2021 Photo Gallery
Albion's Big Read has events scheduled throughout the entire month of October. Whether you miss an event or just want to get fired up, check out our photo galleries below. Galleries are separated by event and are categorized by date, starting with the most recent. The earlier events, like the Big Read Summer Leadership Program, are toward the bottom of the page. Click a photo to make it larger and use the arrows on your keyboard to scroll through them.
ALBION’S 2021 BIG READ KEYNOTE ADDRESS AND CELEBRATION!
October25, 2021
Ashley C. Ford, award-winning novelist, podcaster and educator, helped us close out Albion’s seventh Big Read with a big CELEBRATION! Like the Renée Watson, author of this year Big Read Book, Ms. Ford doesn’t shy away from hard topics like race and body image in her writing. Since our Big Read Leaders lead community discussions on very similar topics, Ms. Ford was the perfect Keynote address for this year’s Big Read Celebration.
Ms. Ford spoke about how important it is to embrace who you are and love all your weird quirks because those are the things that make you unique and special. She told stories of how she found her way into her current line of work by just following her love for writing. She encourage our leaders to continue to pursue and do what they love because it is very possible that the things they will go on to do in adulthood have not been invented yet. She never thought podcasting would be something that she does when she was younger because it didn’t exist at the time. Thank you, Ashley C. Ford, for seeing the power in young people and thank you, Albion, for a powerful and memorable 2021 Big Read!
Youth-Led Discussion #4
October 19, 2021
Big Read Leaders Timothy, Stephanie, Azaria, Kaitlyn, Na’Sier, Nasir, Trinity and LayLay lead a discussion on respect and apologizing. Thank you to the Albion Brach of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Youth-Led Discussion #3
October 17, 2021
Big Read Leaders Ashtyn, Nasir, Azaria, Ana and LayLay lead a discussion on racism, loyalty and respect. Thank you to Association for American University Women for being such wonderful hosts.
Collaging
October 16, 2021
Piecing Me Together is a book that covers a variety of artistic expression. One of the art forms highlighted in the book is collaging. Jade taught us how to take unwanted scraps and turn them into something beautiful. The Albion Community got the chance to express their creative side through the art of collaging. Thank you to So What Foundation and Welcome Home Organization for hosting the Collaging Event.
Youth-led Discussion #2
October 16, 2021
Big Read Leaders Trinity, Xavier, Kaitlyn, and Téa lead a discussion on violence, racism, and school. Thank you to Albion’s Sister City Committee for being such wonderful hosts.
Black to School
October 14, 2021
Black to School is a joyful celebration to honor Albion’s Black educators of the past and the present. Today we discuss the importance of representation and diversity in our classrooms. Keena Williams gave a beautiful summary of her journey into Education and how it is the place and space that allows her to make a difference. Mae Ola Dunklin inspired and gave hope to the generations following her legacy. Young Educators participated in a panel discussion to share how black educators have impacted their lives and how they hope to impact the lives of others. There was laughing, singing, and joy all around.
Youth-Lead Book Discussion #1
October 9, 2021
Big Read Leaders Darcarius, Na’Sier, Ann, and Elis’Ze lead the first our four discussions about Piecing Me Together focusing primarily on the topics of family and challenges. A big thank you to our amazing hosts, the Psi Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.
Word Up: Open Mic Night
October 9, 2021
Big Read partnered with Word Up at the Bohm to host an amazing open mic night. The event started with a reading of Renée Watson’s poem “Black Girl Rising” and was followed up by performances from Albion College’s Poetry Club. Thank you to all the amazing poets sharing their stories and inspiring everyone who listened.
The Kick-off Parade and Celebration
October 2, 2021
Thank you to everyone who came out to the historic Holland Park/West Ward to celebrate the beginning of Albion's SEVENTH Big Read! The celebration started with a parade and continued all afternoon with circus performers, face painting, community art, live music, student and local organizations, and local food vendors. It was a beautiful day of celebrating with friends, families, and neighbors.
BIG READ Collage Project
In an effort to embrace this year’s book, Renée Watson’s Piecing Me Together, the Big Read leader tried a new form of art. Collaging was introduced by this year’s book and the Big Read leaders did not hesitate to give it a try. The photos below document the creativity of our leaders in trying something new.
BIG READ Art Project
The Big Read Leaders worked alongside Michael Dixon to create a beautiful work of art honoring Renée Watson and member of the Albion Community. The photos below document the Big Read Family creating masterpieces.
BIG READ SUMMER LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP
AUGUST 9-13, 2021
During the week-long August workshop, we worked and played. We played games, ate donuts off of strings, and built "initiating exercises" that call out shared experiences in a group. We read, discussed, got confused, asked questions, stepped out of our comfort zone, and became friends. It is true that we gained tools that would help Leaders facilitate book discussions in October, but we also built a community that many of our Leaders would call their "Big Read Family." The photos below document the hard work and real joy of community building that the Big Read aims to create.
BIG READ SUMMER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
JUNE-JULY 2021
Albion's Big Read begins long before October. During the summer, we gathered our student Leaders and college volunteers once a week for six weeks to discuss Renée Watson’s Piecing Me Together. Leaders played games as a way of getting to know one another and participated in exercises that increased their understanding of the novel
