Featured Event
The Power of Words: Changing Our World, One Story at a Time
Join us for an inspiring program dedicated to amplifying authentic voices and celebrating the richness of diversity in literature, featuring acclaimed authors Ashley Hope Pérez and Jacinda Townsend in conversation with Yael Ksander as they explore the transformative power of storytelling.
Buskirk-Chumley Theater (114 E. Kirkwood Avenue)
Free and open to the public
Ticketed Book Signing and Reception
Enjoy premium reserved seating to the free Power of Words talk, then head to the Monroe County Public Library to meet authors Jacinda Townsend and Ashley Hope Perez while you have your books signed, enjoy live music, champagne, and hors d’oeuvres created by Marco & Polo Eurasian Cuisine. Tickets are $50. Books will be available to purchase. All proceeds benefit The Power of Words.
Purchase Reception Tickets
Saturday, November 9 | 8:30–10 PM
Downtown Library (303 E. Kirkwood Avenue)
Become a Power of Words sponsor
Your sponsorship of The Power of Words will create opportunities for people in Monroe County to engage with Jacinda Townsend and Ashley Hope Perez's writing—to read, discuss, meet, and act. Our program would not be possible without your help. Your involvement, whether through attendance, financial support, or spreading the word, helps us continue the vital work of amplifying diverse voices and empowering communities through storytelling. Your support is critical to making literary events like this possible for everyone to enjoy.
About The Power of Words
The Power of Words: Changing Our World, One Story at a Time is a biennial partnership between The Friends of the Library and Monroe County Public Library to create a visible community of readers by hosting an author writing on important topics of our time—and more specifically, topics that speak to the average citizen's ability to positively change the world in which we live. Join in the community of Monroe County readers sharing and discussing award-winning authors Ashley Hope Peréz, author of Out of Darkness, and Jacinda Townsend, author of Mother Country.
Out of Darkness received the American Library Association’s Michael L. Printz Award for Literacy and Mother Country received the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence.
Ashley Hope Pérez, an author of young adult fiction with a passion for representation, brings her background as an educator and her deep connections with her students to her writing. Her critically acclaimed works, including Out of Darkness and The Knife and the Butterfly, offers an honest look into the lives of young people in the margins of society. Pérez’s stories steer clear of stereotypes and generalizations, presenting complex characters and nuanced narratives that reflect real-life experiences.
Jacinda Townsend, an author of adult fiction, brings a rich tapestry of lived experiences from her upbringing in Kentucky and travels throughout the world. Her novel Mother Country offers a compelling exploration into motherhood and survival, inspired by real-life encounters with modern-day slavery and human trafficking in Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, and Mali. Her award-winning Saint Monkey, a vibrant coming-of-age story set in 1950s Eastern Kentucky and the Harlem Jazz scene provides a powerful exploration of personal and cultural histories.
These programs are supported by the Paula B. Anderson Endowment for The Power of Words.
Community Partner Events
In preparation for The Power of Words, check out our list of community partner events below.
A Culture Carried: Chin Basketry in Central Indiana
Exhibit opens August 26 | Free and open to the public
Gayle Karch Cook Center for Public Arts & Humanities, 750 E. Kirkwood Avenue
IU's Gayle Karch Cook Center for Public Arts and Humanities is proud to present “A Culture Carried: Chin Basketry in Central Indiana,” an exhibition showcasing the colorful polypropylene baskets of artisans Pu Ngai Chum and Reverend Ceu Hlei from Chin State, Myanmar, now residing in Southport, Indiana. Join us for the opening reception on September 6 and meet the artists, watch live demonstrations, and hear curator Jon Kay's gallery talk at 6 PM. Normal gallery hours are Monday–Friday, 12–4 PM. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the beauty of Chin basketry!
Through Our Eyes: A Reclamation
Exhibit opens August 26 | Free and open to the public
IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 416 N. Indiana Avenue
Through Our Eyes: A Reclamation features three Indigenous guest-curators, Debra Yepa-Pappan, Molina Two Bulls-Parker, and Yatika Starr Fields, as they create works of art that reinterpret the Edward S. Curtis and Joseph K. Dixon photography collections, held at the Library of Congress and Indiana University, and sound recordings from the Archives of Traditional Music held by IU Libraries. Recognizing that the Curtis and Dixon collections were originally produced through extractive and colonialist means, this project seeks to redress colonial harm by prioritizing the guest-curators’ visions, recentering Indigenous perspectives, and uplifting source community voices.
