The annual One Book, One Community for Monroe County, Michigan will officially begin on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, during a special free Kickoff Community Celebration event from 6 - 8 p.m. in the Atrium of the La-Z-Boy Center on Monroe County Community College's main campus, 1555 S. Rasinville Rd., in Monroe.
This year's OBOC book selection is The River by Peter Heller. The River is the story of Wynn and Jack’s long-awaited canoe trip along the Maskwa River through the northern Canadian wilderness. The leisurely excursion the best friends imagined quickly turns into a desperate struggle to survive an ever-encroaching forest fire, the challenges of whitewater canoeing, and unexpected violence.
During the Kickoff event, attendees will have the opportunity wander through the venue and meet with experts on wildlife, survival, nature sports and the outdoors, all major themes of The River. There will be several mini-lectures and presentations throughout the evening as well. In addition, their will be a drawing for a free kayak from Cabela's, sponsor for the OBOC Kickoff event this year.
As a founding partner of OBOC, MCCC, along with The Foundation at MCCC, will be hosting several other events for the community throughout the month of March, including:
- Brown Bag Discussion of The River on Thursday, March 9, at 12:30 p.m. in the La-Z-Boy Center Atrium
- Author Visit and Main Event with Peter Heller on Thursday, March 16, at 7 p.m. in the Warrick Student Center Dining Room
- Wildfires and the Jetstream Presentation by Dr. Kevin Cooper, meteorologist and dean of math and sciences at MCCC, on Wednesday, March 22, at 2 p.m. in the La-Z-Boy Center in Room Z-259
- Detroit River Book Talk with John Hartig, Great Lakes Scientist and author of Waterfront Porch: Reclaiming Detroit's Waterfront as a Gathering Place for All, on Wednesday, March 29, at 2 p.m. in the Campbell Academic Center Library.
The Monroe County Library System, also a founding partner along with The Monroe News, also will be hosting several events including several book discussions and movie presentations.
Two special partners for this year's OBOC are The Nature Conservancy of Michigan and The Toledo Museum of Art. The Nature Conservancy is sponsoring a guided walk of the Erie Marsh Preserve on Thursday, March 16 and a birdwatching presentation on Wednesday, March 15. The museum will host a Pen to Pallette Tour on Sunday, March 19.
All of these events are free and open to the public (exception is $10 parking fee for TMA event) and are made possible by donations to One Book One Community, The Foundation at MCCC and community events such as the Virtual Read - Walk- Run Event throughout the month of March and the very successful Celebrity Trivia Night recently held at Buffalo Wild Wings.
More information about all the OBOC events can be found at www.monroeccc.edu/one-book-one-community/2023 and select Events, or on Facebook on the One Book One Community, Monroe, MI page.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION AT MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Foundation at Monroe County Community College is the charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the educational and cultural experience of our students and community.
The Foundation at MCCC leverages voluntary support from donors to enhance the educational, literary, scientific, and cultural experience by helping Monroe County Community College meet its mission. The Foundation at MCCC touches thousands of lives each year through cultural arts programs, scholarships, and educational initiatives that guide and shape the business and civic leaders of tomorrow. Just as important, The Foundation offers a means for individuals of all ages and walks of life to express their philanthropy, act on their concerns, and follow the dictates of their hearts.
For more information about The Foundation at MCCC visit www.monroeccc.edu/foundation.
ABOUT MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE:
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition.
The college’s mission is to enrich and transform lives by providing opportunities and excellence in higher education. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located at 7777 Lewis Ave.,Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu.