Monday, October 04, 2010

One City, One Book

What if everyone in Greensboro, North Carolina read the same book…and then set out to build a stronger community? Every other year, the Greensboro Public Library along with many community partners, leads a city-wide reading of a selected title. Lively programs of discussion, films, theatrical productions, readings, and more are held to engage the entire community in the themes of the chosen work. 

The book selected for 2010 is The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez. The Soloist is the moving story of the remarkable bond between a journalist (Steve Lopez) in search of a story and a homeless, classically trained musician (Nathaniel Anthony Ayers). A movie was made by the same name starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr.

The Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation begun in honor of Nathaniel by his sister Jennifer Ayers Moore is dedicated to the challenges of Helping the Artistically Gifted Mentally Ill and Stopping the Stigma of mental illness. There is great anticipation for the work that will be done to further the NAAF mission at Nathaniel’s Place opening soon.