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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260917T200000
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SUMMARY:Puerto Rico | American Stories: A Reading Road Trip
DESCRIPTION:.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe\, .embed-container object\, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Join PBS Books and the Library of Congress for book inspired adventure to Puerto Rico in American Stories: A Reading Road Trip. Join us on September 17th at 8 p.m. ET for the episode premiere on the PBS Books YouTube channel\, or watch on the PBS Books Facebook page\, the PBS app\, or pbs.org. Visit pbsbooks.org/readingroadtrip to learn more. \nPuerto Rico’s literary tradition is as layered and vibrant as the island itself\, shaped by centuries of history\, cultural exchange\, and a deep connection to language and place. Among its early influential voices\, Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (La Cuarterona) helped lay the foundation for Puerto Rican theater and literature\, while poet Julia de Burgos (Río Grande de Loíza) explored themes of place\, freedom\, and identity that continue to resonate today. Educator and writer Isabel Freire de Matos (Isla para los niños) introduced generations of young readers to Puerto Rican history and culture\, and playwright René Marqués (La Carreta) examined the social upheaval and migration transforming life on the island. As more Puerto Ricans made their homes beyond the island\, its literary influence traveled with them. In New York\, poet Miguel Algarín (On Call) was one of many writers shaping a growing Puerto Rican diaspora\, helping establish the Nuyorican Poets Cafe as a home for voices exploring culture\, community\, and the Puerto Rican experience stateside. \nThis literary tradition continues through writers capturing the many dimensions of Puerto Rican life today\, both on the island and beyond. Mayra Santos-Febres (Boat People) explores migration\, displacement\, and the movement of people across the Caribbean\, while poet Mara Pastor (Deuda Natal) brings a contemporary voice to questions of memory and place. Giannina Braschi (Yo-Yo Boing!) pushes the boundaries of language and form\, blending Spanish and English to capture the complexities of culture and belonging. From New York\, poet Willie Perdomo (The Crazy Bunch) draws on the rhythms\, relationships\, and experiences of Puerto Rican communities in the diaspora. Together\, these writers show how Puerto Rican literature continues to evolve across generations\, genres\, languages\, and borders. \nPuerto Rico’s literary story comes to life in the many places that preserve\, celebrate\, and share it. Across the island\, libraries\, independent bookstores\, museums\, and cultural spaces invite readers to discover generations of Puerto Rican writers and storytellers. Historic theaters\, literary landmarks\, archives\, and community gathering places reveal how deeply books\, poetry\, and storytelling are woven into the island’s cultural life. Together\, these spaces honor Puerto Rico’s rich literary heritage while creating room for new voices and new generations of readers. \nThis episode is brought to you in part by Libro.fm. Libro.fm shares profits from your audiobook purchases with your chosen bookstore\, partnering with more than 4\,000 stores around the world. \nAbout American Stories: A Reading Road Trip\nPack your curiosity —PBS Books is hitting the road! In partnership with the Library of Congress Centers for the Book\, American Stories: A Reading Road Trip shines a spotlight on individual U.S. states and select territories to uncover their one-of-a-kind literary treasures. \nFrom iconic authors and unforgettable books to hidden-gem bookstores\, amazing libraries\, and the real-life locations that inspired great works\, this cross-country adventure celebrates the stories that have shaped our shared identity. Along the way\, we’ll meet bestselling authors\, passionate booksellers\, and local storytellers —plus share highlights from local programs and events hosted by each state’s Center for the Book —revealing how their corner of America has left its mark on the nation’s imagination. Aligned with America’s 250th birthday\, each episode invites viewers to explore the heart\, history\, and creative spirit of the United States —all through the lens of books and storytelling. \nNew episodes will stream on select Thursdays at 8pm EST on the PBS Books Facebook page\, on the PBS Books YouTube channel\, pbsbooks.org\, and the PBS app. \nAbout the Library of Congress\nThe Library of Congress is the world’s largest library\, offering access to the creative record of the United States –and extensive materials from around the world –both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections\, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov. \nAbout PBS Books\nPBS Books is a multi-platform initiative celebrating the love of reading. PBS Books is dedicated to connecting books with audiences by engaging them in unique experiences to spark their curiosity and encourage a life-long love of reading and learning. Through social and digital engagement and live coverage of important literary events across the country\, PBS Books celebrates books and writers and works to foster a passion for reading among public media viewers and listeners.Visit pbsbooks.org\, subscribe to the PBS Books YouTube channel\, and follow PBS Books on social media to learn more.
