Woodbridge organizations are invited to participate in the ad hoc Diversity & Inclusion Committee’s event, Woodbridge Like Me. The event, held on Sat. Oct. 2 from 11 am – 2 pm, is a sister event to the Woodbridge Town Library’s One Book, One Town choice, American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures, which is a selection of essays edited by the actress America Ferrera.
The event, which immediately follows the 39th annual Woodbridge Road Race, will be a celebration of all things Woodbridge and will highlight the organizations and cultural groups that make up Woodbridge civic life. Any organization based in Woodbridge or with Woodbridge ties is invited to participate by hosting a table with an activity and/or a performance. Interested organizations should contact Betsy Yagla at byagla@woodbridgect.org by Monday Sept. 20.
At the Woodbridge Like Me event the ad hoc Diversity & Inclusion Committee will ask for resident feedback. “Our charge is to identify and assess issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion of concern to Town residents and employees,” said the committee’s Vice-Chair Robert Reed. “I hope residents take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about their town and their neighbors, and to share their ideas and concerns to make Woodbridge an even better and more welcoming place for all.”
So far, participating organizations include Amity Community for Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Amity Diversity in Action, Rotary Club, Southern CT Chinese School, Woodbridge Gardens for Wildlife and Woodbridge Together will hosts informational tables. Aiping Tai Chi will do a demonstration, Butterfly Chinese Dance Troupe will perform, First Church of Christ will sell pie; Friends of the Woodbridge Library will hold a mini book sale; Garden Club of Woodbridge will host a plant sale; Tinkle Toes Dance Academy will perform; Woodbridge Ad Hoc Community Council will hold a new resident meet-up; Walk Bike Woodbridge will hold a bike safety check-up.
The Library will hold a series of programs on the book American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures. This book contains 31 stories about life between cultures, as told by actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, artists, and writers. These authors are also immigrants, children or grandchildren of immigrants, indigenous people, or people who otherwise grew up with deep and personal connections to more than one culture. Each of them struggled to establish a sense of self, find belonging, and feel seen. Ranging from the heartfelt to the hilarious, their stories shine a light on a quintessentially American experience and will appeal to anyone with a complicated relationship to family, culture, and growing up.
Copies of the book are now available at the Library reference desk. More information to come on upcoming events relating to the book.