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!

Series sponsored by the Friends of the Avon Library. All events are in-person. Programs are free except for the grand finale, which is a ticketed fundraiser for the Friends of the Avon Library. Escape the politics series flyer

October 8, 2024, 2pm: Live Country Music performed by Jim Moore.

Jim is from the Northwest Corner of CT and has been performing in the New England area for the past five years. Early musical influences were Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson. Register here

October 15, 2024, 1pm: Paint and Sip Program

Create a fall scene using tabletop easels and acrylic paint. All supplies will be provided. Enjoy mocktails while painting! No experience necessary; this program is for adults ages 18+. Limited to 12 people. THIS EVENT IS FULL WITH A WAIT LIST.

October 22, 2024, 1pm: The Basics of Chocolate Making

If you simply love chocolate and cooking or would like to learn to make some elegant desserts and chocolates, come to this lecture/demonstration, which will include some basic information about chocolate, the various types, and how to work with it, plus samples and recipes. Limited to 30 people. Register here

October 22, 2024, 6:30 pm: Marilyn Simon Rothstein Book Launch:

Who Loves You Best? Marilyn will be joined in conversation with NYT bestselling author of twenty-five page turners, Kristan Higgins (Look on the Bright Side, A Little Ray of Sunshine) and Amazon bestselling author of comedy-infused women’s fiction Maddie Dawson, (Let’s Pretend This Will Work, The Magic of Found Objects). Laughter guaranteed! Books will be for sale at this event. Register here

October 29, 2024, 2pm: Victorian Gossip Girl (dramatic performance)

Join us for a dramatic presentation by Judith Kalora of History at Play! She’ll portray Annie Adams Fields, sharing stories of her friends: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Register here.

GRAND FINALE! November 5, 2024, 6:30 pm:

The Author’s Guide to Murder: Ticketed Event/Friends Fundraiser

Spend election night with us! Be among the first to enjoy meeting authors Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White, as we host an event to celebrate the release of their new book, The Author’s Guide to Murder. This event has an admission of $30 and includes a copy of the book. Get your ticket here