The Family Involvement Center’s community-based Facilitated Book Club is designed to address attitudinal barriers and other "isms."  Research demonstrates that these often can be impediments to achieving cultural competence within organizations and other systems designed to serve families and children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs.  The Book Club is a forum where people can learn to think differently about discrimination, stereotyping and bias in an atmosphere created to promote openness, honesty and personal growth.  Through thought-provoking discussion and authentic communication about these issues, the Book Club creates an opportunity for staff, families, agencies, and community members to develop awareness that leads to an appreciation of our unique cultural differences and improved cross-cultural communication.

Featured Book for August 2010:

 Jewel by Bret Lott

Oprah Book Club® Selection, January 1999  The year is 1943 and life is good….Although there's a war on, the Mississippi economy is booming, providing plenty of business for the hardworking family. Jewel..., now pushing 40, is pregnant with one last child. Her joy is slightly clouded, however, when her childhood friend Cathedral arrives at the door with a troubling prophecy: "I say unto you that the baby you be carrying be yo' hardship, be yo' test in this world. This be my prophesying unto you, Miss Jewel."

When the child is finally born, it seems that Cathedral's prediction was empty: the baby appears normal in every way. As the months go by, however, Jewel becomes increasingly afraid that something is wrong with little Brenda Kay--she doesn't cry, she doesn't roll over, she's hardly ever awake. Eventually husband and wife take the baby to the doctor and are informed that she is a "Mongolian Idiot," not expected to live past the age of 2. Jewel angrily rebuffs the doctor's suggestion that they institutionalize Brenda Kay. Instead the Hilburns shoulder the burdens--and discover the unexpected joys--of living with a Down's syndrome child….   --Margaret Prior

For more information about the FIC Book Club, please contact Kara Fullmer, Coordinator of Training and Communications at (602) 412-4095 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here to see a list of the books that have been read and discussed by Book Club members.