One Book, One Community - Reading "Evicted"

McIntyre Library and the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library have teamed up to host a reading program entitled "One Book, One Community." This program will feature a handful of events in which participants will read and discuss Matthew Desmond's book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Events run from Tuesday, January 31 to Saturday, February 4.

One Book, One Community is a reading program designed to encourage literacy and civic involvement by reading a single book which highlights issues relevant to our community. This collaboration is for all members of the UW-Eau Claire (students, faculty, staff) and greater Eau Claire community. 

Evicted was written by UW-Madison alumnus, Matthew Desmond. Desmond documents the increasingly frequent experience of housing instability for poor, renting families. Through the interwoven stories of eight families living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Desmond illustrates the human impacts of a shifting economic and policy landscape. The book was selected as one of The 10 Best Books of 2016 by the editors of The New York Times Book Review.

Desmond received his doctorate from UW–Madison in 2010. He is an associate professor of sociology and social studies at Harvard University and an affiliate of the Institute for Research on Poverty at UW – Madison. In 2015, he received a MacArthur “genius” grant.

For questions please contact Eric Jennings, Outreach Coordinator & Instruction Librarian (jenninge@uwec.edu; 715-836-4076).

Schedule of Events - Click to Enlarge

Tuesday, January 31: Book Discussions
12–1 p.m. • UW – Eau Claire Campus, Old Library Room 1142
6–7:30 p.m. • L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
Facilitators will lead discussions of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.

Wednesday, February 1: UW – Eau Claire Faculty Panel Discussion
4–5:30 p.m. • McIntyre Library, 2nd Floor Breezeway
UW – Eau Claire faculty will share their research for a better understanding of the topics covered in the book Evicted.

Thursday, February 2: Eviction and Poverty in the Chippewa Valley
6–7:30 p.m. • L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
Moderated panel discussion focused on how eviction and homelessness impact the Chippewa Valley.

Saturday, February 4: Housing Inspections and the Health Department
10:30 a.m.– noon • L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
Learn about Health Department programs to support safe and sanitary living conditions, how to report a complaint, and what the Health Department looks for during complaint and housing inspections.