As part of the international recognition of the Season of Nonviolence, several community organizations are joining Central Oregon Community College and Building Common Ground in hosting book conversations on Claude M. Steele’s “Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do.”
The conversations will span a period of four to six weeks beginning on the dates and times listed below. To join in this communitywide conversation, choose a group and register with the organizer of that group discussion. Books are available at local book stores, online and at public libraries.
“We hope the community will join in this powerful exploration of stereotypes and advance our understanding of how to work for social justice in our communities,” said Karen Roth, director of the COCC Multicultural program.
All Peoples United Church of Christ: Thursdays beginning Jan. 21. Group A meets 1:30 to 3 p.m. and Group B meets from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Both take place at in the Ponderosa Room, Floor 1, St. Charles Medical Center, Redmond Tower, 1253 NW Canal Blvd, (at Kingwood Avenue) in Redmond. To register, contact Gloria Olson at 541-548-6255 or gloryo76@gmail.com.
COCC Bend/OSU Cascades: Thursdays beginning Jan. 21 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Oregon Room of the Barber Library on the COCC Bend Campus. To register, contact Cat Finney at cfinney@cocc.edu or 541-383-7559.
COCC Bend Campus: Wednesdays beginning Jan. 20 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in North Oregon Room on the Bend Campus. To register, contact Ken Ruettgers at kruettgers@cocc.edu .
COCC Redmond Campus: Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 20, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Multicultural Center, Room 303, Building 3, COCC Redmond Campus. To register, contact Tina Redd at tredd@cocc.edu.
COCC Madras Campus: Mondays, beginning Jan. 25 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Madras Campus. To register, contact Gina Ricketts at rricketts@cocc.edu.
First Presbyterian Church: Mondays, beginning Jan. 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the church library at 230 NE 9th St. in Bend. To register, contact Marilyn Burwell at mburwell@riousa.com.
High Desert ESD: Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 25 at the Redmond Education Center, 2804 SW Sixth St. in Redmond. To register, contact Whitney Swand at whitney.swander@hdesd.org.
Redmond Public Library: Mondays on Feb. 1, 8 & 22 and Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. at the Redmond Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond. To register, contact Jennifer Pedersen at jenniferp@dpls.lib.or.us or 541-617-7089.
Social Justice Center: Mondays, beginning on Jan. 25 at 6 p.m., 155 NW Irving Ave, Bend. Register at cosjcenter@gmail.com or call Bruce Morris at 503-951-8409.
Trinity Peace and Social Justice Team: Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m., starting Jan. 19, at Trinity Episcopal, 469 NW Wall St., Bend. To register, contact Rick Negus at negus@bendbroadband.com or 541-382-8954.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon: Saturdays from 9 to10 a.m. beginning Jan. 16 at UUFCO, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend. To register, contact Chela Sloper at chelamae57@gmail.com.
Book Conversations Celebration: A Community United Against Racism: Monday, Feb. 29, 4 to 6 p.m., Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, Bend COCC Campus.
For information, contact Karen Roth at 541-383-7412.