This fall, we’re hosting a series funded by the  Avon Greater Together Community Fund, in collaboration with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and Avon Friends for Equity. The Friends of the Avon Library are sponsoring the 9/27 film screening event.

This post will be updated as details are confirmed. All events are free to attend, and will be held in-person at the Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd., Avon, CT 06001, unless indicated as a virtual event.

Poverty: lecture and discussion with Dr. Beth Merenstein

Join us for a lecture and discussion featuring Matthew Desmond’s book, Poverty.  This event will be led by Dr. Beth Merenstein, with audience questions moderated by Carrie Firestone.  Copies of Poverty are available at the reference desk on the first floor of the Avon Library. Please read before this event!

About Poverty, by America: In this landmark book, acclaimed sociologist Matthew Desmond educates us as to why poverty exists in America, how it touches all of us, and that there are ways to help eradicate poverty and create equity, starting with understanding the current crisis. 39% of Connecticut residents struggle to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Many in town might not realize that, in Avon alone, roughly 5% or 1,000 residents live below the poverty level. This series draws on history, research, and original reporting to show that the more we understand the reasons behind these numbers, the more able we are to change the old model that keeps poor people poor. Join us for these programs to unpack the ideas in this book and become more informed as a town to do something about this. More details and register here. 

Film Screening & Panel Discussion of Fighting for Home

Saturday, September 28, 1:00 pm.

Join us for a screening of Fighting for Home: How Housing Policy Keeps Connecticut Segregated, followed by a panel discussion.  This program is a bonus program in our Poverty: a community conversation series.  The legacy of exclusionary zoning and redlining imposed a painful divide we see today in our state’s current housing crisis. Our towns and cities are segregated by race and class because of systemic barriers that have persisted over time. Witness the struggle and determination of those fighting for change.  Running time, 57 m, 36s.  Panel discussion members are:

Sabrina Buckwalter, Connecticut Public, Story Producer, Fighting for Home; Dan Polhamus, Chairman, Avon Town Council; Sean Ghio, Policy Director, Partnership for Strong Communities; Amy Arlin, Avon resident; Sarah White, Staff Attorney, CT Fair Housing. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Avon Library.  More details and register here

The Economics of Wealth Inequality in Connecticut (virtual event)

Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 6:30 via Zoom.

Join us for a panel discussion on the Economics of Wealth Inequality in Connecticut, moderated by Tina Panik. Our panelists include Janée Woods Weber, Executive Director of She Leads Justice, and Keith Phaneuf, Budget Reporter for the CT Mirror.

More details and register here. Zoom links go out the day before the event.

Housing in Connecticut: a panel discussion

Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 6:30 pm

Join us for a panel discussion of Housing in Connecticut, moderated by Avon resident Carrie Firestone. Our panelists include:

Peter Harrison of Desegregate CT, Ginny Monk of CT Mirror, and CT State Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw. 

More details and register here.

 

Plus one more panel discussion that we’re still designing!