The Book:
In The Latehomecomer, Ms. Yang recounts the journey of her family from Laos, to the Ban Vanai Refugee Camp in Thailand, where the author was born, to resettlement in Minnesota in 1974 when the author was six. Yang tells of her own struggles and triumphs, and the story of her grandmother and extended family. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the life of those who have been displaced from their homeland and resettled in a country that is very different in terms of culture and physical environment. The story highlights the strength and determination of a Hmong family and gives the reader insight into the Hmong culture.
Our World Café:
Surrounded by traditional Hmong music and a beautiful exhibit of Hmong story cloths called “Paj Ntaub,” One Book, One Community will bring participants together at the Brown County Central Library to discuss the 2011 reading selection: The Latehomecomer- a Hmong Family Memoir.
Coming together as strangers, we will gather at tables with a discussion facilitator at each to introduce the book and explore how its ideas may influence participants, our community and the world at large. (You do not have to have read the book.)
This ‘World Café’ method creates simultaneous small conversations discussing the topic. By periodic reshuffling of the participants in each small group, the conversations become part of a web, linking the small conversations into one larger one. It is intended to foster conversation, explore different perspectives, and surface new ideas in order to generate a sense of community out of regard for each person’s perspective.
How it works:
The room is set up with small tables, each of which can seat about four to six people. On each table is a large sheet of paper and crayons or markers to record thoughts, conversations, and insights. Provide just enough tables and chairs for all expected participants.
Each table will have a table host – someone who stays at the table throughout the entire session. The table host’s job is to remind the group what questions(s) are being discussed, to help keep the conversation flowing, and to carry forward the table’s discussion from one round to another. The host should also be part of the discussion
and add his/her own perspectives. (The moderator can identify table hosts ahead and assign one per table or find a volunteer at each table once all participants are seated.) Ideally, each table would also have a resource person who has some cultural knowledge of the Hmong community or has had a similar resettlement experience as the book recalls. World Café discussions are held in multiple rounds, forming a series of conversations. When the moderator rings a bell, all participants except the table hosts randomly move to new tables, mixing up the combination of people with each round of discussion. The length of each round depends upon the total available time and the nature of the questions. Ideally the participants will return to their “home” table – the one where they started – to share what they heard throughout the rounds, to see what has been added to the notes at their home table, and to reflect on the full-room conversation.
With each round, the participants can discuss a new question that builds on the previous one or can continue on the previous conversation and topic. Participants add their own perspectives, but also those that they heard in the previous rounds at other tables, bringing along their newly gained knowledge.
Event Details:
World Café
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
6:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Pre-café reception, music and art exhibit
7:00 – 8:15 p.m.– World Café Discussion
Brown County Central Library
515 Pine Street
Downtown Green Bay
(Free parking after 6:00 p.m.)
To Participate:
Registration forms are available at the Brown County Library and will soon be on OBOC’s web site: www.browncountyreads.org.
Cost for the event is $10.00 per person and includes a beverage and light snack.
Mail checks, payable to the Friends of the Brown County Library, to:
Friends of the Brown County Library
Attn: World Café
515 Pine Street
Green Bay, WI 54301
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, September 20, 2011
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One Book, One Community is a reading initiative designed to bring all Brown County residents together by reading and discussing the same book. A coalition of agencies has launched the One Book, One Community program to engage the community in dialog and foster page-turning togetherness.
Supporting Organizations:
Brown County Library Brown County UW-Extension Butterfly Books Green Bay Area Public Schools
Justice & Peace Committee at St. Norbert Abbey Literacy Green Bay Moving Type
Northeastern WI Arts Council The Reader’s Loft UW-Green Bay Volunteer Center of Brown County
For more information regarding One Book, One Community,
contact Sue Premo at 920-436-0112.
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