LUNCH WITH BOOKS: Civic Empathy Through History: Coming to the Table with Tom DeWolf & Ron Scott

September 27, 2022
12:00pm - 1:00pm

OCPL has partnered with the Heinz History Center for a project entitled, “Civic Empathy Through History,” which brings together a network of sites throughout our region creating engaging experiences to build empathy and serve as the foundation for civic engagement by highlighting stories and artifacts that show how people have taken action to make positive impacts on their communities. Through developing the skill of empathy, visitors will be empowered to see the ways that people have historically been involved in civic action and how they can be involved in the present. OCPL’s project features an address delivered over WWVA radio on February 9, 1936, by Harry H. Jones, Wheeling’s only African American lawyer at the time. Entitled, “Wheeling’s 20th Man,” the speech outlines the injustices of “Jim Crow” segregation and asks Whites to have empathy for their Black neighbors. A related exhibit is being installed in the Library's main display area.

Tom DeWolf is an author, public speaker, trainer and workshop facilitator (https://tomdewolf.com/), and, since 2013, has served as Executive Director for Coming to the Table, a non-profit organization that provides leadership, resources, and a supportive environment for all who wish to acknowledge and heal wounds from racism that is rooted in the United States’ history (https://comingtothetable.org/). He is also a White man. Ron Scott, Jr. is Director of Cultural Diversity and Community Outreach at YWCA Wheeling, a father, an ordained Minister, a HipHop enthusiast, a Superhero junkie, and a Black man. Join Tom and Ron as they come to the table to discuss Civic Empathy, the state of race relations in Wheeling and nationally, and how to create a more connected and truthful community and world from the starting point of Jones's 1936 speech.

In addition to being in-person in the Library auditorium, this program will be available to watch live on Facebook Live, on YouTube, and on the OCPL website's LWB Livestream page.  Log into your Facebook or YouTube account during the program to leave questions for our presenters in the comments box. They will answer them during the live broadcast. 

PRESENTER BIO: Coming soon

FEATURED BOOK: Coming soon

Lunch With Books Livestream starts at noon on Facebook and YouTube.

Subscribe to the Lunch With Books Youtube channel or like us on the Lunch With Books Facebook page or to receive notifications of our upcoming LWB broadcasts. To receive emails about our upcoming programs, visit our News page, click the "Subscribe" button to sign-up for our news blasts or download our free OCPL Connect app from your smartphone's app store. 

"Lunch With Books" is the library’s flagship program for adult patrons. These lunchtime programs feature authors, poets, musicians, historians, and more every Tuesday at noon. Bring lunch (to the Library Auditorium or your computer), feed your brain!