This summer, Sonoma County Library is bringing several high-profile speakers to libraries around the county, each notable for their own creative contributions. This includes Nigel Poor, visual artist, creator, producer and host of the podcast Ear Hustle; Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eliza Griswold; computer scientist, composer, visual artist and author Jaron Lanier; acclaimed book critic and author Maureen Corrigan; and Firoozeh Dumas, bestselling author of the humorous book “Funny in Farsi.” These events occur all around the county at different times in June and July; a full list of upcoming speakers may be found at sclib.us/dss2019.
Not to be left out of this exciting series, Healdsburg Library will be hosting Nic Sheff on Saturday, June 29 at 2 p.m. Nic’s struggle with substance abuse disorder is the story of “Beautiful Boy,” a book by Nic’s father, David Sheff. Based on David’s book as well as the story from Nic’s own book, “Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines,” Beautiful Boy has now been released as a major motion picture starring Timothée Chalamet as Nic and Steve Carell as David, garnering significant award nominations for Chalamet.
The story is compelling and authentic, heartbreaking and gripping. Nic’s story and embrace of the vulnerability of sharing that story publicly across the nation have provided an inspiring human face for the struggle common to so many. Even the stories of how the books came to be finished is itself a dramatic story of heartbreak and triumph.
Since the two books were completed more than 10 years ago, the national crisis has deepened and become even more of a challenge. We hope you will consider attending Nic’s talk as part of a societal turn toward the crisis. By leaning in, we may find inspiration to help one another through this epidemic and come out stronger on the other side.
On a related topic, the library is also offering weekly Drop-In Wellness Group sessions for teens this summer hosted by Social Advocates for Youth (SAY). The sessions are Thursday afternoons, 1 to 2 p.m., every week until the end of July (except Independence Day, July 4). This partnership offers teens new tools and skills for coping with the challenges we face as individuals and as a society.
Teens will explore new, positive expressions and ways of understanding our often uncomfortable world. The groups focus on supporting mental wellness and healthy coping strategies through making art, sharing, and even just listening to others. There are no requirements for attending — the groups are welcome to any and all teens. Even for those who feel like they are doing well, it is an opportunity to learn more and help others by showing up.
Dropping in on these groups is fine, or if you need a reminder, you can sign up online on our events calendar or by giving us a call at 433-3772.
Jon Haupt is the branch manager of the Healdsburg Regional Library.
