School
  • Home
  • What is the Big Read?
  • THE BOOK
  • Discussion Guide
  • Join the Conversation
  • The Panel

Home

Did you miss it? Watch the Panel Discussion Here


About The Big Read Panel Discussion

Dayton Metro Library and the Dayton Daily News hosted a live streaming Panel Discussion, Wednesday, July 8, 5 - 6 p.m., moderated by DDN Community Impact Editor, Amelia Robinson.

AmeliaThis discussion was be based on The Big Read book Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad. You can read the book for free on OverDrive with no wait through July, and explore more materials using the links at the top of this page.


Our Moderator - Amelia Robinson

Community Impact Editor, Dayton Daily News

Award-winning journalist Amelia Robinson is Community Impact Editor for the Dayton Daily News. In this role she leads the newspaper’s efforts to convene local voices and guide engagement with impactful investigations and journalism. She has been a reporter, columnist and podcaster for Dayton.com and the Dayton Daily News since 2000. Her Sunday column, “Smart Mouth,” has appeared in the newspaper’s Life & Arts section for 15 years. It was recognized as the best newspaper column in Ohio in 2019 by the Society of Professional Journalists, and has also been recognized multiple times by the Ohio Associated Press Managing Editors.

The 2020 Kiplinger Program fellow is president and a founding member of the Greater Dayton Association of Black Journalists. She serves on the on the board of the Dayton Sister City Committee and as president of the Oregon Historic District Society board of trustees. She was the recipient of the 2014 Ohio AP Media Editors award for social media, and the 2015 Ohio AP Media Editors columnist award. Her podcast, “What Had Happened Was...” was a 2019 National Association of Broadcasters Marconi award finalist. The podcast has earned more than 3 million downloads since launching in January of 2018.

SHANNON ISOM

President & CEO, YWCA Dayton

Shannon Isom is President and CEO of YWCA Dayton. She is responsible for the executive and administrative leadership of YWCA Dayton, dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women. She served as a YWCA Dayton Board member, as well as Board Chair, before taking the helm in 2013. She has spoken in a range of venues, including the University of Dayton Human Rights Conference, TEDx Dayton, YWCA USA, Girls on the Run, and POWER RISING Summit. Her focus strives for political advocacy, mission, and collective voice within national, state, and local platforms.

Shannon holds a B.S. in pre-medicine/biology from Spelman College and an MBA in healthcare administration from Northeastern D'Amore-McKim School of Business. Her accomplishments include: Dayton Business Journal Forty Under 40 and Forty Under 40 Hall of Fame, Leadership Dayton, Dayton Business Journal 50 Most Powerful Women, Better Business Bureau WiBN Top 25 Women to Watch, and Antioch College Coretta Scott King Justice Award.

KEVIN M. KELLY

Executive Director, Dayton International Peace Museum

Kevin is the Director of the Dayton International Peace Museum, after serving several years focused on museum media and exhibitions. He is a native of the Miami Valley; he returned to the area after living on both US coasts and overseas, working in media, education, and consulting. As the director of the Western Hemisphere's only museum dedicated to peace, he is focused on expanding the organization's educational programs and media outreach to the public as well as to inspire more museums of peace in the future.

"We have a long-overdue opportunity and a responsibility to find permanent solutions and fresh ideas on how to finally end the timeless scourge of racism and inequity in this country," said Kelly. "I was motivated to become involved in this project because it is only through honest and often painful dialogue can we ever hope to make progress. There is a true commitment by millions of Americans to make this right, but we need all voices to consider how best to achieve what has in the past always seemed out of reach. Through the lens of a pandemic, another financial crisis, and undeniable acts of brutality, most Americans are ready to do more."