URL:https://www.pbsbooks.org/event/puerto-rico-american-stories-a-reading-road-trip/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260918T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260918T200000
DTSTAMP:20260918T184035Z
CREATED:20260916T201702Z
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SUMMARY:Michigan Elections: Local control\, national scrutiny\, and public trust
DESCRIPTION:.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe\, .embed-container object\, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }Presented by the Center for Democracy & Civic Empowerment and the Ford School of Public Policy \nA bipartisan conversation on Michigan election security\, safeguards\, and public trust with the Democracy Defense Foundation. \nAs part of the University of Michigan’s Democracy Week\, join the Ford School for a bipartisan conversation with the Michigan leadership team of the Democracy Defense Foundation on election security\, public trust\, and democratic participation. \nThe discussion will feature former Michigan Governors John Engler and James J. Blanchard\, former U.S. Representative Michael D. Bishop\, and former Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry\, Jr. Their work with the Democracy Defense Foundation focuses on strengthening public understanding of the transparency\, safety\, security\, and validity of the electoral process. The conversation will explore Michigan’s history of secure elections\, the safeguards already in place to protect election outcomes\, and the role of bipartisan dialogue in defending democratic institutions. \nTimed with Constitution Day and the broader U-M Democracy Week initiative\, the event comes as Michigan prepares for the 2026 elections and as absentee voting and campus voter engagement efforts begin. Voter registration and election information resources will be available.
URL:https://www.pbsbooks.org/event/michigan-elections-local-control-national-scrutiny-and-public-trust/
CATEGORIES:Ford Policy Talks,Ford School Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260924T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260924T210000
DTSTAMP:20260902T163920Z
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SUMMARY:Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult | PBS Books Readers Club
DESCRIPTION:PBS Books Readers Club welcomes prolific author Jodi Picoult to discuss her newest novel Hollow Bones. The episode premieres on September 24th at 8PM ET as a PBS Books Facebook Live event\, on the PBS Books YouTube channel\, pbsbooks.org\, and the PBS app. \nGet the Book\nNothing Found \nShop through our Bookshop.org or Libro.fm affiliate links and a portion of your purchase helps PBS Books continue to create original content you love. \nHollow Bones follows 25-year-old Molly Fitzgerald\, the youngest director of the Rhode Island Department of Emergency Preparedness\, whose job is to imagine the unimaginable: storms\, epidemics\, plane crashes\, and other worst-case scenarios\, in order to create plans that could save lives. For Molly\, this vigilance is deeply personal. On September 11\, 2001\, when she was just two months old\, her mother went to an appointment at the World Trade Center and never came home. Raised in a loving home but shaped by that loss\, Molly has spent her life alert to the possibility of disaster. \nNow\, as an adult building a future with her husband\, Jesse\, Molly believes preparedness can offer control in an uncertain world. But when the unexpected disrupts the life they have carefully built\, she is forced to confront everything she thought she knew. \nMoving between past and present\, Hollow Bones explores the fragile line between preparation and fear\, the enduring bonds between mothers and daughters\, and the ways hidden truths can alter the course of a life. \nAs Jodi reflects\, “This [book] has\, I think\, more twists than any of my books all put together… But if you don’t leave breadcrumbs\, then you’re just really writing a sucker punch. So\, I think my job is to make sure that I’m leaving you clues so that you can go back and go\, ‘How did I miss that the first time around?’… that to me is good writing.” \nHollow Bones is Jodi Picoult’s 30th novel. A New York Times bestselling author\, Picoult is known for books including Mad Honey\, By Any Other Name\, Small Great Things\, and My Sister’s Keeper. Her work is celebrated for exploring difficult moral and ethical questions with nuance\, compassion\, and emotional depth. In this episode\, the PBS Books Readers Club will discuss Picoult’s latest novel while also looking back at her expansive career and the themes that have made her one of today’s most widely read and prolific authors. \nThis episode is brought to you in part by Libro.fm. Libro.fm shares profits from your audiobook purchases with your chosen bookstore\, partnering with more than 4\,000 stores around the world. \nPBS Watch-Alike: Generation 9/11At the dawn of the 21st century\, the September 11 attacks and their aftermath reshaped the nation and profoundly affected a generation growing up in the shadow of tragedy. Twenty years later\, this intimate film follows seven people who lost parents that day\, tracing how their lives have unfolded through personal loss\, national crisis\, and the long search for identity\, resilience\, and meaning. \nAvailable to stream now on pbs.org and the PBS App.
