Coming Together in Skokie
Knowledge. Awareness. Appreciation.

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Immerse yourself in the culture of the Philippines this winter as Coming Together in Skokie enters its second year. Each year, Coming Together in Skokie will highlight a different culture in our richly diverse community to build knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of our different backgrounds and to weave us all more closely into the vibrant tapestry that is Skokie.

• Coming Together Video
• Reading together
      Author visits
      Book discussions
• Celebrating Filipino culture
      Skokie Public Library
      District 219 Administrative Offices
      Niles Township Schools ELL Parent Center
      Niles North High School
      Niles West High School
      Oakton Community Center
      Oakton Community College

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Coming Together Video

This brief video discusses the initiative, origins, and focus of "Coming Together in Skokie" in its second year...

Reading Together

The backbone of Coming Together in Skokie is reading and discussing books that are rich in cultural aspects. This year, we are highlighting author Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, who will be visiting Skokie in March. Numerous book discussions of When the Rainbow Goddess Wept will take place in January and February at the Library and both high schools and will be open to the entire community. Copies of Growing Up Filipino, short stories edited by Brainard, will also be available. In order to bring younger readers into the celebration this year, three additional books will be highlighted at the Library and in several schools.

Author Visits

Marketing Dreams, Manufacturing Heroes

Oakton Community College and Skokie Public Library host Dr. Anna Guevarra, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Asian-American Studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago, to discuss her award-winning book Marketing Dreams, Manufacturing Heroes: The Transnational Labor Brokering of Filipino Workers. The book examines the multilayered process of brokering Filipino labor, the Philippines’ highly-prized export, culled from interviews with Filipino nurses and domestic workers.

Monday, March 7
12:00noon to 1:00pm
Oakton Community College Skokie Campus, Room P103

Tuesday, March 8
12:00noon to 1:00pm
Oakton Community College Des Plaines Campus, Library (Lower Level)

Saturday, March 12
2:00pm
Skokie Public Library, Mary Radmacher Meeting Room

Meet the Author: Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard will speak about her novel and her experiences both in the Philippines and America.

Monday, March 7
10:30am to 12:30pm
Niles West High School Auditorium

Monday, March 7
7:00 to 8:30pm
Skokie Public Library Petty Auditorium

Tuesday, March 8
10:30am to 12:30pm
Niles West High School Auditorium

Book Discussions

Join in a book discussion of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard’s When the Rainbow Goddess Wept. Discussion questions are available on page 11 of the Coming Together in Skokie program book.

Tuesday, January 18
7:30 to 9:00pm
Skokie Public Library Book Discussion Room
Registration is required

Thursday, January 20
10:00 to 11:30am
Skokie Public Library Book Discussion Room
Registration is required

Wednesday, February 9
3:45 to 5:00pm
Niles North High School IRC

Wednesday, February 16
10:00 to 11:30am
Skokie Public Library Book Discussion Room
Registration is required

Thursday, February 17
7:30 to 9:00pm
Skokie Public Library Book Discussion Room
Registration is required

Thursday, February 24
12:30 to 1:30pm
District 219 Administrative Office
7700 Gross Point Road, Skokie

Thursday, February 24
1:00 to 2:00pm
Oakton Community College Skokie Campus, Room C111

Wednesday, March 2
12:00noon to 1:00pm
Oakton Community College Des Plaines Campus, Library (Lower Level)

Thursday, March 10
7:15 to 8:00am
Niles West High School IRC

Tuesday, March 15
3:45 to 5:00pm
Niles North High School IRC

Celebrating Filipino Culture

The kickoff celebration, which will include a fashion show, dance, music, food, and a special theatrical presentation, will be held at Niles West High School on Friday, January 28, beginning at 5:45pm. Mark your calendar now!

Numerous events will follow, taking place throughout February and early March at locations throughout Skokie. In addition to book discussions, the Library is hosting exhibits of Filipino art, an art workshop, a concert, a dessert night, and more. All events are free and open to the public unless noted otherwise. Online registration is available for most events at Skokie Public Library and a program book is available for download . Plan to be part of Coming Together in Skokie!

Events at Skokie Public Library
5215 Oakton Street, Skokie

Art Exhibit
    February 2 through March 13
    Radmacher, East, and Second Floor Galleries
Examples of the art of the Philippines will be on display, including Kut-kut paintings from Fred DeAsis, watercolor paintings from Susan Alforque-Silvano, pen and ink drawings and mixed media by Paul C. Baban and mixed media by Jun-Jun Sta. Ana.

Sweets from the Philippines
    Monday, February 14 from 7:00 to 8:30pm
    Mary Radmacher Meeting Room
In honor of Valentine’s Day, pastry chef Jack Alix of Sugar Buzz Patisserie will talk about tasty desserts from or inspired by the Philippines, and will bring samples to share. Historically, the Filipino sweet tooth became well developed during the Spanish occupation, but the Spanish sweets were adapted for local ingredients. Space is limited and advance registration is a must!
    Registration is required. Sign up online or call 847.673.3733.

Passport to The Philippines
    Friday, February 25 from 4:00 to 5:00pm
    Mary Radmacher Meeting Room
Explore The Philippines with stories and a cool craft. We will highlight the book Lakas and the Manilatown Fish.
    For grades 1 through 4. Registration is required. Sign up online or call 847.673.3733.

Philippine Kut-Kut Workshop
    Saturday, February 26 from 2:00 to 5:00pm
    Mary Radmacher Meeting Room
Learn about and try your hand at kut-kut art, led by artist Fred DeAsis, whose work is on exhibit in the Library during February. Kut-kut is an ancient Philippine art style and technique. It was handed down through the generations in Samar province, one of the 7,107 islands of the Philippines. It produces an original art form characterized by delicate, swirling interwoven lines, multi-layered texture, and an illusion of three-dimensional space.
    Registration is required. Sign up online or call 847.673.3733.

