The goal of the Westmoreland Reads program is to encourage the Westmoreland County community to read and engage with a common read. Individuals and organizations are invited to form formal and informal reading groups. The program continues throughout the year, and groups may form at any time. Additional programming related to the themes in the book will be hosted by partnering organizations.
The book for this year is How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
More information about the book and author >>
Please bookmark this page and visit often for updated information on programs, reading groups and other materials.
Reading group materials
Discussion Questions by Chapter
General Discussion Questions
Related Events
Diversity in Teaching workshop - Discussing race in the classroom. Thursday, September 14 from 5:30-7pm in Village Hall 118 on the Pitt-Greensburg campus - This interactive, one-hour workshop will allow educators and social service professionals of all backgrounds to think about how to talk about race - Open to the public
Trip to downtown Charlottesville and Monticello - Friday, October 6-Saturday, October 7 - Open to Pitt-Greensburg students
Diversity in Teaching workshop - Trauma and its impact on learning. Thursday, October 19 from 5:30-7pm in Village Hall 118 on the Pitt-Greensburg campus - This workshop focuses on the impact of trauma on students and adults in terms of education, work, and relationships - Open to the public
Historians on History Series with Dr. Tiana Wilson - Wednesday, November 8 from 11:30am-1pm on Zoom - Open to the public
Virtual Event with Clint Smith - Wednesday, March 20 at 7pm on Zoom - More details to come
Help Us Make an Impact
We hope you will help us make an impact in our community. Become a sponsor and/or facilitator to show your support for this program. Westmoreland Reads is looking for:
- Sponsors
- Facilitators for formal reading groups
- Volunteers to host informal groups with their friends and family
- Teachers and professors to adopt the book as reading for their classes
Guiding materials will be provided to all facilitators, volunteers, and teachers.
Please feel free to contact Dr. Sheila Confer sec10@pitt.edu or 724-836-9905 with any questions or for more information.
Community Partners
Thank you to our 2023-2024 community partners who are helping to facilitate Westmoreland Reads.
Adelphoi Village
Blackburn Center
Community Foundation of Westmoreland County
Friends of Millstein Library
PFLAG Greensburg
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ligonier Valley
United Way of SWPA
Unity in the Community
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Westmoreland Community Action
Westmoreland Diversity Coalition
Westmoreland LQBTQ Interfaith Network
Westmoreland Library Network
Westmoreland Museum of American Art
YWCA of Westmoreland County