Fruita for Equality is a collaboration to support equality, inclusivity, and diversity through meaningful conversations and action in the community.
May 2022n
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
In her interview with the Mesa County Oral History Project, Adrienne Kaga talks about her childhood growing up in Chicago and her early career as a principal in a private equity fund.

She discusses the family histories of her mother, who was Chinese-American, and her father, who was Japanese-American, and their lives in the Pacific region. She also talks about working as a jack-of-all-trades in the Miller Orchards, and discusses the agricultural industry in the Redlands and the Grand Valley.

Listen to Adrienne Kaga's interview conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
Fruita for Equality Committee Meeting Update
At the May 25 committee meeting, updates were shared regarding the progress of planning two upcoming events. The first event is a booth at the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival, presenting community questions that we hope elicit discussion.

Updates for the Basic Needs for Back-to-School event were shared. Holding the event at the Fruita Branch Library was suggested. The committee is working to find community partners for the event. Event details will be further discussed at the June meeting, as several committee members weren’t able to attend the May meeting.

The committee discussed the possible need to obtain nonprofit status and create a board so that it is able to accept donations and possibly operate with a higher degree of effectiveness. An exploratory committee will examine this opportunity and report to the group.
June Meeting Agenda
The June Fruita for Equality meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 27, at the Fruita Branch Library IdeaLab or virtually via Zoom.

Agenda:
  • Report on Mike the Headless Chicken Festival booth
  • Nonprofit update
  • Basic Needs for Back-to-School update
Celebrate Pride with Drag King Xavi Saenz and Drag Queen Stella Rae
Join us for Neighbors Night at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2, in the Central Library Community Room, 443 N. 6th St. in Grand Junction!

Xavi and Stella will talk about identity and diverse families to celebrate Pride Month. Everyone is invited to celebrate what makes you, you!

Each month we welcome a community guest to Neighbors Night who shares a presentation or performance for kids and their families. We invite families with children of all ages to connect with your Mesa County neighbors while sharing in fun, engaging learning experiences!
Book/Media Recommendations
A young woman juggles pursuing her dream job in radio while helping her family compete with the new halal restaurant across the street, in this sparkling new rom-com by the author of Ayesha at Last. Sales are slow at Three Sisters Biryani Poutine, the only halal restaurant in the close-knit Golden Crescent neighborhood of Toronto. Hana waitresses there part time, but what she really wants is to tell stories on the radio. If she can just outshine her fellow intern at the city radio station, she may have a chance at landing a job.

In the meantime, Hana pours her thoughts and dreams into a podcast, where she forms a lively relationship with one of her listeners. But soon she'll need all the support she can get: a new competing restaurant, a more upscale halal place, is about to open in the Golden Crescent, threatening her mother's restaurant.

When her mysterious aunt and her teenage cousin arrive from India for a surprise visit, they draw Hana into a long-buried family secret. A hate-motivated attack on their neighborhood complicates the situation further, as does Hana's growing attraction for Aydin, the young owner of the rival restaurant -- who might not be a complete stranger after all. As life on the Golden Crescent unravels, Hana must learn to use her voice, draw on the strength of her community, and decide what her future should be.
Aven Green didn't lose her arms in an alligator wrestling match or in a wildfire in Tanzania. That's just what she tells people when she gets the "looks." The truth is, Aven was born without arms, but at age 13, that hasn't stopped her from doing almost anything.

Then her parents take a job managing Stagecoach Pass, a run-down Western theme park in Arizona, and Aven has to leave everything she knows behind. Aven struggles to make friends at her new school, where the kids can't seem to see past her missing arms. But her life takes another unexpected turn when she meets Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability.

Together, they discover an old storage shed at the park that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It's hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your fears. But Aven's about to find out what she's capable of ... and how far from insignificant she is.
Find diverse reading lists
through Mirrors and Windows
If you're looking for diverse reading and film resources at Mesa County Libraries, a great place to start is the reading list collection for the Mirrors and Windows Reading Experience.

Mirrors and Windows is a reading challenge that seeks to broaden readers' awareness of other cultures, identities, and experiences. Although the "official" Mirrors and Windows reading program has ended, the book and resource lists have remained popular with people seeking diverse reading choices.

Resource categories include African American, Asian American, Women, Latin American, LGBTQ+, Native American, People Experiencing Poverty and Homelessness, Middle Eastern, Jewish, Immigrants and Refugees, and Abilities. Each category contains age-appropriate reading lists for kids, teens, and adults, and all you need is your library card to start browsing.
About Fruita for Equality
Fruita for Equality is an initiative to promote and support equality, inclusivity, and diversity through meaningful conversations and action in the community. Collaborators in Fruita for Equality include Mesa County Libraries, Fruita Rotary, the City of Fruita, and Lithic Bookstore and Gallery.
Have a question about Fruita for Equality?
Contact fruitaforequality@gmail.com for more information.
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