Pasadena Village’s 1619 Project discussion group was inspired by the New York Times issue dated August 2019. This is a safe place to talk about the history of racism in America, to understand its origins and its residual impact. The group explores the ideas presented in the 1619 Project but not to follow its teaching curriculum.

We will be joined by Brian Biery. Brian is a student of history of Pasadena and contributes regularly to the Colorado Boulevard Magazine, his article there focuses on the Brookside Plunge, the Pasadena swimmingpool with a troublesome history of descrimination.  This link also provides access to a listing of his other contributions to the magazine.

Brian also maintains a Youtube channel he calls "Power of One." On this channel, he collects personal stories from the residents of this area to illustrate their experience of living here. One of his interviews  is of Alma Stokes, a social activist known to many of the Villagers through their children, who came to know and love  Alma while attending Pasadena Schools where she was a teacher. Visiting this collection will connect  you with the history of this region in a very relatable and enjoyable way. 

Brain says fro this talk: "The public education system in the U.S. has changed dramatically over the past 30 years.  What are some of the causes of the significant shifts in service and structure?  How have they impacted students, families, school districts, and society overall?  In addition, by looking at our local history, how have these changes manifested themselves in our community?  What might public education look like in the future, both locally and nationally, if current trends continue?  Join the 1619 Project on Oct. 20 at 12 noon for a thoughtful discussion about one of the pillars of democracy in this country: public education."

Meetings are held twice a month, on the first and third Fridays. The first Friday meets at 10:00 - 11:30 AM and the third Friday at Noon - 1:30pm. Discussions from previous meetings can be found in the 1619 Project Discussion blog to read the postings and to learn more about this group.

For information or to join an upcoming discussions, contact the Village Office at [email protected] or 626-765-6037.