Shared Reading

2023-24 Book Selection

Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen

"Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen" cover

Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, called “the most famous undocumented immigrant in America,” tackles one of the defining issues of our time in this explosive and deeply personal call to arms.

Citation:

 Vargas, Jose Antonio. Dear America : Notes of an Undocumented Citizen. HarperCollins Publishers, 2018.

Shared Reading Events

"Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen": A Candid Conversation on Immigration

  • Date:  Friday, April 12, 2024 
  • Time: 9:30 am coffee & pastries, 10:00 am discussion
  • Location : Parkway Ballroom, 420 Plemmons Student Union 

Join us for a candid conversation on the immigrant experience, moderated by Carrie Afanador, Site Director of Immigrant Connection in the High Country. Rather than a traditional book discussion, the book will be the inspiration for sharing personal experiences as an immigrant to the United States, from the viewpoint of our panelists. Attendees will listen in on a real-time conversation about immigration, by immigrants and will gain insights to inform their own understanding on this important issue.

Moderator: Carrie Afanador, Site Director & Department of Justice Accredited Representative, Immigrant Connection of the High Country

 Panelists:

  • Yolanda Adams, Assistant Director for Student Leadership & Family Outreach, Appalachian State University 
  • Sonia de Dardon, Former Executive Director of Social Benefits, Guatemalan Institute of Social Security 
  • Rubi Escobar Jaramillo, Farmworker Health Coordinator, High Country Community Health

Book Access

Walker College of Business faculty, staff and students can sign up to receive a free copy of the book. Sign up by February 10.

The Shared Reading Initiative

The Walker College of Business Shared Reading Initiative brings students, faculty and staff together to read and discuss a work on social and/or environmental justice. Ideally, the selected work will broaden student perspectives, open up important conversations and highlight ways business can help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The shared reading book is selected by the office of Global and Civic Engagement, with input from the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Liaisons and/or the Sustainability Steering Committee.

Structure

Faculty and staff read the selected book over the summer. Faculty are encouraged to incorporate the book into their courses for the following academic year. The following academic year, business students read the selected book and attend a book discussion, either as part of their academic courses or as an optional personal enrichment activity.

Questions?

Interested but want to find out more? Contact Meredith Church Pipes at churchmm@appstate.edu.