Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center is hosting a series of community book club meetings that blend social justice, community discussion and individual plans to take action on the topics raised by the books.
Four books have been chosen for 2021, starting with Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies, a book about migrant farmworkers in the United States written by Seth Holmes, to be discussed on Jan. 28 and again on Feb. 25.
This first quarter’s book, Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies began as a research project conducted in collaboration with indigenous Mexican immigrant communities and families. According to author Holmes’ site, the book is based on five years of field research traveling with and working with migrants.
Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies, born from a series of articles written by Holmes, uncovers how market forces, anti-immigrant sentiment, and racism undermine health and health care while investigating social hierarchies and inequality in the context of US-Mexico transnational agro-food systems.
Olivewood Nutrition Educator and Book Club Coordinator Ellyse Briand said attendees utilize book club meetings as a space to connect, foster meaningful discussions and continually move their food and social justice lens toward equity and justice.
“We always start with something we’re grateful for and end with an action step we can take. For example, learning more about history, some might be inspired to join a group to take action. We always tell people to come with an actionable item. The books we’re choosing to read are super important for moving the discussion forward,” Briand said.
Registered attendees are given a discussion guide ahead of time and asked to come up with an idea for an actionable item, something they or
another reader might want to consider doing to affect change in their own life or society.
It is not necessary for attendees to have read each book entirely before meeting, Briand said. Organizers use the discussion guide as a catalyst
and try to pick out themes they think are going to move a conversation forward in a way that gives people room to develop regardless of where everyone is in their reading.
“Part of the thought process behind doing a book club was on the enthusiasm and emphasis that everyone feels at the beginning; the way we intellectualize a book and then go beyond that is something we talked about capturing. In discussion, we think about the broader point of the book, then talk about where it can go,” Briand said.
They realized, she said, the way to include everyone’s voice is to transform the meetings into a safe learning space.
“We want everyone to feel included,” Briand said.
Visit www.olivewoodgardens.org to register for the Jan. 28 or Feb. 25 book club discussion on Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies, or for more information on this and other Olivewood events.