URL:https://www.pbsbooks.org/event/hollow-bones-by-jodi-picoult-pbs-books-readers-club/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260925T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260925T200000
DTSTAMP:20260918T174428Z
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SUMMARY:We Hold These Truths | Penny Stamps Speaker Series: Holly Bass
DESCRIPTION:Since 1776\, Americans have used major anniversaries of the nation’s founding to celebrate\, debate\, revise\, and perform the story of the United States. For We Hold These Truths\, her new exhibition opening at UMMA in October 2026\, artist Holly Bass looks to three of those anniversary years—1876\, 1976\, and 2026 to explore how national ideals are staged in public\, preserved in private\, and passed down through generations. \nIn this talk\, Bass will discuss the ideas behind We Hold These Truths\, her process of transforming UMMA’s iconic Apse into an environment\, and the role art plays in helping communities consider these varied histories. Drawing from her practice across performance\, visual art\, theater\, writing\, and engagement\, Bass will offer a preview of the exhibition and explain how historic home museums inspired this new body of work. \nBass is the 2026 Roman J. Witt Artist In Residence and an award-winning artist and cultural worker based in Washington\, DC. Her work—held in the collections of the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery—frequently engages communities through workshops\, devised theater\, and participatory installations and explores themes of American history\, generational labor\, and liberation. \nBass has been recognized with awards for multiple art forms. She received a 2024 Washington Award for art and social justice. She is a 2022 MAP Fund recipient for theater\, a 2020 Live Feed Resident Artist at New York Live Arts for choreography and dance and a 2021–22 Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow. She performed at the 2022 Venice Biennale as part of Loophole of Retreat\, Simone Leigh’s special  project for the U.S. Pavilion. She regularly contributes book reviews to the New York Times and was the first journalist to put the term “hip hop theater” into print in a 1999 article for American Theatre magazine. Bass directed an arts program for adjudicated teens in DC’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services from 2014 to 2019. From 2019 to 2025\, she served as national director of Turnaround Arts at the Kennedy Center\, a program that increases access to the arts in under-resourced elementary and middle schools. She studied modern dance under Viola Farber and creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College before earning her Master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. In fall 2026\, Bass will also be a Towsley Policymaker in Residence at the U-M Ford School of Public Policy. \nWe Hold These Truths opens at UMMA on October 3\, 2026. The exhibition and Bass’ Penny Stamps Speaker Series program  are presented in partnership with the Roman J. Witt Residency Program and the University of Michigan Museum of Art. \nAbout the University of Michigan Roman J. Witt ResidencyThe Roman J. Witt Residency Program\, developed with the support of University of Michigan alumna Penny W. Stamps and named in honor of her father\, is an annual international competition that awards one residency per academic year to a visiting artist/designer who proposes to develop a new work in collaboration with University of Michigan students and faculty. \nLead support for the exhibition is provided by the Benedek Endowment Fund for the Humanities\, the Richard and Rosann Noel Endowment\, the Greg Hodes and Heidi Hertel Hodes Partners in the Arts Endowment Fund\, the Herbert W. and Susan L. Johe Endowment Fund\, and Stamps School of Art & Design. \nPresented in partnership with the U-M Museum of Art\, with support from U.S. at 250\, U-M Ford School of Public Policy\, and the U-M Initiative for Democracy & Civic Empowerment. \nSeries presenting partners: Detroit PBS\, ALL ARTS\, and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Public.
URL:https://www.pbsbooks.org/event/we-hold-these-truths/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20261105T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20261105T200000
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SUMMARY:Barbara Kingsolver LIVE: A Virtual Book Club Event
DESCRIPTION:PBS Books welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Barbara Kingsolver for an exclusive live discussion about her brand-new novel Partita— a book she says she has been waiting her whole life to write. \nThis interactive virtual book club event will take place on November 5\, 2026\,at 8PM ET. Registration is available with a qualifying donation of $150 or more. Along with access to the virtual event\, donors will receive a copy of the book\, Partita\, and the PBS Books mug. \nGet Your Ticket + Book + Mug\nNothing Found \nPartita\, on sale October 6th\, is a deeply moving novel about art\, music\, class\, memory\, and the life-altering power of love. \nLivia Cable has made her peace with her marriage and modest livelihood in the farm country where she grew up\, until a shocking phone call from an old lover shakes her to the core. Decades earlier\, this man knew her as Livia Bohusz\, a music conservatory student estranged from her home and family\, uncertain of anything except her passion for music and her promise as an extraordinary pianist. His request\, now\, to see her again stirs up ghosts she has kept at bay for a lifetime. \nWith razor-sharp acuity\, Kingsolver’s new novel Partita reflects on class barriers\, the risks of ambition\, and the timeless\, life-changing powers of art. Told in movements that mirror a Bach partita\, the novel unfolds with the precision and emotional power of music itself: each section building on the last\, each theme returning transformed. \nKingsolver reflects\, “This novel started small. It would be about a young musician\, I thought; a little love story. But it kept expanding as I wrote\, opening and closing around itself like a set of nested boxes. Partita is a story of a brief\, passionate\, life-changing affair\, contained inside a bigger love story\, all wrapped up in what might be the greatest romance of all: our eternal human longing for art and beauty.” \nDuring this live virtual event moderated by PBS Books hosts Lauren Smith and Fred Nahhat\, we’ll explore the origins of Kingsolver’s new novel\, reflect on her remarkable career as an author\, and revisit highlights from some of her bestselling works. Audience members will also have the opportunity to interact in a lively book club chat and submit their own questions for Barbara Kingsolver. \nRegister Here
URL:https://www.pbsbooks.org/event/barbara-kingsolver-live-a-virtual-book-club-event/
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