Color Me Read History

Believing that wonderment, joy, curiosity, and growth should be unrestrained, in the fall
of 2002, six avid readers committed to sharing their love for literature by founding Color
Me Read® Book Club. Because so many of their casual conversations included the
question, what are your reading? This group of D-M-V area residents decided to create
space in their hectic lives to detail answers to that question on a regular basis.
The name, Color Me Read®, was unanimously selected by members during a
brainstorming session. Its significance is rooted in the homonymous poem written by a
co-founder: Angela Johnson.
Book club membership steadily grew to its maximum of 15 passionate word nerds,
anxious to expand their exposure to unexplored texts, and celebrate their appreciation
for the art of language, across genres.
The group’s lively discussions take place on the third Sunday, every other month, with
each member stepping into the role of boss bibliophile host when providing the home-
based hangout. Members show up unplugged from social media and professional
demands. They leave empowered by authentic connectedness and lasting contentment
attributed to the intimacy of shared introspection. To extend their passion, on many
occasions, meetings have been enriched by the attendance of invited guests, including
several esteemed authors. (Ingrid additional photos attached)
Further broadening the positive effects of reading, throughout its 21-year history, the
book club has contributed to the intentional creation of a community around books and
the ideas inside them. Whether donating books to incarcerated military veterans, being
a speaker or attendee at author events, supporting productions based on books, or
sharing insights with students, the Color Me Read® Book Club takes pride in promoting
reading as an intellectual equalizer.

The laughs. The ah-ha moments. The shaken fists. The stillness of time. The self-care.
The unity. The love. –These are the beams of light illuminating the path to the next book
selection and the life-enhancing experiences of sharing literary art.