Join us in building community together—Now in our second year.

Come be a part of something truly special: A monthly gathering to explore race, faith, identity, and community through books and readings selected by the group itself.

Facilitated by Joyce Sharrock-Cole (Ossining Village Historian) and Abbe Marcus (Executive Director, JTC Experiences), these gatherings begin with light refreshments and informal exchange, followed by an hour of focused discussion. By meeting monthly, the intent is to build understanding, relationships, and community over time.

Schedule: We meet at Hudson Valley Books for Humanity from 7 to 8:30 PM on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. The next dates in the 2025-26 season include: Nov. 11, Dec. 9, and Jan. 20. Additional 2026 dates will be announced shortly.

Materials: Books are available for purchase (for a 10% discount off the cover price) at Hudson Valley Books for Humanity.

Cost: There is no fee to participate; we simply ask for your RSVP below for planning purposes.

At our second meeting of the season (November 11), we’ll be reading The Poet and the Silk Girl: A Memoir of Love, Imprisonment, and Protest, by Satsuki Ina. The Poet and the Silk Girl illustrates through one family's saga the generational struggle of Japanese Americans who resisted racist oppression, fought for the restoration of their rights, and clung to their full humanity in the face of adversity. From Bookshop.org

Building Bridges Through Books is sponsored by Congregation Sons of Israel, First Church of Christ, JTC Experiences, and Hudson Valley Books for Humanity.

Contact the host of Building Bridges Through Books - Nov. 11, 2025