CSUEB Reading Program Feb. 17-21

• January 9, 2014 11:05am

In support of this year's Week of Inclusive Excellence Feb. 17-21, the Cal State East Bay Leadership and Employee Enrichment Program is encouraging faculty and staff  to take part in the university's first LEEP/Campus Reading Program. Modeled after many successful community-wide reading programs across the nation, this program brings together students, employees and community members to read a single book of significance.

Small group discussions and related activities are planned to help readers engage in the content and dialogue with others, thereby helping us to connect across many different levels.

This year's book, and a topic that will highlight CSUEB's Week of Inclusive Excellence, is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The former No. 1 bestseller on the New York Times list -- written by Rebecca Skloot -- explores the life, death, and ethical controversy surrounding Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells were taken from her without her knowledge. Many millions of dollars were generated and important tools for medicine were created from those cells, and yet she never knew and her family didn't benefit from the discovery.

As part of this program, and with the support of the General Studies program, LEEP will provide copies of the book to any faculty, staff and community member who would like to read the book and take part in the future small group discussions. To do so, please indicate your interest by signing up online.

Book distribution will take place the week of Jan. 20.

More details, including information on related activities and group discussions, will become available in the next few weeks.

-- Barry Zepel