Atlanta Metro-wide Campaign Encourages Reading of Luis Alberto Urrea’s Into the Beautiful North
The Atlanta History Center – in partnership with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System – presents the Atlanta Metro campaign, The Big Read. A program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment.
The Big Read is the largest reading program in American history and a multi-faceted initiative uniting communities across the nation through great literature. This is the Atlanta History Center’s fourth time participating in The Big Read.
The Atlanta History Center selected Luis Alberto Urrea’s Into the Beautiful North for the 2014 Big Read and encourages the public to get involved by reading the book, attending free programs, and promoting the initiative in their community.
The Big Read launches on September 3, 2014, with a variety of free programs, including a ‘Taste of Mexico’ kick-off party, a keynote lecture with Luis Alberto Urrea, a StoryCorps event, dedicated discussions and lectures at various Atlanta-Fulton Public Library locations, and a film festival.
Into the Beautiful North is written by award-winning and best-selling Mexican American author, Luis Alberto Urrea. Urrea has written numerous works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In his third novel, Into the Beautiful North, Urrea transcends the “us against them” discourse of immigration and writes with compassion, complexity, and humor about the people and places caught up in the border wars. The U.S.–Mexico border is not just a line on a map; it is a dream-like destination and departure point, surrounded by desperation and expectations. Urrea invites us to think of the border as more than a stark divide between nations: he reminds us that it is a place of convergence where meaningful conversations, and even love, between cultures begins.
In conjunction, younger readers are encouraged to participate in The Little Read for pleasure and enlightenment. Tots can read along to I Love Saturdays y domingos by Alma Flor Ada. While middle school ages will surely be swept up by Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan.
Whether an avid reader or simply making up for lost time, everyone in Atlanta can take part in The Big Read. Read alone, read to another, join a book club or discussion group, and discover what happens when all of Atlanta reads the same book.
Register today at BigRead@AtlantaHistoryCenter.com to participate and receive information, updates, and program details. For more information, call 404.814.4000 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/BigRead.
Public Program Highlights:
All programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation, call 404.814.4150 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/BigRead.
Kick-Off Party – A Taste of Mexico – Wednesday September 3rd
Location: Atlanta History Center
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Join the Atlanta History Center to kick-off the 2014 Big Read with a festive celebration featuring an evening of culinary delights and the exciting sounds of Mexico.
Program staff will be on-site to register participants for the Big Read and to distribute Reader’s Guides and bookmarks.
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Coming to America: Stories from Atlanta’s Immigrant Communities – Monday September 15th
Location: Atlanta History Center
7:00 pm
Celebrate National Welcoming Week with StoryCorps Atlanta and The Big Read by listening to the stories of those who have emigrated from their home countries to the United States. Their stories span the past half century and around the world — from as far away as Poland, Vietnam, and Ethiopia; to right across the border in Mexico.
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The Big Read’s “Little Read” Storytime – Monday, September 15, 2014
Location: Ocee Library (5090 Abbots Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30005)
10:30 am
Join the Atlanta History Center and Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System at Ocee Library for a “Little Read.” This free storytime activity is designed for children ages 3-5.
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The Big Read 2014 Author Talk: Luis Alberto Urrea – Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Location: Roswell Library (115 Norcross Street, Roswell, GA 30075)
2:00 pm
The Roswell Library hosts Luis Alberto Urrea, author of the book, Into the Beautiful North. Meet the author and hear him discuss his book.
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See a full list of The Big Read events happening with Atlanta History Center here.
Atlanta History Center
130 West Paces Ferry Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: 404.814.4000
AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/BigRead
ABOUT THE BIG READ:
The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. It is the largest reading program in American history and a multi-faceted initiative uniting communities across the nation through great literature.
The Big Read answers a big need. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, a 2004 report by the National Endowment for the Arts, found that not only is literary reading in America declining rapidly among all groups, but that the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among the young. The concerned citizen in search of good news about American literary culture would study the pages of this report in vain.
The Big Read aims to address this crisis squarely and effectively. It provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. The initiative includes innovative reading programs in selected cities and towns, comprehensive resources for discussing classic literature, an ambitious national publicity campaign, and an extensive website providing comprehensive information on authors and their works.
Each community event lasts approximately one month and includes a kick-off event to launch the program locally, ideally attended by the mayor and other local luminaries; major events devoted specifically to the book (panel discussions, author readings); events using the book as a point of departure (film screenings, theatrical readings); and book discussions in diverse locations and aimed at a wide range of audiences.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER:
Founded in 1926, the Atlanta History Center is an all-inclusive, thirty-three-acre destination featuring the Atlanta History Museum, one of the nation’s largest history museums; two historic houses, the 1928 Swan House and the 1860 Smith Family Farm; the Centennial Olympic Games Museum; the Kenan Research Center; the Grand Overlook event space; Chick-Fil-A at the Coca-Cola Café, a museum shop, and 22 acres of Historic Gardens with paths and the kid-friendly Connor Brown Discovery Trail.
In addition, the History Center operates the Margaret Mitchell House located in Midtown Atlanta. For information on Atlanta History Center offerings, hours of operation and admission call 404.814.4000 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA –FULTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System serves as a cultural and intellectual center that enriches the community and empowers all residents with essential tools for lifelong learning.
The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System serves the citizens of Fulton County and the City of Atlanta (including the portion of the city in DeKalb County). It is the largest in the state, with 34 libraries and a collection of more than 2.5 million items. It offers innovative programs, services and virtual resources tailored to meet the needs of each branch’s community. Children, teens and adults may choose from a variety of classes, visit exhibitions, listen to authors discuss their work, check out videos, DVDs and CDs, attend book club discussions, get homework help, hear music and see live performances. Last year patrons borrowed more than 4.2 million items, made 4 million visits to the libraries and its website had over 4 million hits.