BRIAN O. MARTIN

AICP, Executive Director, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission

Brian began his career with MVRPC as its 6th Executive Director in February 2013. He oversees all management aspects of the organization including air quality, water quality, transportation, land use, research and GIS. He has expanded MVRPC’s role to now include Community Recovery from the Memorial Day 2019 tornadoes and formation of an Institute of Livable and Equitable Communities. He is President Elect of the Rotary Club of Dayton and on the executive board of the National Association of Regional Council’s Executive Directors Council. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Dayton Conservation Fund, Dayton Foundation, the United Way Greater Dayton Area, and Bike Miami Valley.

“I feel it is important to participate in this project because this movement is so very painful for everyone,” he said. “We feel like we need to do something. It is forcing a reaction in all of us. In addition to the marches and protests, the best way to move forward is to have a community wide discussion on the topic of racism and why the George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery murders are important at this time. I’m hopeful that this Big Read will lead to more discussions across the area, Ohio, and the Nation.”

DEBORAH H. FELDMAN

President and CEO, Dayton Children’s Hospital

Deborah Feldman is the 4th President and Chief Executive Officer of Dayton Children’s Hospital. Since joining the organization in 2012, Debbie has led the development and implementation of the hospital’s new strategic plan and overseen a campus-wide revitalization, all in a uniquely family-centered setting.

Prior to Dayton Children’s, Debbie served Montgomery County government for 30 years, the last 16 as County Administrator. In that role, she led many critical community initiatives including the Homeless Solutions Ten Year Plan, the Out-of-School Youth Taskforce, the Montgomery County Healthcare Safety Net Task Force and the establishment of the Community Health Centers of Greater Dayton. She currently serves as a Board member of the Children’s Hospital Association, Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and Ohio Hospital Association Board of Trustees. She serves as the Chair of the Preschool Promise Board as well as the Montgomery County Family and Children First Council. Her contributions have been recognized by the YWCA Women of Influence Award, Dayton Daily News Top Ten Women Award and the National Conference for Community and Justice’s Humanitarian Award, among others.

A Timely Big Read Title

2020bigreadRead and Discuss the Issues, Together


As the Dayton area joins the rest of the nation in exploring and confronting issues of inequality, racism and justice reform, Dayton Metro Library invites the public to participate in a special community-wide reading project centered on the book Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad.

“This special version of The Big Read encourages all of us to focus on one topic, one book, together,” said Tim Kambitsch, Dayton Metro Library’s Executive Director. “This highly-regarded title offers a self-guided journey that invites readers to explore their own thoughts, and perhaps empower them to have a few uncomfortable self-conversations, and then engage meaningfully with others.”

The book takes readers on a 28-day journey to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people to do better, too. It is available for unlimited borrowing in eBook and Audiobook formats through OverDrive at DaytonMetroLibrary.org through July 31.

“The unlimited simultaneous user license we acquired means all of Dayton could read and discuss this book at once, and contribute to the community conversation about racism,” said Kambitsch.

Dayton Metro Library and the Dayton Daily News will host a live streaming Panel Discussion, Wednesday, July 8, 5 - 6 p.m., moderated by DDN Community Impact Editor, Amelia Robinson. Questions for the panelists to consider should be submitted in advance to the Facebook event page or online here.

Panelists are:

Debbie Feldman, President and CEO, Dayton Children’s Hospital
Shannon Isom, President & CEO, YWCA Dayton
Kevin M. Kelly, Executive Director, Dayton International Peace Museum
Brian O. Martin, Executive Director, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission

“We have no doubt that hearing from these respected community leaders will help all of us better understand racism locally, and feel more knowledgeable and confident discussing ways we can move our community forward as a result,” said Kambitsch.

In addition to the Panel Discussion, the Library will offer suggested activities here at BigRead.org, as well as tips for forming Book Circles to continue the discussion in the coming days.

“Essential to our mission is to share resources and provide a platform for increased knowledge, allowing you to explore and learn in your own ways, said Kambitsch. “Our strategic plan recognizes the important role that our Library can - and should - play toward achieving equity. We believe our community cannot reach its full potential until all of our citizens are successful. As such, your DML will remain focused for impact, investing time, energy and resources in our most challenged communities and neighborhoods."

dmllogo footerdaytondaily footer