PACEs Connection is thrilled to share that our first-ever Connecting Communities One Book at a Time initiative involved thousands of people; scores of book studies! The PACEs Connection's Connecting Communities One Book at a Time initiative helps people bring their community together around books that help us have critical conversations about trauma, racism, inequity, protective factors, positive childhood experiences, and the role community plays in preventing and healing trauma and creating resiliency.
Our first book was What Happened to You? by Bruce D. Perry, MD PhD, and Oprah Winfrey. We’re excited to report that a total of 4,454 people registered for at least one of the six What Happened to You? book study events, and 136 people signed up to lead book studies in their communities.
We want to extend our gratitude to our wonderful partners in this effort: Children’s Trust Fund Alliance (CTF Alliance) and Georgia Essentials for Childhood, which is coordinated by Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and the Georgia Children's Trust Fund.
Together with our partners, we hosted six book study events:
- Meet the Author: a discussion of historical trauma in America with Bruce Perry, PACEs Connection CEO Ingrid Cockhren, and director of communities Mathew Portell on June 28
- Lead Your Own What Happened to You? Book Study on July 13
- Book Study Leader Training by Children’s Trust Fund Alliance on July 27
- Book Study Leader Check-In with Children’s Trust Fund Alliance on Aug. 10
- Moving Families from Surviving to Thriving: Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework Overview by Children’s Trust Fund Alliance on Aug. 30
- Book Study Leader Check-In with Children’s Trust Fund Alliance on Sept. 20
As we wrap up our efforts, we want to share some next steps:
1. If you hosted a book study, please tell us about it in our What Happened to You? Book Study Evaluation.
2. It's not too late to host a What Happened to You? book study in your community! You can still learn from all of the recordings and resources below and register to lead your own book study!
Past What Happened to You? events
- Meet the Author event recording: On June 28, PACEs Connection CEO Ingrid Cockhren, director of communities Mathew Portell, and Dr. Bruce Perry, co-author of What Happened to You?, met to discuss historical trauma and What Happened to You?
- How to be a PACEs Connection Connecting Communities Book Study Leader for “What Happened to You?”: On July 13, we heard from experienced book study leaders and participants from Georgia Reads and the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance as they shared how to lead a community reading initiative as well as how to use their study resources, supports, lessons learned, and the free study guides!
What Happened to You? book study guides and resources
- What Happened to You? Book Club Guide for Parents from Children's Trust Fund Alliance
- Discussion and Resource Guide (national version) from Georgia Reads
- What Happened to You? Book Study Guide for educators and coaches
- 10 Things to Consider When Planning a Book Study of What Happened to You?
- NEW Facilitator’s Travel Guide to Help You Lead Your Own Book Club from Children’s Trust Fund Alliance
- Register for the next Children’s Trust Fund Alliance Book Club Check-In at 2pm ET on December 8, 2022.
3. Join us for our next book study in the Connecting Communities One Book at a Time initiative!
Our next book is Girls on the Brink: Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Social Media by Donna Jackson Nakazawa. Jackson Nakazawa will join PACEs Connection for our second Connecting Communities One Book at a Time book study webinar to discuss the book, why she wrote, it, and why it is so vitally important. The webinar is on October 12, 3-4:30 p.m. ET.
Register for the free webinar here, now!
You can also learn more about the book and why we chose it. Please share the attached flier widely!
If you are already involved in our book study initiative, we look forward to seeing you at our next event on October 12! If you are not, we invite you to join us as we work to Connect Communities One Book at a Time!
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