Following the 2013 fatal shooting of a 13-year old by a sheriff’s deputy, the existing tension in Sonoma County due to issues of race, privilege and class came to a head. This, along with local and national issues, led to a constant simmer of anxiety and fear, without avenues to discuss, learn and heal in a peaceful, safe space. The library met this need by offering a space for those of all political affiliations, opinions, race, gender, class, sexual orientation, etc. to join the library in a safe place.

The primary scope of this project included the creation of community spaces for dialogue and reflection in each our branches; a curriculum of materials on topics of discussion with a wide range of perspectives; purchase of circulating materials to support the topics; and a series of events and discussions with community partners. The library reached out to community organizations to invite them to participate in our community conversation events and to elicit their help in compiling curricula and resources.

Our community was hungry to talk about difficult issues in a safe environment. People expressed differing opinions on hot-button topics and felt respected and heard, even if they did not agree with others. We had an average of 30 attendees at each community conversation event, and we established the library’s role as a safe space for courageous conversations. Fifty-eight percent of surveyed attendees reported an increase in knowledge about the topics.