Immigration is the subject of the 12th annual Words to Stir the Soul event to be presented by the Center of the American West at the University of Colorado at Boulder on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in Old Main Chapel.
The event presents readers from all walks of life reading aloud from great works of Western literature. This year readers will select readings that reveal the people and stories of immigration in the West rather than familiar and polarized disputes over policies. Patty Limerick, professor of history and director of CAW, will emcee the evening's events and also will participate.
"We're going to do a center report on immigration at some point, and this is a heated topic," said Limerick. "So we want to start out grounded. This isn't to say that our conclusions for an immigration project are anywhere near completion. But we want to begin with a look at the human reality of immigration."
Readers will include Manuel Ramos, author of Chicano literature and director of advocacy for Colorado Legal Services, reporter Bruce Finley of The Denver Post and columnist Tina Griego of the Rocky Mountain News. About a dozen people will read at the event.
While offering thought-provoking perspectives on important topics, Words to Stir the Soul also is an enjoyable occasion for both the participants and the audience, Limerick said.
"We know from having done this for many years that adults love to be read to," she said. "After about 8 or 9 years old, people stop reading to you and there you are stuck with a printed page, or worse, the computer screen."
Each reader chooses his or her own material based on the topic, Limerick said.
"They have gone to great trouble to pick passages that are worth reading aloud," she said.
For a complete list of readers visit . For information call 303-492-4879.
The event was made possible through the generosity of John and Tish Winsor.