Environmental Book Group Discussion: “The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World,” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The June meeting of the Environmental Book Group, a collaboration between Perrot Memorial Library and the Conservation Commission, will take place on Monday, June 16, at 7 pm in the Program Room, Radcliffe Building, Perrot Memorial Library. Rebecca Poirier, environmental analyst, Town of Greenwich, will lead a discussion of The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
As indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love.
Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution insures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.”
Registration is required. To register, click here.
To reserve a copy of The Serviceberry, visit our catalog.
For more information, contact Judy Sgammato at 203-637-1066 x15 or judys@perrotlibrary.org.
LGBTQ+ 101: An Introduction to Identities & Allyship
Join us on Wednesday, June 4, at 7 pm in the Program Room, Radcliffe Building, Perrot Memorial Library, for “LGBTQ+ 101: An Introduction to Identities & Allyship,” with Cadence Pentheny, community education manager and leader of the LGBTQ+ Training Institute, Triangle Community Center (TCC), Norwalk, Conn. This foundational training will engage participants in a thorough overview of the LGBTQ+ community, creating space for learning, reflection, and community-building for allies and LGBTQ+ folks alike. From terminology and definitions to rethinking historical and traditional assumptions about gender and sexuality, this session is a must for all those who wish to build their efforts toward support and inclusion. We are offering this program in celebration of June as Pride Month. Please note: This is an adults-only program; participants must be 18 or older to attend.
TCC is Fairfield County, Conn.’s, leading provider of programming, resources, and education to nurture growth and connection within and for the LGBTQ+ community. TCC is home to dozens of free support, recovery, and social groups that cater to our diverse community of LGBTQ+ folks, their families, friends, and allies. Our team of client advocates assists community members with social services, including food insecurity, document updates, healthcare navigation, and housing navigation. TCC serves over 300 individuals who utilize its programs and services on a regular basis, as well as over 5,000 community members who attend a TCC program or event at least once a year.
Cadence Pentheny holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Penn., and a graduate certificate in Human Sexuality through the University of Minnesota. Upon graduating, they served two years with the AmeriCorps program City Year, where they supported students in an under-resourced elementary school. Before joining the team at TCC, they worked as coordinator for LGBTQ+ programming & initiatives at the University of Mississippi, doing a wide variety of work involving intersectionality, diversity, equity, and education, especially around LGBTQIA+ issues and sexual and gender justice. As community education manager, Cadence is responsible for engaging with the wider community to provide educational opportunities and professional development surrounding LGBTQ+ cultural humility across Fairfield County, Conn., and beyond.
Registration is required. To register, click here.
For more information, contact Lisa Thomas at 203-637-1066 x20 or lisat@perrotlibrary.org.
Shakespeare on the Sound Presents “How Many Children Had Lady MacBeth and Other Puzzles of “The Scottish Play”
Join us on Wednesday, May 28, at 7 pm for a preview of Shakespeare on the Sound’s 2025 production of MacBeth. The program will take place in our Program Room, Radcliffe Building, Perrot Memorial Library.
Why would Shakespeare write a play about the murder of a Scottish king and perform it before the newly crowned Scottish king? Why did Shakespeare wait 5 years after performing the play in front of King James to perform it for the public? Why do professional (and amateur) actors always refer to it as “The Scottish Play”? How did storms off the coast of Denmark lead to Shakespeare’s writing the play? How is MacBeth completely different from the other “great” tragedies—Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear? Why is the part of Lady MacBeth the most coveted female role in all of Shakespeare? What piece of the play was written by someone else years after the death of Shakespeare?
Shakespeare on the Sound Board Member and Shakespeare teacher John Love will talk about these and other MacBeth puzzles and show scenes from a movie version of the play, as well.
Registration is required. Click here to register.
For more information on Shakespeare on the Sound, visit their website.
For more information about this Library program, contact Judy Sgammato at 203-637-1066 x15 or judys@perrotlibrary.org.
And Don’t Miss This Summer’s Production of Macbeth, June 11th -29th In Rowayton’s Pinkney Park!
