Books to Prisoners Program

Hello all,
I am delighted and proud to announce that The Brooklyn Society For Ethical Culture now has a Books to Prisoners program.  On Friday July 26th We mailed twelve cartons of books to the Montogmery State Prison in Mount Vernon, GA. I have spent the last year gathering these books from the neighborhood and used book stores and even Barnes & Noble when they had a sale on dictionaries. At an average of 20 books—hardcovers and paperbacks—per carton for a total of about 240 books. Mostly fiction.

To me this is at the heart of our Mission which I have always felt was grounded in education. I have a list of prison libraries that I am going to send to in the coming months. The biggest cost is the postage. This was about $20.00 per carton at the USPS. I have pledged $1,200.00 for the coming year to fund this program. After speaking to and emailing to the librarians at these prisons I can see there is great need. Prison libraries are underfunded if they are funded at all. Its donations or nothing.
I am happily and gratefully accepting donations of books and money for postage.
Some guidelines:

Nothing spiral bound, or containing nudity or instructions on making your own weapons etc. Nothing too worn or old or written in or on.
What is needed most: Dictionaries, thesauruses, mysteries and thrillers, science fiction. Anything by or about people of color. Spanish language.
At the moment we do not have a collection point at BSEC so you will have to contact me and bring the books to my house. Contact me at [email protected].
PS another great organization I have worked with if you want to give books to individual prisoners who write for specific titles is: https://booksthroughbarsnyc.org/ 

Best,
Vincent Downing

The Art of Dying with a monthly Death Discussion Group

What might we plan, hope, dream, imagine as we consider our mortality?

The Ethical Living Committee at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture is championing a series for shared discussion and contemplation on death and dying.
All topics welcome. There are no taboos.

Shatzi Weisberger and others will begin each evening with a facilitated activity. Each gathering will be followed by a Death Cafe for open and intimate conversations.
3rd Thursday of every month at 6:30pm

Click here to reserve your spot

 

 

Our Members News – Poetry in the Garden

Join some of our members at the Prospect Heights Community Farm for a series of Poetry performances and readings in the garden.
When: Saturday, August 24th | 5:00-7:00 pm
Where: Prospect Heights Community Farm, 252 Saint Marks Avenue (btwn Underhill + Vanderbilt Avenues)
Featuring Ann Author, Kim Brandon, Robert Gibbons, Jacqueline Johnson, and more.
+ 30 minutes of open mic. Refreshment Available. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Social Justice Books Recommendation

Learning to become more anti-racist involves many things.  In our racial justice book group we learn from reading books by and about oppressed people as well as speaking about our experiences of racism, otherness, intersectionality, or awareness of how our society reproduces systemic oppression.  We are a diverse group and all are welcome.

The Racial Justice Book Group meets at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture on the last Monday night of the month from 6;00 – 8;00 pm.
The books we have read from July, 2017 to July, 2019:
1. “Americanah” by Adichie
2. “The Hate You Give”, by Angie Thomas
3.  “The Ways Of White Folks”, by Langston Hughes
4.  “Between The World and Me”, by Ta-Nahisi Coates
5.  “Family”, by J.C. Cooper
6.  “The Color of Water”, by James McBride
7.  “Going To Meet The Man”, by James Baldwin
8.  “Stamped From The Beginning”, by Ibram X. Kendi
9.  “Just Mercy”, by Brian Stevenson
10. “My Life, My Love, My Legacy”, by Coretta Scott King
11. “Brother, I’m Dying”, by Edwidge Danticat
12. “We Were Eight Years In Power”, by Ta-Nahisi Coates
13. “If Beal Street Could Talk”, by James Baldwin
14. “How To Be Less Stupid About Race”, by Crystal Fleming
15. “Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet”, by Jamie Ford
16. “My Forbidden Face”, by Latifa
17. “White Fragility”, by Robin DiAngelo