The Institute for Common Power, the educational branch of Common Power, is inviting you to join our Banned Books Club. According to a PEN America report, 153 school districts across 33 states banned books in the 2022-2023 school year. The Institute believes in the enduring power of books to provoke thought, challenge norms, and broaden perspectives. We will discuss race, identity, and freedom of expression as the club dives into the societal issues these books illuminate. In a world increasingly wary of uncomfortable truths, we believe in the right to read freely and believe that banning books is anathema to democracy. As with our overall organizational mission of safeguarding the vote, we also hold true that safeguarding the diversity of ideas is essential to a just and inclusive democracy.

All Banned Books Club meetings are from 5:00 - 6:30 PST / 8:00 - 9:30 EST on the following Mondays:

September 9th - How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith

October 7th - This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

November 4th - 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah Jones

December 2nd - The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

The Banned Books Club will meet monthly from September - December to discuss banned or challenged literature—from modern works like "How the Word is Passed" to classics such as "The House on Mango Street."

The Banned Books Club events will be facilitated by the Educators for Democracy team at The Institute for Common Power and are free to our broad CP community. Any donations you are able to contribute are always appreciated.