MAY 14, 2021 - Allen Public Library brought treasured cultural programming to residents in a new way during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When live programs in the Civic Auditorium were interrupted, On Stage @ APL offered virtual concerts, author discussions, educational programming and more in partnership with Allen City Television.
Each of Us Killers: Stories by Jenny Bhatt
Allen resident Jenny Bhatt navigates the often-subtle fault lines of class, gender, ethnicity, race, and caste in her story collection, Each of Us Killers. Her works have appeared or is forthcoming in various venues in the US, UK, and India, including The Atlantic, NPR, BBC, Washington Post and Literary Hub.
Celebrate Native American Heritage & Culture with Yolonda Blue Horse
A member of the Lakota People and of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Yolonda Blue Horse is a board member of the Dallas Peace and Justice Center. She has been active in the campaign against racist sports mascots, advocating for MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women), and was the leading organizer of several rallies and protests advocating for environmental protection from the oil industry. Most recently, the Dallas Peace and Justice Center awarded her “2017 Justice Seeker of The Year” in recognition for her environmental work. She currently is the Director of the Indigenous Cultures Program at the Memnosyne Institute.
Simon Han : Nights When Nothing Happened
Simon Han discusses his much-lauded debut novel, Nights When Nothing Happened, named the novel one of the 50 best fiction books of 2020 by Time Magazine. Han is an award-winning Carrollton writer who was born in China but grew up moving between Texas cities. Nights When Nothing Happened follows an immigrant family from China struggling to adapt to life in suburban Plano during the city’s boom years in the early 2000s. Han’s short stories and essays have appeared in such publications as the Texas Observer, The Atlantic and The Iowa Review.
St. Patrick's Day Celtic Concert
Driving string melodies, masterful guitar licks and stirring Bodhrán beatings result in traditional Celtic music that transcends boundaries. Joseph Carmichael, David Mehalko and Cara Wildman perform in this delightful virtual concert.