Island Magic: Folk and Art Music of the Philippines
    Sunday, February 27 from 3:00 to 4:30pm
    Petty Auditorium
The vocal traditions are as diverse as the languages spoken on the Philippine Islands. Art songs in Tagalog, developed into a form called the Kundiman, provide a unique repertoire to stand alongside traditional cradle songs and other folk material. Modern English language compositions by Filipino-Americans and popular music seldom heard outside the Philippines complete the picture as the professional members of the VOX 3 Vocal Collective perform and explain the development of these works for voice, piano, and other instruments, contextualizing the musical heritage of this beautiful country.

Tall Story
    Wednesday, March 9 from 7:00 to 8:00pm
    Youth Services Program Room
Parents and children in grades 5 through 8 are invited to discuss Candy Gourlay’s Tall Story. This tale of eight-foot tall Bernardo, a young man from the Philippines struggling to assimilate to his new home in England, is a story of a touching sibling relationship and the clash of two very different cultures. Copies of the book will be available at registration. Discussion questions are available on page 12 of the Coming Together in Skokie program book.
    For grades 5 through 8 with parent. Registration is required and begins February 1.

Craft Sunday for Parents and Children
    Sunday, March 13 from 2:00 to 5:00pm
    Youth Services Craft Room
This drop-in time is for children and their parents to make a Filipino craft.

Filipino Movie
    Monday, March 14 at 7:00pm
    Petty Auditorium
The regular monthly world film will be a Filipino movie (title to be announced).

Events at District 219 Administrative Offices
7700 Gross Point Road, Skokie

Book Discussion: 'Growing Up Filipino'
    Thursday, March 3 from 12:30 to 1:30pm
A discussion of Growing Up Filipino, short stories collected and edited by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard.

Events at Niles Township Schools ELL Parent Center
9440 Kenton Avenue, Skokie

Family Storytime
    Monday, February 28 at 6:30pm
Listen to the story of Willie Wins, read aloud by author Almira Astudillo Gilles. A fun parent-child activity will follow.

Growing Up Filipino Discussion
    Tuesday, March 1 at 6:30pm
A discussion of Filipino customs as well as insight into living in the Philippines and as a Filipino living in the United States.

Events at Niles North High School
9800 Lawler Avenue, Skokie

Writing for Children with the Author of Willie Wins
    Friday, February 11 from 10:15 to 11:30am
    Room 1542
Almira Astudillo Gilles, author of Willie Wins, will discuss her books, as well
as writing for a young audience, with students from the Child Development Workshop Class.

Let’s Go to the Movies
    Friday, February 11 from 3:45 to 5:45pm
    Room 1100
Join the Coming Together in Skokie Student Committee in viewing a contemporary film from the Philippines (film to be announced). Beverages and snacks will be served.

Filipino Cultural Breakfast
    Thursday, February 17 from 7:15 to 8:15am
    Codell Commons
A morning celebration will be held honoring Coming Together in Skokie 2011. Filipino Club students will present a program about the Filipino culture. Ginger tea and breakfast items will be served.

Fun Time: Karaoke Filipino-Style
    Friday, February 25 3:45 to 5:45pm
    Location TBA
Join the Coming Together in Skokie Student Committee for a fun afternoon of music, dancing and snacks. Practice up on your karaoke skills!

Book Discussion: 'Growing Up Filipino'
    Tuesday, March 15 from 3:45 to 5:00pm
    IRC South Classroom
A discussion of Growing Up Filipino, short stories collected and edited by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard.

Fun Time: Games and Dances Filipino-Style
    Thursday, March 17 from 3:45 to 5:45pm
    Codell Commons
Join us for a fun afternoon of tinikling (indigenous dance with bamboo poles), and other Filipino activities and snacks. Practice up on your tinikling skills!

Events at Niles West High School
5701 Oakton Street, Skokie

Kickoff Celebration
    Friday, January 28
    5:45 to 6:45pm refreshment sales
    7:00 to 9:00pm cultural program
The Filipino Community invites you to this special event to launch the Coming Together in Skokie program. A play depicting courtship, Filipino-style, with singing and dancing, will be staged in the Niles West Auditorium. Afterwards, there will be a fashion show featuring regional costumes and the latest styles. Before the program, sample some Philippine delicacies for purchase.

Filipino Day
    Wednesday, February throughout the school day
    IRC
This all-day celebration of the Philippines will include dance performances by the Niles West Filipino Club.

Events at Oakton Community Center
4701 Oakton, Street, Skokie

Philippines’ People Power Day
    Saturday, February 26 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
The Philippines’ People Power Day is a celebration of the non-violent revolution which led to the toppling of the military dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986, and to Corazon Aquino, wife of Marcos’ assassinated opposition leader, Ninoy Aquino, becoming president. Celebrate the Philippines’ People Power Day and Filipino culture by playing games, making crafts, hearing stories, and enjoying refreshments. There will also be a special performance by the dance group “Passport to Philippines.”

Events at Oakton Community College
Des Plaines Campus: 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines
Skokie Campus: 7701 N. Lincoln Avenue, Skokie

Oakton Filipino Festival
    Friday, March 4 from 6:00 to 9pm
    Room P103-104, Skokie Campus
Entertainment featuring musical performances, interpretive and folk dances, games, fashion show, finger foods, vendors, and more. Sponsored by the Filipino Student Club and Skokie Public Library. Free admission. Contact the Office of Student Life at 847.635.1443 for more information.