Strange Fruit: A Conversation with Samuel Levi Jones and Daniel Luis Martinez
September 14, 4 PM | Free and open to the public
Martin Commons Room, Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, 1133 E. 7th Street
Join us for a conversation between artist Samuel Levi Jones and Professor Daniel Luis Martinez about the artist’s studio practice, focusing on the museum’s recent acquisition Poplar Trees and their collaborative project. Samuel Levi Jones trained as a photographer and multidisciplinary artist. His work is informed by historical source material and early modes of representation in documentary practice. Daniel Luis Martinez is an architectural designer and educator. His research and creative work investigate the transformation of undervalued sites through a synthesis of public art and public space design.
Soy Andina Film Screening, Q&A with Director Mitch Teplitsky
September 19 | 6:30 PM | Free and open to the public
La Casa Latino Cultural Center, 715 E. 7th Street
Two New Yorkers journey to Peru to reconnect with roots and dance. Folk dancer Nélida Silva returns to her Andean birthplace to host the patron saint festival. Modern dancer, Cynthia Paniagua, embarks on her own journey after meeting Neli, determined to “quench a burning desire to know the real Peru and unearth the mystery of the dances.” Soy Andina is a story about crossing cultures and affirming identity in a globalized world.
Books N’ Brunch with Black Women hosted by Black Women on Campus, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, and the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Library
October 5, 12 PM | Free and open to the public (register here)
Neal Marshall Black Culture Center, 275 N. Eagleson Avenue
Join us for an enriching afternoon at Books N’ Brunch with Black Women, an event celebrating the voices and stories of Black women. Enjoy an engaging discussion of Jacinda Townsend’s Mother Country while enjoying a delicious brunch. Come to share in the celebration of Black women’s literary contributions and enjoy the opportunity to connect with others in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Tale Blazing – A Fable Fireside Event by MDWST and Hundredth Hill Artist Retreat
October 12, 7 PM | Tickets: $15 (purchase tickets here)
The Hundredth Hill Artist Residence & Retreat, 8275 N. Fish Road
Fire. Forest. Story. That’s the heart of Tale Blazing, an event co-created by art project MDWST and the Hundredth Hill Artist Retreat. Tale Blazing harnesses the power of tales told in one of the most ancient settings, around a fire in the nighttime woods. After the stories, gather and share experiences or simply enjoy the evening. If folks feel moved, they can stop by the story booth and spin their own yarns using prompts based on the storytellers’ tales, which will be represented by five different symbolic cards. These tales will become a short video fable of their own, available afterward for all to watch and share.
Whispers from the Divide
Exhibit opens October 19 | Free and open to the public | Available in Spanish and English
IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 416 N. Indiana Avenue
Arthur Liou's video installation, Whispers from the Divide, seeks to encapsulate the tangible and intangible barriers between the United States-Mexico border. Through a series of pilgrimages to key locations along the border, Liou records a first-person journey and offers an immersive experience that transcends mere observation. The work fosters a space for empathy and understanding amidst a backdrop of political tumult and the complicated issues surrounding immigration and identity.
BloominGrass Saturday with Alice Randall, author of My Black Country
October 19, 7 PM | Tickets start at $24 (purchase tickets here)
Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Join us for a spectacular weekend at BloominGrass! On Friday, October 18, enjoy performances by the legendary Sam Bush Band and a special John Prine Tribute led by Jason Wilber, Dave Jacques, and Emily Scott Robinson. Saturday, October 19, continues with captivating sets from Alice Randall, Leyla McCalla Band, Sunny War, and Emily Scott Robinson. Don't miss out on a $10 discount and a free hardback copy of Alice Randall’s My Black Country with the purchase of tickets for both nights. Celebrate the rich tapestry of American music!
Spencer Pride Banned Book Club discusses Out of Darkness
October 24, 6:30 PM | Free and open to the public
Morgenstern Books, 849 South Auto Mall Road
Join us for an evening of thought-provoking discussion at the Spencer Pride Banned Book Club. Hosted at Morgenstern Books, this event invites readers and community members to explore and discuss books that have been challenged or banned, including Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez.