Fitz Center for Leadership in Community
The NEA Big Read in Dayton
The Fitz Center for Leadership in Community at the University of Dayton and the Dayton Metro Library, in partnership with the Daybreak Dayton, the African American Visual Artists Guild (AAVAG), the Paul Laurence Dunbar House, Scripted in Black, YWCA, Gem City Market and more, has been selected to receive a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant for 2024-25.
Join us for our 2024 NEA Big Read Kick-Off celebration and year-long programming celebrating Yaa Gyasi’s "Homegoing." This epic historical novel follows the paths of two Ghanaian half-sisters and their descendants, spanning generations and continents and explores the lasting effects of slavery and colonialism on individual lives and family legacies. Our year-long Big Read event series centers around the theme of ‘Where We Live’ and invites audiences of all ages to engage with and reflect upon “Homegoing’s” dialogue on memory and legacy, power and privilege, and freedom and captivity.
The goals of the NEA Big Read are "to inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community." We anticipate reaching hundreds in our Dayton community through this program. We are planning three-to-five events per month from September 2024 through May 2025, including several community-wide book reads and creative work, such as creative writing workshops, art exhibitions, a poetry contest, a public reading poetry showcase and a public lecture panel.
Meet us in the Forum at Dayton Metro Library (215 E. Third Street, Dayton) at 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18 for our BIG READ Kick-Off Celebration and enjoy an engaging dialogue about “Homegoing” with Dr. ShaDawn Battle and a cultural food experience presented by London Coe of Peace on Fifth. Don’t miss this opportunity to grab your complimentary copy of the book, mingle with our community members and partners, and be a part of an evening of community, literature, and fellowship.
Please continue to monitor this space for updated event and activity information as we plan our exciting year-long BIG READ programming for the Dayton community.
To learn more about the NEA Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, visit the website.
Big Read Events and Program Activities
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing” Book Club
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Community Room, New Lebanon Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 715 W. Main Street,
New Lebanon
Join the New Lebanon Branch book club for an engaging discussion about our NEA Big Read chosen book: Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing.”
Friday, Sept. 6-Friday, Dec. 6, 2024
Willis Bing Davis Art Exhibition, "On the Shoulders of Ancestors: Ceremony and Ritual"
Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
1401 S. Main Street, Dayton
The Public Humanities and Arts Program in the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, in collaboration with The Dayton Foundation and the Dayton Development Coalition, is proud to host and celebrate recent works by Willis Bing Davis. Willis Bing Davis is an internationally recognized artist, educator, and community activist. This exhibit showcases the significance of his life’s work to the Dayton, African American, and artistic communities.
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
Creative Writing Workshop Presented by The Human Race Theatre Company
6-7 p.m.
Community Room, Main Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton
Join us for an exciting creative writing workshop presented by Tiffany Countryman of The Human Race Theatre Company.
Date TBD - Book Discussion hosted by YMCA’s Revolutionary Reads Book Club
Please check back for more information.
Friday, Sept. 6-Friday, Dec. 6, 2024
Willis Bing Davis Art Exhibition, "On the Shoulders of Ancestors: Ceremony and Ritual"
Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
1401 S. Main Street, Dayton
The Public Humanities and Arts Program in the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, in collaboration with The Dayton Foundation and the Dayton Development Coalition, is proud to host and celebrate recent works by Willis Bing Davis. Willis Bing Davis is an internationally recognized artist, educator, and community activist. This exhibit showcases the significance of his life’s work to the Dayton, African American, and artistic communities.
Date TBD - Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing” Book Discussion Hosted by the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community
Time TBD
Multipurpose Room, Fitz Center For Leadership in Community, University of Dayton,
1401 S. Main Street, Dayton
Please check back for more information.
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024
Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing” Book Club
6-7 p.m.
Community Room, Trotwood Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 855 E. Main Street, Trotwood
Join the Trotwood Branch book club for an engaging discussion about our NEA Big Read chosen book: Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing.”
Date TBD - Dramatic Reading Hosted by Daybreak Dayton
Please check back for more information.
