Check out this teaser trailer for One City, One Book 2011

Here at prezi.com. It was made by FFT secretary Carmen Escamilla!

We're still here...

One City, One Book is a program that we started in 2008, and we are happy to see that the City of Laredo has continued the tradition. The foundation is working on a few projects, which we will tell you more in the coming months.

Meanwhile, keep up with the foundation in the monthly publication LareDOS. Our president writes a column with book recommendations, literary news, and other great info.

This year's One City, One Book pick is Santiago's Children: What I Learned about Life at a Orphanage in Chile by Steve Reifenberg, the executive director of the Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Reifenberg also teaches a course about international development, according to his website.

In Santiago's Children, Reifenberg writes about two years he spent at Hogar Domingo Savio in the 1980s, trying to create a stable home for children who had been abandoned or abused. Reifenberg paints vivid portraits of the children he worked with, also giving insight into the state of Chile at this time.

100 percent of the profits from the book will go toward supporting at-risk children in Chile, "and in particular to support the work of the Hogar Domingo Savio (now called Mi Club Domingo Savio)."

As soon as the library or city posts a full schedule, we'll link it.

Thanks for reading!

First One City event coming up!

To go along with the theme of Into the Beautiful North, the Laredo Public Library will show The Magnificent Seven, the film that inspired characters in the novel to journey north. Come join us and enjoy a free movie!

What: Film screening of The Magnificent Seven

When: 3 - 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11

Where: Laredo Public Library, H-E-B Multi-Purpose Room, 1120 E. Calton Road

Book Trailer for Into the Beautiful North

Here is a "book trailer" made by Carmen Escamilla for Into the Beautiful North, by One City, One Book author Luis Alberto Urrea. We mentioned the book trailers in earlier posts. Enjoy!

And the author is...

Thanks to a nifty site called scribd.com, I've uploaded the official press release document for today's announcement.

PRESS RELEASE

This year, we will host Luis Alberto Urrea, author of Into the Beautiful North and Pulitzer finalist for The Devil's Highway.

From the press release:

"He will be accompanied by the illustrator of his graphic novel, Mr. Mendoza’s Paintbrush, Christopher Cardinale. Both books will be featured during this year’s events."

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on One City, One Book activities, keep checking this website.

From the president

You are invited to the press conference Monday, July 19, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. to announce the commencement of the third annual One City, One Book. Last year's events proved so successful that we expect miracles this year. Thousands have gotten involved and we are getting national attention for our city's unified actions. We hope to see you there to announce and celebrate reading, family and our community at the press conference, scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday in the foyer of the main branch of the Laredo Public Library. If you need more information, please call me at 956-744-8702. The mayor and other involved members will be speaking about this year's author. Thanks for all you do to make Laredo a better place. Beverly Herrera President Laredo Food for Thought Foundation