Human Library 2023

Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion but how does a modern Jew interact with faith, religious traditions, & holiday observances in secular Central Pennsylvania; while raising 3 kids. This is not my people's story, this is my Jewish journey.

Learn all about this full contact, hard-hitting sport! Often described as rugby or WWE on skates, roller derby has been around since the 1930's. It was broadcast on tv from the mid-40s until the late 70s/early 80s, and had a renaissance in the early 2000s (in large part due to the movie Whip It featuring Eliot Page). Since then, roller derby has grown to include more than 400 teams in 6 continents! Lancaster's team, The Dutchland Derby Rollers, have been around since 2006 and I joined in July of 2022. As my former co-worker said, "roller derby was the best thing I ever did for myself!"

On Feb 13 2018, I was skiing on a downhill racing slope in Courchevel France. Little did I know that on that day, my life would change forever. I would spend the next year in the hospital and am still recovering today, 5 years later having suffered from traumatic brain injury. This accident has provided me with many lessons, in particular an incredibly greatful outlook on life and a desire to live the most meaningful life possible. I would like to present this 15 min long video I have made that documents my journey, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdE6p0zlcTM

"I'm Colette and I'm a KISSaholic." Is there a recovery program for people addicted to loud guitars? Is it possible that my unlikely obsession makes me a better dean?

I gave birth to an amazing child who was born into a girl body, but who identifies as both male and female (and sometimes identifies as neither male nor female). I adore this child to the full extent that sanity allows and possibly beyond that. They use they/them pronouns. They have legally changed their name. They love to wear “boy clothes,” which we just call clothes, and sometimes they like to wear dresses. Their hair is very short, like mine, but they also enjoy nail polish occasionally, which I do not. They are simply them and they are perfect.

Two trash cans. That's how many my household put out at the curb in the year 2022. For several years now, I've strived to get closer to eliminating the garbage can entirely from my life, knowing that I'll never quite get there. In some ways, even though I look like a normal American and my home looks like a normal home, our low-trash endeavors makes our family an oddity in the modern culture.

"What doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger"? Well, there is science behind this phrase. When it comes to our human ability to develop resiliency out of adversity, researchers at the University at Buffalo and the University of California put that to the test. We will inevitably get the feeling of "being a loser", experiencing some kind of adversity. I'll share a few anecdotes and obstacles from my life and what some research indicates on our ability to show resolve.

I grew up in the 1980s and 90s in a post-heyday community in upstate New York. My parents were an odd couple — two people from wildly different religious and cultural backgrounds — and neither had roots in our community. There was such a contrast between the entrenched local milieu and the communities and cultures of my distant relatives that I couldn’t help but adopt the perspective of an outsider and critic. I watched my hometown get left behind by a changing world. I blamed it for its own decline, even as I internalized its assumed inevitability. I see things differently now.

As a female choral-orchestral conductor in in a traditionally male-dominated field, I expected obstacles and challenges. What I had not anticipated was some of my fellow musicians being reluctant – and sometimes obstinate – about my introducing a new, collaborative model of rehearsal and performance to ensemble music-making. One prestigious colleague went as far as to scoff, snort, and proclaim, “You are ridiculous. It can’t be done. Music is not a democracy.”

Oh yeah? Watch me.

After I graduated from the University of Michigan, I went to Honduras to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer. My project was in the health field, with a focus on child survival and HIV/AIDS education, in a very small town in the department of Santa Bárbara. During the more than two years I was in Central America, I learned so many lessons that I couldn’t have imagined when I applied to be a volunteer. My book is about daily life as a Peace Corps volunteer and what I learned about my host country, the world, and myself during those 27 months.

So, your partner or spouse is a musician. There aren't many pursuits that are more exhilarating. But what’s it like to support someone you love, as they practice, prepare, manage and negotiate their way through the challenging world of professional music making? My dear wife Doris is a Grammy-winning, Carnegie Hall playing, classical clarinetist. Her pursuits are every bit as demanding as a pro athlete. How does one keep the physical and mental components in reasonable working order so that they can enjoy their musical craft over a lifetime? I surely don't know all the answers, but supporting a top-flight musician is an evolving endeavor that I can only hope to support in the best ways possible.

How does the experience of sexual assault shape one woman's life? This book addresses internalized oppression, speaking hard things out loud, and claiming freedom.

Navigating the different generations and viewpoints you'll encounter moving to a new town can be a challenge. Navigating them in a place where you expected to find common ground, can be jarring. In my 20s, I joined my local political party committee to connect with like-minded people. However, I experienced great differences I can attribute to my age, gender, and world experience. Years later, I've carved out a space for myself and my values, independently of the status quo and gained the confidence to shake things up a little. Some lessons worth hearing for anyone headed into the unknown of post-grad life!