Beyond the Ban: Read Well, Read Free

Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m.

Explore how censorship affects students and families from the classroom to the boardroom in a special banned book program presented by ONA and Racial Justice and supported by the Women’s Ministry Team. Our presenter for the program will be Dr. Dorri C. Scott. The Founder-Publisher of the Virginia WOMAN Magazine, Dr. Scott is a best-selling author, research scholar, and dedicated community servant who brings a unique blend of academic rigor, professional expertise, and personal passion to every endeavor. A tireless advocate for ending book bans, she is a podcaster, leads banned book campaigns and manages a national book club, open to all readers: “Read the Banned Book.”

Following Dr. Scott’s 30-minute conversation with the audience, there will be a coffee break, leading into a “Come as You Are” book discussion of the memoir All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson. We will learn about the process FCPS used to evaluate book challenges before talking about selected passages from the memoir. This YA book is suggested for students aged 16–18. We encourage participants to read the book in advance if possible, but it’s not necessary in order to be part of the discussion. Passages from the book will be shown on a screen so everyone can take part. The program will be held in the Little River sanctuary.