A whole lot is happening at the Greenwood and Broadview libraries these days. Here’s a partial list of events and classes.
Seattle Public Library’s Edible Garden Series begins this month. Learn about edible gardening, food advocacy and sustainability through a variety of free workshops.
- Cool Season Gardening – Get gardening tips from Bill Thorness, local author of “The Cool Season Gardener,” from 6-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 20; Greenwood.
- Plant Party! – Kids will learn about the world of plants through song, dance and puppetry. For ages 5 and younger. From 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, April 21; Greenwood.
- Can You Dig It? – Kids will learn about a different kind of plant each week (flowers, vegetables, succulents and cacti) through hands-on activities; Broadview, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N., from 12-1 p.m. Thursday April 24; 12-1 p.m. Thursday, May 1; and 12-1 p.m. Thursday, May 15.
- Family Night: Urban Gardening for Kids – Explore urban gardening with kids and help plant a variety of flowers and edible plants; 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6; Greenwood.
Family Nights at The Greenwood Library, from 6-7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. Make crafts and hear a story.
Teens are encouraged to apply for a new Teen Board at The Greenwood Library.
Teens who are artistic, like to read, write, create videos (book trailers for example), and/or are interested in working with kids are all encouraged to apply. Depending on how self-directed they are they can earn 60+ hours for the 1 year program. An application for the summer and the full year (June-June) program are attached.
Pick up an application at the library, 8016 Greenwood Ave N., or email Jennifer Bisson, teen services librarian, at [email protected].
Free information session about adoption and foster care, including information about placement agencies, types of adoption, adoption and foster care costs, and how to get started; 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, Greenwood.
Seattle Public Library’s 16th annual Seattle Reads selection is “For All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet’s Journey” by Richard Blanco. He will visit Seattle April 26-29. He’ll read a selection of poems from his body of work from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, April 28, at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium.
In 2013, Blanco was chosen to serve as the fifth inaugural poet of the United States, following in the footsteps of Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Miller Williams and Elizabeth Alexander. Blanco presented “One Today,” an original poem he wrote for the occasion, becoming the youngest, first Latino, first immigrant and first openly gay writer to hold the honor.
“For All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet’s Journey” is Blanco’s account of his life-changing experiences as the inaugural poet in 2013. He shares life as a Latino immigrant and openly gay man discovering a new, emotional understanding of what it means to be an American. He reveals the inspiration and challenges behind the creation of the inaugural poem, “One Today,” as well as two other poems (“What We Know of Country” and “Mother Country”) commissioned for the occasion and included in the book, with translations of all three poems into his native Spanish.
Finally, Blanco reflects on his spiritual embrace of Americans everywhere through the power of poetry and his vision for its new role in our nation’s consciousness. Like the inaugural poem itself, “For All of Us, One Today” speaks to what makes this country and its people great, marking a triumphant moment in American history and letters.
