Our Get to Know Our Clubs series gives you an inside look into book clubs using Bookclubz, in case you need a little inspiration. These clubs are building unique communities on our platform, so let’s admire their ingenuity and creativity.
November is a time for joyful gatherings, expressing gratitude, and notably, giving back. The “Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP): Reading Rutabagas” book club uses reading to build a community around urban farming in Buffalo, NY. Giving back for them means sustainable, accessible food, and justice for the Earth and for oppressed groups.
Enjoy learning about club creator Emily O’Bryan’s plans for MAP and their blossoming book club below!
Tell us a little about the Massachusetts Avenue Project and why you decided to start a book club.
The Massachusetts Avenue Project is a food justice nonprofit and urban farm located on the West side of Buffalo. Our mission is to nurture the growth of a diverse, accessible, and equitable local food system, promote economic opportunities, and empower youth through social change education. We have a 1.5 acre urban farm, mobile market, youth employment program, seasonal workshop classes, and a commercial kitchen. Plus, we have chickens and city bees!
I decided to start a book club as a project during my Americorps VISTA service at the MAP site. Reading is a great way to learn individually as well as connect socially. Our book club is a way to engage our stakeholders and build community. Our book topics include food systems, social justice, and environmental relationships - all themes that represent MAP’s mission.
Your organization gives back to its community through urban farming, youth education, and volunteering. How will your book club support or compliment these efforts to foster a strong community?
Our book club introduces new members to MAP and its advocacy. The club will also strengthen our current relationships with the people who have stood by MAP for years. Reading Rutabagas is a fun way to express MAP’s mission. Members who join may end up helping MAP by volunteering, donating, and/or sharing MAP’s mission to their friends. Reading Rutabagas reads about topics MAP would love people to discuss more often and be aware of. When the community cares, we all are stronger.
Since your book club is just getting started, what are your goals for the club?
A goal of mine for the Reading Rutabagas is making sure all members feel a part of the MAP family! I want to spark important conversation as well, challenging mainstream modes of thought with the group.
What subjects will be the focus of your book club? How did you choose your first book, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer?
Books by BIPOC authors are important to our club! Titles that reflect justice topics - whether that be in the areas of food, social, or the environmental are our focuses. It is important to note that these themes intersect!
We chose our first book through a four choice poll. I picked some titles I had experience with and added member-suggested ones as well. Braiding Sweetgrass was a book that really helped me through Covid - it’s very healing. Robin Wall Kimmerer was an author I also read a lot in college throughout many Indigenous and Environmental Justice courses. Her voice is both beautiful and crucial to hear. It was great to see how excited people got for this book - I think it’s a great one to kick off with!
How do you plan to host successful meetings and inspire thought-provoking discussions?
We will have tea and snacks from our farm and kitchen at our meetings! We have plenty of lovely dried herbs in storage and yummy treats like apple butter made by our talented staff members at MAP. Food and drink allows for a comforting setting! I also would love to do activities and crafts (hopefully not too lame ones!). Making sure everyone gets a chance to speak if they want to is important as well. I think it’s great to balance questions that involve personal story-sharing and questions that lean more towards thought-provoking ponderings.
Since November is the month of giving, what are your recommendations for people looking to give back in their own communities?
Support your local farmers if you are able to! Give your time by volunteering if you can, instead of getting caught up in the materialistic aspects of the season. If you are limited in your ability to give, spread the word on your favorite nonprofit’s mission. Most importantly, be kind to all beings on this lovely planet and practice gratitude. (: