In 2026, America celebrates its 250th Anniversary! In recognition, Kingston Library will be holding a series of programs where each month they will examine a different aspect of America’s history, legacy, and future potential. This month, they will explore immigration.   

As a nation with a history of immigration, currently grappling with questions of who and how many to accept, Kingston Library will be using The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, to frame the conversation about the current issues and shed light on first-hand experience.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, one of the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard, combines sensitive reporting and powerful personal narratives to bring to light remarkable stories of resilience, madness, and death. She finds the singular, effervescent characters across the nation often reduced in the media to political pawns or nameless laborers. The stories she tells are not deferential or naively inspirational but show the love, magic, heartbreak, insanity, and vulgarity that infuse the day-to-day lives of her subjects. And through it all we see the author grappling with the biggest questions of love, duty, family, and survival. Shortlisted for a National Book Award.

GWI and Jenny Bates are holding ongoing climate grief conversations. This group meets May – Oct 1st. Thursdays from 4:30-6pm, and during the winter months Nov – Apr 1st. Sundays 2-3:30pm at The Greenhouse 65 St. James St. on the corner of Clinton street and St. James Street in Uptown Kingston. This group is free and open to anyone who has concerns about the climate, about our City of Kingston, and who are stressed about an uncertain future. Check here for any schedule changes.

“We are picking up distress signals, as living beings on this planet” – Jenny Bates.

Grief is not easily processed alone. The grief felt, consciously or unconsciously regarding the planet is on a scale previously unknown to our species. This series of conversations is an opportunity to share and verbalize what is felt in the context of group that will be facilitated with care, support and a sense of belonging in a confidential and fully respectful manner.

You can listen to Micah and Jenny speak on The Good Work Hour about this topic.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or [email protected]

GWI and Jenny Bates are holding ongoing climate grief conversations. This group meets May – Oct 1st. Thursdays from 4:30-6pm, and during the winter months Nov – Apr 1st. Sundays 2-3:30pm at The Greenhouse 65 St. James St. on the corner of Clinton street and St. James Street in Uptown Kingston. This group is free and open to anyone who has concerns about the climate, about our City of Kingston, and who are stressed about an uncertain future. Check here for any schedule changes.

“We are picking up distress signals, as living beings on this planet” – Jenny Bates.

Grief is not easily processed alone. The grief felt, consciously or unconsciously regarding the planet is on a scale previously unknown to our species. This series of conversations is an opportunity to share and verbalize what is felt in the context of group that will be facilitated with care, support and a sense of belonging in a confidential and fully respectful manner.

You can listen to Micah and Jenny speak on The Good Work Hour about this topic.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or [email protected]

GWI and Jenny Bates are holding ongoing climate grief conversations. This group meets May – Oct 1st. Thursdays from 4:30-6pm, and during the winter months Nov – Apr 1st. Sundays 2-3:30pm at The Greenhouse 65 St. James St. on the corner of Clinton street and St. James Street in Uptown Kingston. This group is free and open to anyone who has concerns about the climate, about our City of Kingston, and who are stressed about an uncertain future. Check here for any schedule changes.

“We are picking up distress signals, as living beings on this planet” – Jenny Bates.

Grief is not easily processed alone. The grief felt, consciously or unconsciously regarding the planet is on a scale previously unknown to our species. This series of conversations is an opportunity to share and verbalize what is felt in the context of group that will be facilitated with care, support and a sense of belonging in a confidential and fully respectful manner.

You can listen to Micah and Jenny speak on The Good Work Hour about this topic.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or [email protected]

GWI and Jenny Bates are holding ongoing climate grief conversations. This group meets May – Oct 1st. Thursdays from 4:30-6pm, and during the winter months Nov – Apr 1st. Sundays 2-3:30pm at The Greenhouse 65 St. James St. on the corner of Clinton street and St. James Street in Uptown Kingston. This group is free and open to anyone who has concerns about the climate, about our City of Kingston, and who are stressed about an uncertain future. Check here for any schedule changes.

“We are picking up distress signals, as living beings on this planet” – Jenny Bates.

