Book Club Run of Three Girls from Bronzeville with Dawn Turner

Join Read & Run Chicago on Saturday, May 25 at 10:00am for a 3-mile, easy-paced (11:00 min/mile) book club run through Bronzeville inspired by journalist Dawn Turner’s award-winning memoir, Three Girls From Bronzeville. The route is based on locations from Dawn’s childhood in Bronzeville detailed in the memoir. We’ll pass by her elementary school, apartment complex, and other notable sites and reflect on their importance in Turner’s coming of age. Following the run, runners will end with a Q&A with author Dawn Turner lead by Cynthia Okechukwu.

PREPARE: Runners should read Dawn Turner’s Three Girls From Bronzeville prior to attending this event. We encourage you to borrow a copy from your local branch of the Chicago Public Library (here's how to get a card if you don't have one). If you prefer to purchase the book, please visit your favorite indie bookstore.

MEET UP: Meet in Bronzeville (exact location TBD) at 10:00am on Saturday, May 25.

ROUTE: Easy-paced 3-mile run (~11:00 min/mile) in Bronzeville with stops corresponding with Dawn Turner’s story.

POST-RUN: We'll end with a Q&A (location TBD) with author Dawn Turner lead by Cynthia Okechukwu. Anyone who prefers to only join the discussion portion is welcome to arrive to the library at ~11:00am.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: If it becomes unsafe to run outside, we will have a book club discussion at an indoor space nearby starting at 10:00am. You will be notified via email no later than 8am on Saturday, May 25 if there are any changes to the event.

BIKING THE ROUTE: If you loved this memoir but prefer to bike this route, you are welcome so long as you manage your own safety. We’d still love to have you!

All registered runners will receive reminder details two days and four hours prior to the event.

About Your Guide: Cynthia Okechukwu is a Read & Run Chicago guide and the founder and organizer of Black Girls Read Book Club. A lawyer by day, history buff, and Uptown transplant, Cynthia enjoys reading and learning more about this city that she has called home for nearly a decade. : Black Girls Read Book Club is a monthly Chicago-based book club by and for Black women. By collectively elevating and celebrating Black women authors and their writing, we affirm that our stories matter. You can join Black Girls Read Book Club on Instagram (@blackgirlsreadchi) or Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/black-girls-read-book-club/).

Read & Run Chicago is a chapter of Read & Run Tours, LLC, the country’s first and only organization that hosts running events inspired by books. Founded in 2021 by queer educator, freelance writer, and runner Allison Yates, the mission of Read & Run Tours, LLC and the city chapters is to use movement and stories to explore locations. Our community-focused run programming includes running tours, book club runs, author talks, and other literary-themed fun runs all inspired by books set in the cities where chapters are located, written by local authors. While connecting runners to the city’s stories, we also actively support literacy programs, public libraries, independent bookstores, and local authors.

In Chicago, we have hosted more than 60 events (in English and Spanish) for over 300 Chicagoans, featuring over 30 authors or local experts, and we have been featured in various media outlets including CNN, Runner’s World, Midwest Living, NBC’s Chicago Today, Fox32 Good Day Chicago, WGN Radio, Block Chicago, and more.

More information at readandrunchicago.com, Instagram, and Facebook.

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