We at the East Side Freedom Library have been encouraged by the Papal Encyclical on climate crisis,”Laudato Si,” and we are particularly excited by the possibilities it opens up for community conversations.  Each of our four discussions in July will engage experienced presenters from diverse communities and organizations in discussion with the audience.  We will make copies of the 182 page encyclical available to all attendees.

Our goals include situating the document within an historical and ecumenical context, considering Pope Francis as the first non-European Pope, and paying particular attention to the parts of the world where people’s lives are being disrupted by climate change, from Africa and Asia to South America.  We’d also like to explore the relationships between environmental, labor, immigrant rights, and racial justice activism within the U.S.