The first session in our Poverty: A Community Conversation panel series, sponsored by Avon Friends for Equity and funded by the Avon Greater Together Community Fund. All sessions are free to attend, and will be held in-person at the Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd., Avon, CT 06001, unless indicated as a virtual event.

Join us for a lecture and discussion featuring Matthew Desmond’s book, Poverty, by America.  This event will be led by Dr. Beth Merenstein, with audience questions moderated by Carrie Firestone.  Copies of Poverty are available at the reference desk on the first floor of the Avon Library. Please read before this event!

About Poverty, by America: In this landmark book, acclaimed sociologist Matthew Desmond educates us as to why poverty exists in America, how it touches all of us, and that there are ways to help eradicate poverty and create equity, starting with understanding the current crisis. 39% of Connecticut residents struggle to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Many in town might not realize that, in Avon alone, roughly 5% or 1,000 residents live below the poverty level. This series draws on history, research, and original reporting to show that the more we understand the reasons behind these numbers, the more able we are to change the old model that keeps poor people poor. Join us for these programs to unpack the ideas in this book and become more informed as a town to do something about this.

Click here to register for this session: https://www.avonctlibrary.info/event/povertydiscussion2024/