Monroe County Community College, as a founding partner, along with several other institutions throughout Monroe County, will be hosting a number of events throughout the month of March in celebration of the annual One Book, One Community initiative.
This year's book selection, "Firekeeper's Daughter," by Angeline Boulley, explores the issues faced by Daunis Fontaine, a young Sault Ste. Marie,, MI high school senior who is caught between two worlds in many aspects of her life. She is part of two families--her father’s Ojibwe Firekeeper family and her mother’s Fontaine family of local prominence. She is restless to leave town for college, but her devotion to her grandmother pulls her back. Daunis is both an aspiring scientist and hockey player. She’s loyal, determined and daring, and her curiosity lands her in the middle of an undercover operation, which will answer personal and community questions she didn’t know to ask.
The highlight and main event of the month-long celebration with be a visit by author Boulley on Tuesday, March 18, 2024 at 7 p.m. in the Meyer Theater in the La-Z-Boy Center on the college's Main Campus, 1555 S. Raisinville Road, Monroe, MI. The author visit is free and open to the public, as are all the events associated with OBOC.
In addition to Boulley's visit, other events scheduled on the MCCC Main Campus include:
- Author visit from Sally Cole-Misch on Tuesday, March 12, 6 - 8 p.m. in the Library of the Campbell Academic Center. Cole-Misch will discuss her OBOC selected companion book, "The Best Part of Us," which immerses readers in a breathtaking natural world (set on a lake in northern Canada), a fresh perspective on loyalty, and an exquisite ode to the essential roles that family, nature and place hold in all of our lives. There will be community booths and a book signing. Registration for the talk is encouraged at the link provided on https://www.monroeccc.edu/one-book-one-community/2024/events.
- Small Things not Forgotten: Reflecting on the Past and Present with Dr. Ken Mohney, Professor of Anthropology on Monday, March 18, 1 - 2: p.m. in Room C-224, Campbell Academic Center. This presentation will discuss the role of artifacts in our understanding of the past as well as efforts to build bridges between cultures; it ends with some thoughts on Americans and pseudo-science.
- Origins of Native Americans with Dr. David Erban, University of Toledo Professor of Language and Literature on Monday, March 18, 3-4 p.m. in Room C-224 in the Campbell Academic Center. Dr. Erben will share his extensive knowledge of native culture and a world we know little about through his perspective as a Lakota Sioux Native and professor of language and literature.
- FBI Career Pathways on Wednesday, March 20, 11a.m.- 12:30 p.m. in Room L-111 in the Life Sciences Building. Courtney Smalley, FBI recruiter will facilitate this discussion including an overview of the FBI, student programming and how a criminal justice degree will prepare students for a career with the FBI.
- Best Practices in Conversations about Native American Culture on Tuesday, March 26, 1 - 2 p.m. in Room C-220 in the Campbell Academic Center. Barb Mauter, MCCC faculty specialist and tutor, will address best practices for cultural conversations, such as discussions about books like "Firekeeper's Daughter" and "The Best Part of Us" with sensitivity and nuance, and explain the land acknowledgement she helped draft.
- Criminal Justice Topics in "Firekeeper's Daughter" on Wednesday, March 27, 2 - 3 p.m. in Room C-224 in the Campbell Academic Center. Dan Wood, professor of criminal justice at MCCC, will discuss how realistically "Firekeeper's Daughter" depicts the criminal justice system in Michigan, including the roles local, state, national and tribal agencies play in the situations described in the book.
- Book Chat with MCCC Writing Fellows on Thursday, March 21, 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Atrium of the La-Z-Boy Center. Members of MCCC's Writing Fellows students will lead a discussion of "Firekeeper's Daughter" with other students, staff and the community.
Many more events and activities, including a listing of several other companion and recommended books and teacher resources, can be found at https://www.monroeccc.edu/one-book-one-community. OBOC events and activities are made possible through the generosity of donors and friends of OBOC through The Foundation at MCCC.