2019 Archive

The 2019 One Book, One Community program featured "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" by Matthew Desmond. 

"Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" by Matthew Desmond

Desmond’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book transports readers to the poorest neighborhoods in Milwaukee to tell the heartbreaking, real-life stories of eight families struggling to keep a roof over their heads. By living among these families in 2008 and 2009, Desmond is able to provide readers with a ground-level view of one of 21st-century America’s most devastating problems and shine a probing light on the human cost of America’s immense inequality. 

Desmond’s book has garnered countless accolades, including being the winner of: the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Excellence in Nonfiction. The book was also a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times Book Review, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker and many more.

More information on the book can be found at http://evictedbook.com/.

2019 Calendar of Events

A series of community and campus events will take place throughout the fall of 2019. New events will be added, so check back often. All events are FREE and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

Signature Events

 

A Community Conversation with Matthew Desmond
Sunday, Aug. 25; 6:30 p.m.
East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road
Community members are invited to attend this special community event featuring author Matthew Desmond. Doors will open at 5:45 p.m. and seating will be on a first come, first serve basis. A book signing will follow the program. Submit a question for the author here. For those unable to attend the event, a playback of the livestream has been provided by MSU Alumni. The password is oboc2019. 

MSU Fall Convocation featuring Matthew Desmond
Monday, Aug. 26; 9 a.m.
Jack Breslin Student Events Center, 534 Birch Road
Author Matthew Desmond will address MSU's incoming class at the MSU Fall Convocation. This event is open to the general public. 

Student Q&A with Matthew Desmond
Monday, Aug. 26; 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center at MSU (Auditorium), 219 S. Harrison Road

Author Matthew Desmond will answer pre-submitted questions from students. A submission form for questions will be posted soon! This event is open to all MSU students. Submit a question for the author here.

Other OBOC Events 


Books on Tap Book Club featuring "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City"
Tuesday, Aug. 13; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Jimmy's Pub, 16830 Chandler Road

The East Lansing Public Library's Books on Tap Book Club will be discussing "Evicted" up at Jimmy's Pub. The Book Club combines books, food, drinks and good conversation together in a laid-back atmosphere. Anyone is welcome to join the conversation!

OBOC Writing Workshops with MSU Professor Anita Skeen
Sept. 3, 10, 17; 4-6 p.m. or 7-9 p.m.
East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road

Community members are invited to participate in one of two writing workshops taught by MSU Residential College in the Arts and Humanities Professor Anita Skeen. The workshops are free, but registration is required. Registration opens Aug. 1 at www.elpl.org

Movie & Presentation
Thursday, Sept. 5; 6:30-9 p.m.
East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road
Community members are invited to watch "The Public" (PG-13) at the library. Before the movie, ELPL Director Kristin Shelley will share current information on the intersection of public libraries and housing insecurity.

Home and Hope Writing Workshop with Lansing-Area Poet Laureate Laura Apol
Saturday, Sept. 21; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Allen Neighborhood Center, 1611 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing

In this day-long writing workshop tailored for women who have experienced housing insecurity, participants will think about Home and Hope. All ages and writing abilities are welcome and light snacks and lunch will be provided. Registration is required and space is limited. To encourage additional access to these meaningful programs, please do not register for both Anita Skeen's workshop and Laura Apol's workshop.

Community Conversations: Evicted
Monday, Sept. 23; 6-7:30 p.m.
MSU Main Library, Green Room (4 West)
Matthew Desmond’s Pulitzer-Prize winning book is a powerful account of the challenges faced by eight Milwaukee families in their struggle to maintain a roof over their heads. What is the meaning of home? What are the root causes of displacement? How does structural racism shape economic inequality? Join MSU Citizen Scholars, students, faculty, staff and the broader community for a discussion of the key themes of "Evicted," and how they resonate with conditions across the nation and in the local region.

OBOC Writing Workshops - Participant Reading
Tuesday, Sept. 24; 7-9 p.m.
(SCENE) Metrospace, 110 Charles St. 
Community members are invited to (SCENE) Metrospace to hear participants of the OBOC Writing Workshops read excerpts from their work. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Movie & Panel Discussion 
Thursday, Sept. 26; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road
Community members are invited to watch "Class Divide," an HBO documentary (TV-PG) at the library from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The movie will be followed by a panel discussion from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

OBOC Donation Drive


As a part of the 2019 OBOC program, a donation drive benefiting local community service agencies will be hosted Aug. 12-Sept. 30. Learn more.

Community Resources

Do you want to learn more about housing resources in your community? Do you want to get involved in addressing issues of housing insecurity? Check out these community resources (in alphabetical order).

Do you know of a community resource that isn’t listed above? Let us know! Email us at onebook@msu.edu.