DLIT Announces Grant Funding for Schools & Town-wide Read

DEDHAM, MA - The Dedham Library Innovation Team (DLIT), a non-profit advocacy group supporting innovations in Dedham’s public and school libraries, has announced grant awards totaling $3,900 to the Dedham Public Schools for materials for the library/media centers in each of the district’s public schools, and an additional grant to the Dedham Public Library to support programming for the town’s upcoming “One Book Dedham” project.

“One Book Dedham” is a collaboration between the Dedham Human Rights Commission and the Dedham Public Library, with the support of DLIT, the Dedham Public Schools, and the Friends of the Dedham Public Library. “One Book Dedham” hopes to engage the community through literature and other events in a discussion about mental health awareness. Specifically focused on depression and anxiety across all age groups, from children to seniors, the program will include many individual events and multiple levels of community engagement to improve education, compassion, and strategies for living with depression and anxiety. This program marks the tenth consecutive year that DLIT has helped bring a community-wide reading program to Dedham.

The DLIT grant awards for Dedham’s schools will allow them to increase their current mental health-focused materials, including makerspace collections, to create or enhance a calm space in each of our Library Media Centers. The items being funded correlate with the theme of the “One Book Dedham” campaign. Dr. Don Langenhorst, Dedham Public Schools’ Technology Director, explains, “Each school has carefully curated a list of materials to enhance current practices, as well as begin a ‘library of self-care,’ age-appropriate mental-health focused materials aimed towards our diverse group of learners in each school.” The library/media specialists in each school will collaborate with the district counseling departments to introduce the books and materials.

In addition to the grant awards for the school libraries, DLIT has provided the Dedham Public Library with funding for its upcoming Me2/Boston Flute Choir program, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7:15 p.m. at the Main Library. Me2/ is the world’s only classical music organization created for individuals with mental illnesses and the people who support them. Me2/ provides a way for people with and without mental illnesses to work together in an accepting and supportive environment. The evening program will include various works for flute ensemble, brief mental health testimonies, and a Q&A with the musicians. Conductor Eileen Yarrison and the group’s dynamic musicians ensure a stigma-free zone where all are welcome. The concert is free and open to the public.

DLIT will also be sponsoring a panel discussion at the Endicott Estate on Thursday, March 5th, at 7 p.m., as part of the "One Book Dedham" project. Panelists will include Dr. Ashley Dube, Director of Counseling for the Dedham Public Schools; Angela Osei-Mensah LICSW, Youth Services Counselor for Dedham Youth Commission; Nancy Frumer Styron J.D., Psy.D from the Children's Room (grief support agency in Arlington, MA); and Jim McCauley LICSW, Associate Director of the Riverside Trauma Center.

A full list of programs and events associated with the “One Book Dedham” program is available at both branches of the Dedham Public Library, at www.dedhamlibrary.com, or at www.dlitdedham.com.

A registered 501 c3 non-profit organization, The Dedham Library Innovation Team is committed to creating collaborative, positive partnerships between the libraries, schools, public officials, businesses, and residents in order to support the strategic vision and development of a best-in-class, vibrant public library system in Dedham, MA. For more information, visit www.dlitdedham.com or check out the group’s Facebook page.