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The library as town square
Your place for civic engagement and community-building
When you think of gathering spaces for people to engage with one another, to share stories, build community or make new friends, which places do you think of?
As public spaces for civic engagement become increasingly scarce, Anythink considers itself a town square – a place to engage with fellow community members for learning, fun, social activities, and much more. From the library’s own information gathering in 2017, the district asked the residents of Adams County what they love about where they live – and what’s missing – as well as their hopes and dreams for their families. One thing that became clear: people are craving more opportunities to gather and connect with one another in meaningful ways. With this in mind, Anythink has set out to be a place where you can do just that.
From facilitated dialogues to increasing voter registration, here’s a look at some of the innovations that help provide opportunities for civic engagement in Adams County.
Civic Saturday
On Saturday, May 18, Anythink hosted its first Civic Saturday at Anythink Wright Farms. This public gathering was originally developed by Citizen University in Seattle to cultivate civic engagement and tradition. Through music, readings and small-group discussion, attendees explored the topic of neighbors: What challenges and opportunities do people encounter in the face of rapid growth? What does it mean to be a good neighbor? The next Civic Saturday will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at Anythink Wright Farms.
“Society becomes how you behave.” – Eric Liu, founder of Citizen University
Adams County Elections
Voting is one of the best ways to practice civic engagement and let your voice be heard. To help increase voter accessibility in Adams County, Anythink recently partnered with Adams County Elections to provide voter registration forms and information. Additionally, some branches have established voter registration kiosks and even serve as polling centers during election season. Visit anythinklibraries.org/voter-info for more information and the latest updates.
Better Arguments: Tech Boom Tensions
Hosted in conjunction with The Aspen Institute, Facing History and Ourselves, and Allstate, this gathering was designed to bridge ideological divides by teaching Americans how to have better arguments. Addressing both the opportunities and challenges related to the Denver-area’s burgeoning tech industry, participants listened to remarks by local and national leaders – including Gov. Jared Polis – followed by facilitated conversations to reflect on the themes addressed. Attendees were invited to pitch their own action ideas, with select participants receiving seed funding to implement new projects in their communities.
Breaking Bread
There’s nothing that brings us together quite like food. To explore the things that bring us together – not what sets us apart – Anythink encouraged people of different backgrounds and cultures to break bread together. At Community Voices: Breaking Bread, attendees were invited to share their own food-related memories while enjoying everything from French pastries to Indian chapati to Libyan flatbread.
“I firmly believe food is at the center of community. What better way to bring strangers together than over food? And what better way to celebrate loved ones than over food? It’s such an intimate setting to be nourishing your body alongside others. And the conversations over meals – while sometimes awkward – are so precious when sharing a space and setting like that.” – Neda K., Breaking Bread participant
Perspectives from the Vietnam War
Through an award from the American Library Association, the Public Broadcasting System, and Washington, D.C.’s WETA public television, Perspectives from the Vietnam War brought together community to hear first-hand accounts and historical perspectives on this significant moment in history. Moderated by Laura Frank of Rocky Mountain PBS, participants heard from a panel including war veterans, history scholars and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Neal Ulevich. Attendees – many of whom were Vietnam War veterans and their families – discussed topics prompted by clips from the Ken Burns “The Vietnam War” documentary series. Topics discussed included everything from divisiveness about the war to the reception of U.S. soldiers returning home to the role of the media in public perception. ■
Recommended Reads
You're More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen's Guide to Making Change Happen by Eric Liu
Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg
Warm Bread and Honey Cake: Home Baking from Around the World by Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra
Send your questions or feedback to ithink@anythinklibraries.org or comment below.