Grief is not easily processed alone. The grief felt, consciously or unconsciously regarding the planet is on a scale previously unknown to our species. This series of conversations is an opportunity to share and verbalize what is felt in the context of group that will be facilitated with care, support and a sense of belonging in a confidential and fully respectful manner.

You can listen to Micah and Jenny speak on The Good Work Hour about this topic.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or [email protected]

GWI and Jenny Bates are holding ongoing climate grief conversations. This group meets May – Oct 1st. Thursdays from 4:30-6pm, and during the winter months Nov – Apr 1st. Sundays 2-3:30pm at The Greenhouse 65 St. James St. on the corner of Clinton street and St. James Street in Uptown Kingston. This group is free and open to anyone who has concerns about the climate, about our City of Kingston, and who are stressed about an uncertain future. Check here for any schedule changes.

“We are picking up distress signals, as living beings on this planet” – Jenny Bates.

Grief is not easily processed alone. The grief felt, consciously or unconsciously regarding the planet is on a scale previously unknown to our species. This series of conversations is an opportunity to share and verbalize what is felt in the context of group that will be facilitated with care, support and a sense of belonging in a confidential and fully respectful manner.

You can listen to Micah and Jenny speak on The Good Work Hour about this topic.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or [email protected]

GWI and Jenny Bates are holding ongoing climate grief conversations. This group meets May – Oct 1st. Thursdays from 4:30-6pm, and during the winter months Nov – Apr 1st. Sundays 2-3:30pm at The Greenhouse 65 St. James St. on the corner of Clinton street and St. James Street in Uptown Kingston. This group is free and open to anyone who has concerns about the climate, about our City of Kingston, and who are stressed about an uncertain future. Check here for any schedule changes.

“We are picking up distress signals, as living beings on this planet” – Jenny Bates.

Grief is not easily processed alone. The grief felt, consciously or unconsciously regarding the planet is on a scale previously unknown to our species. This series of conversations is an opportunity to share and verbalize what is felt in the context of group that will be facilitated with care, support and a sense of belonging in a confidential and fully respectful manner.

You can listen to Micah and Jenny speak on The Good Work Hour about this topic.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or [email protected]

GWI and Jenny Bates are holding ongoing climate grief conversations. This group will meet on the first Thursdays of the month, at The Greenhouse 65 St. James St. on the corner of Clinton street and St. James Street in Uptown Kingston. This group is free and open to anyone who has concerns about the climate, about our City of Kingston, and who are stressed about an uncertain future.

“We are picking up distress signals, as living beings on this planet” – Jenny Bates.

Grief is not easily processed alone. The grief felt, consciously or unconsciously regarding the planet is on a scale previously unknown to our species. This series of conversations is an opportunity to share and verbalize what is felt in the context of group that will be facilitated with care, support and a sense of belonging in a confidential and fully respectful manner.

You can listen to Micah and Jenny speak on The Good Work Hour about this topic.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or [email protected]

Amid increasing global unrest and tightening institutional controls on free expression, artists remain steadfast as cultural custodians and changemakers. Resisting Erasure: Artistic Creativity in Times of Political Turmoil is a powerful exhibition and series of community events that explore the role of art in the face of political adversity.

Quoting artist and thinker Anne Manera, “Political turmoil often gives rise to heightened emotions, including fear, anger, and uncertainty, which can be difficult to process and articulate. By offering a space for vulnerable, authentic expression, art enables individuals to grapple with complex issues and navigate the emotional challenges that accompany periods of political unrest.”

This exhibition gives voice to those working at the intersection of creativity, resistance, and healing. Featuring multi-disciplinary artists who reflect cultural, and social traditions, Resisting Erasure is more than an art exhibition—it is a call to community dialogue and collective reflection.
The exhibition will showcase visual, audio, and verbal narratives that offer resolutions to conflict and expressions of resilience. Artists will also present on their lived experiences navigating censorship, suppression, and the struggle to maintain individuality in increasingly challenging political climates.

Resisting Erasure: Artistic Creativity in Times of Political Turmoil has been curated by Maureen Gates, Shirley Parker-Benjamin, Onaje Benjamin, and Dan Goldman.

All events are open to the public.
Community dialogue is encouraged. Participating artist will donate a percentage of any sales to a social justice centered organization.