One Book One Norristown, a community effort designed to lift local literacy rates, kicked off on Sept. 24. The initiative — announced in Feb. — sits at the crossroads of reading and social justice, according to its organizers. Rachel Ravina produced a quite readable account of the program in The Times Herald.

The event, on the grounds of Elmwood Park Zoo, included panel discussions in educational, artistic, and cultural events in the Norristown area. It also invited attendees to register to vote and provided them with vaccination information.

Keynote speaker was Lorene Cary, a senior lecturer in the Dept. of English at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also Director of #VoteThatJawn, an effort to encourage first-time voters.

In term of literature, Cary is a playwright, novelist, article author, and literary coach.

Monica D’Antonio is the organizer of One Book One Norristown; she saw the need for this kind of literacy encouragement in the post-COVID period.

“We need something that brings people together, and brings them joy, and makes them seen, and heard, and important, and that’s why we’re doing this,” D’Antonio said.

One Book One Norristown runs until Dec.

The Times Herald coverage is here; the One Book website is here.