Scarsdale

LWVS Book Discussion: Cocktails, Conversation, and Caste
Thursday, April 15, 2021
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. via Zoom

In this turbulent time with heightened political conflict, is there another approach to understanding racial and social division throughout history and today?

How does the notion of “caste” change how we see racial injustice?

We look forward to having a lively discussion about one of the most talked about books of the year, Caste: The Origins of our Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.

In her fascinating book, Isabel Wilkerson asserts that America has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a social hierarchy which extends beyond factors such as race and class, which continues to fuel division and discord. Wilkerson explores and compares the caste systems in India, Nazi Germany, and America and identifies eight pillars common to all. She employs the stories of real people to illustrate how caste is experienced in everyday life and offers ideas that can move America forward towards a more united and common humanity.

For this book discussion, we are privileged to be joined at our book discussion by Richard Westmoreland, whose speech before the New Orleans City Council in 2015 in support of taking down Confederate Statues in New Orleans is quoted in the book. Westmoreland will share his experience of giving that speech and its frightening aftermath.

To continue our Centennial celebration, here is the recipe for Beatrice Sevcik and Tony Gibney’s League Centennial Cocktail.

We look forward to seeing you on April 15th! Please RSVP below; zoom link will be emailed to those who RSVP. Questions? Email Leah Dembitzer at lwvspresident@gmail.com.

RSVP HERE

Bronx River Books in Scarsdale Village is offering a 10% discount on the purchase of the book when you mention you are participating in the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale Book Group.

The Scarsdale Rotary Club cordially invites members of the community to attend a ZOOM meeting on Tuesday April 20 at noon, for a presentation on Mindfulness, Stress and Social Connection by guest speaker and scholar, Professor John D. Dunne. A brief question and answer period will follow his presentation.

John Dunne’s work focuses on Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice, especially in dialog with Cognitive Science. His publications range from technical works on Buddhist epistemology to broader works on the nature of Buddhist contemplative practices such as Mindfulness. He speaks in both academic and public contexts, and he occasionally teaches for Buddhist communities, most notably the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe. In addition to serving as a faculty member for the Center for Healthy Minds, he is a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute, where he previously served on the Board of Directors. Dunne also serves as an academic advisor for the Ranjung Yeshe Institute.

Dunne is the Distinguished Chair in Contemplative Humanities through the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also holds a co-appointment in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature. Until January 2016, he was Associate Professor in the Department of Religion and the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University.

John D. Dunne is a graduate of Scarsdale High School (1979), Amherst College and received his Ph.D. in the Study of Religion from Harvard University (1999).

Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at noon
There is no fee for attendance. You may join the ZOOM meeting at this link:

The Scarsdale Safe Coalition: Children, Families, Community and its partners invite you to participate in a community book read about the important, but difficult topic of sexual assault in our society. Know My Name, a memoir by Chanel Miller is an honest and eye-opening chronicle of Miller’s experience being sexually assaulted at a Stamford University fraternity party in 2015 as well as the aftermath and subsequent court case.

A virtual community program to discuss the impacts of sexual violence and resources available to victims, featuring Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah, will be held on Wednesday April 21, 2021 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

To join the Zoom webinar please use this link: 

Sexual violence impacts every community and affects people of all genders, sexual orientations and ages. On average, there are more than 433,000 victims of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States, and individuals between the ages of 12 and 34 account for nearly 70% of victims. While men and boys can be victims of sexual assault, women, girls, and transgender teens are disproportionately affected. While the statistics on sexual violence are staggering, a sad reality is that an unknown number of assaults and rapes go unreported. It is not uncommon for victims to experience embarrassment or shame, blame themselves, or fear the humiliation of using the legal system to obtain justice.

Sexual violence has significant short and long term effects on an individual’s physical and mental health. While treatment and care for victims has improved, communities lack effective educational and prevention measures for young people, in particular for young men. The Safe Coalition however is working to change that. Scarsdale Safe Program Coordinator Lauren Pomerantz, LCSW will be providing suggestions for community members to embrace prevention efforts such as strategies to change social norms, create protective environments and support survivors. “Know my Name and the community program we are offering is being presented to empower victims of sexual violence and to give voice to all those victims we do not know and may never know” said Pomerantz.

DA Rocah has outlined a comprehensive and ambitious vision for the DA’s office based on her 16½ -year career as a federal prosecutor, where she prioritized victim-centered, trauma-informed policies. She will educate the community on the resources available through her office and how victims can come forward.

Miller’s own words from her victim impact statement may however best describe the efforts of Scarsdale’s Safe Coalition. “To girls everywhere, I am with you…I fought every day for you. So never stop fighting. I believe you.”

Know My Name is recommended for adults and teens ages 14 and older. It can be purchased online or at Bronx River Books. For more information, please contact Safe Coalition Coordinator, Lauren Pomerantz, LCSW at lpomerantz@sfcsinc.org or 914-721-2468.

Any updated information will be shared here:

Event: Compost Give Back Day
Where: Scarsdale Recycling Center, 110 Secor Road
Date: Saturday, April 24, 2021
Time: 8am - 3pm

Brief Description: To celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 24, 2021, the Village of Scarsdale is making high quality food scrap compost available to all residents for FREE on a first come, first served basis! Simply bring a pail, bucket, or other receptacle to the Scarsdale Recycling Center, 110 Secor Rd., from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM on Saturday the 24th and take some compost home!

COVID-19 precautions will be taken at the event.