Megan Phouthavong Evans
Circulation Supervisor, Bellevue Branch Library
“2020 has shown us that we have a long way to go in terms of racial equity and justice. With the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others, the world seems more divided than we’ve seen in recent years past. On top of this, the COVID-19 pandemic has created an anti-Asian sentiment that is unfounded and simply sad.
“This year, my reading life shifted, and I will continue to read books about experiences other than my own to bring about more empathy, love, and understanding. Books give us windows and sliding glass doors, opening up the world to different experiences, ideas, and possibilities. We should all strive to be more kind, and I believe that empathy is where it starts.
“In 2021, I plan to read more #ownvoices books and nonfiction experiences of those other than my own, and have those uncomfortable conversations with others, because one conversation can ripple into bigger societal changes over time (or so I hope)!”