All Henrico Reads community events to include food drive, interactive art, panel discussions  

In anticipation of the upcoming All Henrico Reads event, students at Glen Allen High School held a March food drive that yielded hundreds of items to donate to local food bank Lamb’s Basket.  The Libbie Mill Library created an interactive art installation, encouraging visitors to mark their country of ancestry or origin with a sticker. Nearly 200 community members have participated so far.  In addition, during the last week of March, all HCPL locations will hold story times for children which emphasize the theme of welcoming others.

All are invited to the All Henrico Reads evening event, to be held April 11 at 7 p.m. at Glen Allen High School, to hear author Reyna Grande discuss this year's featured title, The Distance Between Us. The book is a memoir of the author’s upbringing, her immigration journey from Mexico to the U.S., her path to citizenship, and her escape from poverty through obtaining higher education.  Grande will also answer questions and sign copies of her books, which will be available for sale from bbgb booksellers.  Attendees can enter to win $100 gift cards for local businesses, courtesy of the Friends of the Library.

After the event, programs inspired by the book will continue at Henrico County Public Library, including "Closing the Distance Between Us: Immigrants in Henrico," a moderated panel discussion featuring immigrants from the Henrico community, to be held May 3 at 7 p.m. at Tuckahoe Library.

For residents of Eastern Henrico, Wanda Hernández of the Valentine Museum will discuss the diverse Latino experience in the greater Richmond area, as represented in the museum’s recent exhibition "Nuestras Historias: Latinos in Richmond," at Varina Library May 22 at 7 p.m.