townofstratford.com.