In March, talks about two exciting new books will be held at the Evanston Public Library, with the editors and author discussing and signing their books about complex contemporary issues—Alice and Edward “Buzz” Palmer, editors of The World Is Watching, on March 3; and Angalia Bianca, author of In Deep: How I Survived Gangs, Heroin, and Prison to Become a Chicago Violence Interrupter on March 11.
In The World Is Watching, notable world figures talk about their personal experiences with African Americans and the impacts these experiences have on them. This book is a compelling collection of historical and autobiographical essays that reflect on world activist struggles, travels, international encounters and critical conversations on foreign affairs. World leaders from such countries as Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Africa, India and Singapore to the United States share how Black America’s fight against oppression has garnered world recognition and respect
Former Illinois State Senator Alice Palmer and her husband Edward “Buzz” Palmer, former chair of the Chicago Sister City Committee, who edited the book together with award-winning journalist David Robinson, will introduce and sign The World Is Watching at the Library on Sunday, March 3, at 3:00 to 4:30 pm.
Author Angalia Bianca is a CureViolence violence interrupter who will share her new book In Deep: How I Survived Gangs, Heroin, and Prison to Become a Chicago Violence Interrupter. What is a violence interrupter? Violence interrupters are trained individuals who help protect their communities by intervening in disputes and helping cool down the tempers of those involved. In In Deep, which she wrote with coauthor Linda Beckstrom, Bianca tells of her journey from criminal, master manipulator, and brilliant con artist to become one of Chicago’s foremost authorities on violence interruption and prevention.
Bianca works in the streets of Chicago and regularly speaks in schools, prisons, and the media on ways to combat violence. She has worked with the Evanston Youth and Young Adult Division violence interruption program, under the leadership of Kevin Brown. She was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for Golden Rule International by IChange Nations, an affiliate of the United Nations, and was named the National Association of Social Workers Illinois chapter’s Public Citizen of the Year in 2017. Copies of her book will be available for purchase at the event on Monday, March 11, at 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the Main Library, 1703 Orrington.
