"Words to Stir the Soul: Readings From the American West," will be presented by the CU-Boulder Center of the American West in Boulder on Tuesday, Aug. 27, and in Denver on Thursday, Aug. 29.
The sixth annual event will be held at 7 p.m. on Aug. 27 in the Old Main Chapel on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus, and at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the LoDo Tattered Cover Book Store at 16th Street and Wyncoop Street in Denver.
The popular program celebrates the literary heritage of the American West as more than a dozen CU-Boulder professors, students and community members read segments from their favorite western-inspired literature.
On Aug. 27 in Boulder, featured readers will include CU Libraries Dean James Williams and several CU-Boulder faculty members including Carl Bock of environmental, population and organismic biology; Alphonse Keasley of the Minority Arts and Sciences Program; Charles Wilkinson of the School of Law; and Bill Travis of geography.
A reception will follow the Boulder event in the Heritage Center in Old Main on the CU-Boulder campus.
On Aug. 29 in Denver the featured readers will include Steve Burkholder, mayor of Lakewood; Joyce Meskis, owner of the Tattered Cover Book Store; Rutt Bridges, CEO of the Bighorn Center for Public Policy; Sam Arnold, owner of The Fort restaurant in Morrison, Colo.; and Bill Hornby, former editor of the Denver Post.
The program was inspired by the experience of Dr. Niles Utlaut of Boulder, who chose to undergo surgery that would either dramatically improve his eyesight or destroy it. When the surgery was a success, the exhilarated patient wanted to hold an event celebrating the ability to read.
The mission of the Center of the American West is to explore the distinctive character and issues of the region and to help Westerners become well-informed, participating citizens in their communities.
For more information call (303) 492-4879 or visit .