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RVDW October 2023 Meeting: Freedom to Read

October 27, 2023 @ 12:00 pm 1:00 pm

How to Resist Book Bans in Your Community

@ The Club Room at Hunting Hills Country Club, 5220 Hunting Hills Dr, Roanoke, VA 24018
Please RSVP to rvdemocraticwomen@gmail.com
and arrive by 11:30am if you plan to order lunch. HHCC offers a menu ranging in price from $15 to $18. Program begins promptly at 12:OOnoon followed by the business meeting.

(Update: Freedom to Read: Key Take-Aways (roanokevalleydemocraticwomen.com)

Book censorship is a serious threat to the freedom of expression, diversity of perspectives, and quality of education in the United States. In recent years, there has been a surge of attempts to ban or challenge books in public schools and libraries, especially those that deal with race, gender, and sexuality. These efforts are often driven by political agendas, misinformation, and fear, and they undermine the rights of students, teachers, librarians, and parents to access and share information.

At our October meeting, our last general meeting of 2023, featured speaker Sara Sprague will discuss some of the trends in book banning attempts, how they are affecting us locally, and the strategies and resources that can be used to resist them.

Our October Speaker:

Sara Sprague

Sara Sprague is an attorney, librarian, and consultant based in Roanoke, Virginia. She holds a J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law and an M.M.L.I.S. from the University of Southern California. Sara has been practicing law for over 15 years and currently runs her own law and consulting practice, Sprague Law & Consulting, focusing on nonprofits, small businesses, estate planning, and public interest law. In addition, Sara is an academic librarian whose work focuses on digital scholarship and information literacy. She has also served on numerous local nonprofit boards and long been active in social justice advocacy work. In all her roles, she enjoys solving problems and helping people find the information and resources they need.

October Candidate Guest:

Samantha Newell

Samantha Newell, Write-In Candidate, Roanoke County School Board – Catawba District “For too long, administrators have ignored the voices of our experienced and dedicated teachers.” Samantha is committed to working directly with teachers to create policies that support them and the students they care about. “Teachers know what their students need and I will work hard to make sure they get it! No two students are alike.” Samantha supports providing teachers and administrators the resources they need to ensure each student can learn in the way that suits them best. “The needs in Catawba do not necessarily reflect the needs in Cave Spring.” Samantha wants to work with districts to ensure that each district’s individual priorities are met in order to build a stronger Roanoke County for all. As a parent and experienced coach, Samantha knows how important it is to listen to students. “In our rapidly changing world, students need extra support to navigate the extremism that is plaguing our society. Asking children about their dreams, their experiences, and their needs is the best way to learn how to help them.” By engaging students in a dialogue, Samantha hopes to provide new avenues for students to develop leadership skills and plan for their future in Roanoke County.
Website: www.Samantha4RoCo.com
Email: Samantha4RoCo@gmail.com Cell: 321-987-5130
Social Media: www.facebook.com/samantha4roco

Hunting Hills Country Club

5220 Hunting Hills Dr
Roanoke, Virginia 24018 United States
(540) 774-4435