Dear Community,
One of our founding SEA officers, Hilary Loeb, recently gathered a group of local evaluators to ask: "Is it time for a Social Justice Book Club?" The answer was a unanimous, resounding yes.
Together, we are building a space to step back from our day-to-day work and dive into the "why" behind the systems we serve. Join us for:
- Community: Connect across the fields of education, evaluation, research, and the communities we reach.
- Curiosity: Go beyond the surface with deep reading and critical dialogue that fuels new ways of thinking.
- Context: Unpack the social, cultural, and political forces shaping our professional and personal lives.
How this Book Club Works
- Each book club registration lasts for one quarter and we will choose a new book each quarter (every three months).
- Register for each quarterly series to join the discussion. This registration is for the Spring book club.
- Buy or borrow a copy in any format (print, e-book, or audio). We encourage supporting your local library or independently owned bookstore and to donate your books to public libraries, non-profit or educational institutions when you have completed it. If you need assistance acquiring the text, SEA and WERA may be able to help so please reach out via email.
- During the quarter, sections of the book will be discussed based upon 3-5 set reflection questions with additional questions asked by the designated facilitator for the meeting. We will rotate facilitators among the group for each meeting.
Reading for Spring Quarter
Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America by Mae M. Ngai. How did “illegal” become the defining problem of U.S. immigration policy? We are launching our book club with this text to trace the legal origins of citizenship and race in America. In a climate marked by ongoing ICE raids and human rights concerns, this history is more than academic. It is a vital lens for understanding the systemic forces that impact our lives and our work today. This book was the immediate, unanimous choice for our first series, reflecting our collective urgency to better navigate the complexities of immigration in the United States.
Meeting Schedule for Spring quarter
- Kick-off Intro: March 21, 2026 (Virtual)
- First Discussion: April 4th – in person/hybrid – library rentals
- Ongoing: Saturdays throughout April and May from 11:00 - 12:30
- Location: Hybrid / King County (TBD based on kick-off meeting preferences)
The recurring Zoom link for virtual sessions will be in the registration confirmation email.
Registration
- SEA and WERA Members: FREE
- Non-Members: $10 per quarterly series
Registration and membership fees directly fund community events organized by SEA’s 100% volunteer-led leadership.
Please register by: March 18th
We look forward to further building community with you!
