Transforming Health Partners Promote Belonging with a Summer Read Selection | Compendium

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News for Pennsyslvania Libraries

Transforming Health Partners Promote Belonging with a Summer Read Selection

by | Jul 9, 2021 | Academic Libraries, Health Focus, PA Forward, Resources of Interest, Rural and Small Libraries

This is the book cover

July 6, 2021

Transforming Health’s “Here With You” Campaign Features “You Belong: A Call for Connection” as A Summer Read

[HARRISBURG, PA] – Transforming Health, a WITF initiative in partnership with Capital Blue Cross and WellSpan Health, announced the selection of the 2021 A Summer Read, You Belong: A Call for Connection, by Sebene Selassie.

Photo of Sebene Selassie

Sebene Selassie

Called “a powerful work of spirituality and anti-racism” by Publisher’s Weekly, Selassie’s debut asserts that the key to facing the many challenges impacting our world is to accept that we “belong in every moment, to everything, and then, like or not,” to everyone.

This year’s A Summer Read selection is an extension of “Here With You,” a special Transforming Health campaign to promote physical and mental resiliency during these challenging times.

A Summer Read is a unique community partnership of WITF’s Transforming Health, Central PA library systems, WellSpan Health and Capital Blue Cross. Together, they’ve made 633 hard copies and 67 digital copies of the book available to more than 80 participating libraries throughout nine counties. Many libraries are coordinating programs and discussion groups around “You Belong.”

“We’ve been socially distant for so long, it can be challenging to start or rekindle relationships, to feel a part of the community,” said Cara Williams Fry, WITF’s senior vice president and chief content officer. “We are seeking a path to building connections lost, or never begun, because of isolation, partisanship or systemic racism. WITF and Transforming Health are honored to share this inspiring and practical book that offers a map back to belonging.”This is the book cover

A Summer Read culminates with a special event, “A Summer Read: Beyond the Pages,” with Selassie in October.

“I wrote a book all about how each of us belongs everywhere because, for so long, I didn’t feel I belonged anywhere,” Selassie said. “Over time (and with a lot of practice, including mindfulness), I learned to acknowledge my uniqueness while embracing the truth of my belonging to everyone and
everything. My hope is that this book gives people perspective and practices to explore this central
paradox: We are not separate, yet, we are not the same.”

Participants are encouraged to check out the book from their local library and join discussion groups. “We’re thrilled to include ’You Belong’ as a PA Forward Health Literacy initiative,” said Karen Hostetter, Red Land Community Library manager and library liaison for A Summer Read. “This book will help our readers make informed decisions about their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.”

Participants will be eligible to win one of 30 copies of the book and a VIP invitation to attend a special, private signing with the author and the opportunity to hear her speak on Oct. 11.

To be eligible to win a signed copy, complete a survey online or at a participating library by Sept. 30.
Participating library systems include:

For details about A Summer Read, go to TransformingHealth.org.