Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Humanities and the Indiana Center for the Book recently announced the awardees for the 2023-2025 “One State/One Story” statewide reading program.

This will be the first cycle to feature two titles: “All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake” by Tiya Miles is the high school/adult selection, and “Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life” by Ashley Bryan is the children’s selection.

The following local organizations have been awarded Community Read grants to implement a series of three or more programs about the book:

• Fulton County Public Library, Rochester
• Ligonier Public Library
• North Manchester Public Library
• Peabody Public Library, Columbia City
• Syracuse Public Library

“One State/One Story” is a signature program of Indiana Humanities, and this year is part of the organization’s Advancing Racial Equity programming, which supports discussions of history and memory and how engaging with the past can help Hoosiers understand contemporary injustices and strive for racial equity.

The “One State/One Story” Community Read program offers grants of $750, copies of the books and promotional swag to organizations that agree to host a series of three or more programs that explore the themes and ideas of the book selections.

“We look forward to the insightful, engaging programs to come in 2024,” said Megan Telligman, director of programs at Indiana Humanities. “Each of the Community Read host organizations has proposed a program series sure to encourage important conversations based on the stories and perspectives in each of the ‘One State/One Story’ selections.”

Throughout the year, events at schools, libraries and elsewhere will continue the exploration of both Miles’ and Bryan’s books by organizing events like family history pop-up exhibits, film screenings with similar themes and thoughtful book club discussions.

Details about the dates and times of these events will be announced later by the local hosts and on the Indiana Humanities website.