Friday, Sept. 6-Friday, Dec. 6, 2024
Willis Bing Davis Art Exhibition, "On the Shoulders of Ancestors: Ceremony and Ritual"
Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
1401 S. Main Street, Dayton
The Public Humanities and Arts Program in the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, in collaboration with The Dayton Foundation and the Dayton Development Coalition, is proud to host and celebrate recent works by Willis Bing Davis. Willis Bing Davis is an internationally recognized artist, educator, and community activist. This exhibit showcases the significance of his life’s work to the Dayton, African American, and artistic communities.
Monday, Jan. 13, 2025
Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing” Book Club
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Community Room, Vandalia Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 330 S. Dixie Drive, Dayton
Join the Vandalia Branch book club for an engaging discussion about our NEA Big Read chosen book: Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing.”
Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025
Creative Writing Workshop Presented by The Human Race Theatre Company
Community Room, Southeast Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 21 Watervliet Avenue, Dayton
Join us for an exciting creative writing workshop presented by Tiffany Countryman of The Human Race Theatre Company.
Date TBD - Book Discussion Hosted by Daybreak Dayton
Please check back for more information.
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025
Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing” Book Discussion Hosted by the Wright Memorial Public Library
7-8 p.m.
Wright Library’s Aberdeen Room (unless otherwise noted), 1776 Far Hills Ave., Dayton
Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025
Creative Writing Workshop Presented by The Human Race Theatre Company
6-7 p.m.
Community Room, Huber Heights Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 6243 Brandt Pike,
Huber Heights
Join us for an exciting creative writing workshop presented by Tiffany Countryman of The Human Race Theatre Company.
Date TBD - Dayton Metro Library’s Poetry Contest - Theme: “Where We Live”
Main Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton
Dayton Metro Library Poetry Contest
Please check back for more information.
Date TBD - Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing” Book Discussion Facilitated by the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center at the University of Dayton
Time TBD
Community Room, Gem City Market, 324 Salem Ave, Dayton
Please check back for more information.
Date TBD - Book Discussion Hosted by Daybreak Dayton
Please check back for more information.
Date TBD - Creative Writing Workshop Facilitated by Scriped in Black
Please check back for more information.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing” Book Club
6:30-8 p.m.
Community Room, Miami Township Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 2718 Lyons Road, Miamisburg
Join the Miami Township Branch book club for an engaging discussion about our NEA Big Read chosen book: Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing.”
March through April
African American Visual Artist Guild Traveling Art Exhibit hosted by the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community
Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
1401 S. Main Street, Dayton
African American Visual Artist Guild
Please check back for more information.
Date TBD - Dayton Metro Library’s Poetry Contest - Theme: “Where We Live”
Main Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton
Dayton Metro Library Poetry Contest
Please check back for more information.
Date TBD - Book Discussion Hosted by Daybreak Dayton
Please check back for more information.
Date TBD - Creative Writing Workshop Facilitated by Scriped in Black
Please check back for more information.
Date TBD - Dayton Metro Library’s Poetry Contest - Theme: “Where We Live”
Main Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third Street, Dayton
Dayton Metro Library Poetry Contest
The Dayton Metro Library invites the public to the 3rd Annual Poetry Showcase at the end of April 2025, featuring the winning poems and poets from the Poetry Contest. Please check back for more information.
March through April
African American Visual Artist Guild Traveling Art Exhibit hosted by the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community
Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
1401 S. Main Street, Dayton
African American Visual Artist Guild
Please check back for more information.
Date TBD - Creative Writing Workshop Presented by the African American Visual Artists Guild
Paul Laurence Dunbar House, 219 N. Paul Laurence Dunbar Street, Dayton
Please check back for more information.
Date TBD - Creative Writing Workshop Facilitated by Scriped in Black
Please check back for more information.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing” Book Club
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Community Room B, Northwest Branch, Dayton Metro Library, 2410 Philadelphia Drive, Dayton
Join the Northwest Branch book club for an engaging discussion about our NEA Big Read chosen book: Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing.”
Date TBD - Panel Discussion with ShaDawn Battle (Xavier University), Changa Freeman (African American Visual Artists Guild), Dana Graham (Scripted in Black), and Kirsten Mendoza (University of Dayton).
1401 S. Main Street, Dayton
Join us for our NEA Big Read concluding event and hear from local artists, activists, scholars, and more as they engage with and reflect upon “Homegoing’s” dialogue on memory and legacy, power and privilege, and freedom and captivity as we seek to understand better the people and history of our community of Dayton.
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