WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE 1 TOWN, 1 BOOK
INSPIRES WHOLE COMMUNITY TO DREAM BIGGER

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian Puppa, e-mail or call (905) 852-3777

APRIL 22, 2014 / Legacy Project /

All ages in Whitchurch-Stouffville can help dream a better future for the whole community. As part of a new initiative called YOU 177, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library is leading a 1 Town, 1 Book program for children and adults featuring an award-winning book by a local author. Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes is written by Susan V. Bosak with fifteen top illustrators from around the world. Whitchurch-Stouffville (WS) 1 Town, 1 Book launches with an intergenerational reading of Dream at St. Brendan School on April 30. The reading will include local elders from the Stouffville 55 Plus Club and grade 4-8 students from St. Brendan, as well as Mayor Wayne Emmerson and United Way York Region CEO Daniele Zanotti. Participants will present Dream Stars to Mayor Emmerson with their dreams for our community. The Dream Stars will be displayed at the WS Municipal Offices. Over the next year, everyone in WS is challenged to "Dream Bigger" through various events, activities, and action projects to make our community stronger.

"One book programs are a unique way to turn the personal experience of reading into a shared one by encouraging everyone in a community to read and discuss the same book at the same time," says WS Public Library CEO Carolyn Nordheimer James.

As one of the fastest growing communities in Canada, WS has been prioritized by United Way York Region for support in building more social infrastructure for a stronger community. This means helping people in the community work collaboratively to meet community needs. CEO Daniele Zanotti will be on hand for the launch of WS YOU 177 1 Town, 1 Book to make a special announcement about United Way In Every Neighbourhood funding in WS.

Through 1 Town, 1 Book activities, young and old will explore dreams for ourselves, our community, and even the world. We'll get to know each other better, develop a shared vision for our future, and start collaborative actions to address needs identified by the community in areas that might range from health and social supports to education and the environment.

YOU 177 is the big-picture framework that guides generations in coming together in new ways of thinking and acting to help each other and the community. 1 World with 7 Generations, 7 Billion People and YOU, which also stands for young and old united.

YOU 177 is the result of a decade of research by the Legacy Project, a research and social innovation group based in WS that Susan Bosak helped start. The Legacy Project has joined with the Mayor's Office, the Library, the Chamber of Commerce, local media, service clubs, faith-based groups, schools and seniors groups.

It all starts with dreams and dialogue.

"You're never too young or too old to dream," says Bosak. "Dream is in a picture book format, but it's written for all ages. It's about hopes and dreams across a lifetime, through history, and into the future. And it starts with a simple question we're asking everyone in Whitchurch-Stouffville – what's your dream?"

1 Town, 1 Book featuring Dream will launch Wednesday, April 30, 1:15-2:30 pm at St. Brendan School, 751 Hoover Park Drive, Whitchurch-Stouffville. After doing a reading of Dream, students and elders will present their Dream Stars to Mayor Emmerson. The Mayor's Charitable Golf Tournament Fund is donating two copies of Dream to each school in Whitchurch-Stouffville. Student and elder readers at the launch will each receive an autographed keepsake copy of Dream donated by Geranium Homes. After the formal program, guests will enjoy refreshments donated by Reesor's Market & Bakery.

To find out more about ongoing WS YOU 177 1 Town, 1 Book events and activities visit www.wsyou177.org.

For more information, contact Brian Puppa, Legacy Project, by e-mail or call (905) 852-3777