‘Girl Rising’ is Common Read for Education

The Saint Michael’s College Education Department has announced that Girl Rising: Changing World One Girl at a Time has been selected as the 6th annual Education Department Common Read.

Girl Rising is a nonfiction narrative by Tanya Lee Stone that builds on the unforgettable documentary and aims to inspire readers to join a growing movement. Stone explores the stories of some of the world’s 62 million girls who face obstacles in accessing a basic education due to barriers such as poverty, gender discrimination, child marriage, slavery, and human trafficking.

The Education Department will host a range of events throughout the fall semester to engage students and the local community with the themes from the text. The first event, a screening of the documentary Girl Rising with an introduction by author Tanya Lee Stone, will take place on Monday, October 8 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in McCarthy Recital Hall.

The second event, “Girl Rising: An Evening with Tanya Lee Stone,” will explore untold and inspiring stories of girls who persevered against all odds, some even risking their lives, to gain access to education. In this presentation, participants will learn how they, too, can make a difference in the education of girls around the globe. This event will take place on Monday, October 22 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in McCarthy Recital Hall. Both of these events are free and open to the public.

Each year, students and faculty in the Education Department participate in the Common Read. These compelling books provide opportunities for discussion, critical analysis, and connections to school learning communities and practice, while engaging the community in deeper questions such as what is social justice, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness.