Page 22 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2017

COASTNOTES
ONEBOOKONEPASS story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of One Book One Pass
Jesmyn Ward
Wendy Allard
228.452.4596 w.allard@harrison.lib.ms.us
The 2017 selection of Pass Christian’s One Book One Pass community reading program is National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward’s The Fire This Time – A New Generation Speaks about Race. Ward’s author
presentation will be October 18, 7 p.m., at the Randolph Center located at 310 Clark Avenue in Pass Christian.
The Fire This Time is a collection of essays and poems about race from one of the most important
voices of this generation. Ward is the 2011 National Book Award winner for her novel Salvage the Bones. A native of Pass Christian,
she received her undergraduate degree in English and a Master’s degree
in media studies and communication from Stanford University. She is the recipient
of the first Paul and Debra Gibbons Professorship at Tulane University.
One Book One Pass committee chair Wendy Allard says, “Pass Christian is so fortunate to have one of our nation’s top young authors living here. The essays
in The Fire This Time are particularly relevant and timely for discussion, and are appropriate and interesting for a wide range of ages and backgrounds.”
The purpose of One Book One Pass
is to promote the value of reading by recommending a compelling book that links the community in a common conversation. Each year, a new book will be selected.
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photo courtesy of Women’s Resource Center
Women’s Resource Center in Gulfport will host its 2nd Annual
Big Band Gala for Babies at 6 p.m. on November 2 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Hospitality & Resort Management Center.
The Gala will continue its “Big
Band Era” theme, and guests are encouraged to dress accordingly in ‘30s and ‘40s attire.
“Last year was our first year hosting this themed gala, and we were blown away by the outcome,” said Tiffany Bell, executive director of Women’s
Resource Center. “We had 300 attendees, and about 90 percent of them dressed to the theme.” Because of the participation at the 2016
gala, this year’s event will feature a costume contest.
The goal of the gala is to celebrate life and the efforts of Women’s Resource Center. “We are here to help women facing unplanned pregnancies make the positive choice for life,” said Bell. The center offers counseling, free ultrasounds and a variety of other resources for
pregnant women. Proceeds from the gala will help to fund new ultrasound machines and support the programs at Women’s Resource Center.
Tickets for the event are $35 for general admission and $50 for limited VIP admission. The gala will feature fabulous food, live entertainment, dancing and celebrity appearances.
Women’s Resource Center 228.897.8958 www.wrcgulfport.org
22 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2017 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net