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Community Voices is a library initiative to provide space for community members to share their individual stories.
The mission of Community Voices is to celebrate diverse experiences, foster connections, cultivate empathy, and nurture a sense of belonging at the library.
We center Community Voices exhibits around heritages or identities that are meaningful for our community.
If you live in Aurora and are of South Asian heritage, please consider sharing your story.
Submissions were accepted July 1 - August 31.
The library will collect stories from our South Asian community, culminating in an exhibit that will be displayed at all three library locations in November 2024.
South Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and peninsular India. It includes the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka; Afghanistan and the Maldives are often considered part of South Asia as well. (Britannica)
Nearly 5.4 million South Asians live in the United States. The community is far from homogeneous; South Asians are not only diverse in terms of national origin, but also by virtue of possessing a variety of ethnic, religious, and linguistic characteristics. The community is comprised of individuals who practice distinct religions and speak different languages, yet share similar immigration histories. For example, South Asians practice Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism. The most common languages other than English spoken by South Asians in the United States include Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu. (SAALT)
Panelists from our South Asian community, whose stories are showcased in our Community Voices exhibit, will share their Aurora lived experiences in a facilitated discussion. All are welcome!
Through our live, in-person event, we will have the chance to come together and dive deeper into the themes that emerged from the exhibit. Appetizers and refreshments will be served will supplies last.
The Aurora Public Library District will periodically invite our community to share their story in coordination with an observance, event, or theme.
Participating community members will respond to 3 prompts provided by the library, and library staff will create posters to display at all locations for the designated month.
Participants share up to 3 photographs with their submission to illustrate their story and bring life to the exhibit.
This is YOUR library, and you BELONG here! Claim your space at the library and in your community by sharing your voice.
Introduce yourself and your heritage/identity to your neighbors to foster connections in the community.
Cultivate empathy and emphasize critical engagement: specific stories from people, communities or neighborhoods make it harder to deny those people their agency, identity, and place in the larger narrative.
Heritage is the cultural legacy we receive from the past that influences our activities, meanings, and behaviors in the present. Examples include art, food, clothing, legends, music, and values.
Identity refers to our sense of who we are as individuals and as members of social groups. We develop ideas about our identities through our interactions with family and friends, our schools and institutions, the media, and our encounters with other individuals.
