Great Stories Club on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Frequently Asked Questions

Are non-library organizations eligible to apply for a TRHT Great Stories Club grant?

No. However, institutions without a library that provide support to under-resourced, underserved, or at-risk populations are encouraged to contact their local library and create a partnering relationship with the library as the applicant.

If my library received a Great Stories Club grant for a prior theme, may we apply again for one of the TRHT GSC series?

Yes! Applications from previous Great Stories Club grantees are welcome.

What if my library has a current "Empathy" or "Heroism" GSC grant? May we still apply to host a TRHT series?

Yes! As long as you are able to meet the grant programming requirements during the project term (March—December 2019), you are welcome to apply. You may work with the same community partner or a different organization, as you prefer.

Is attendance at the orientation workshop required?

Yes. The library's project director must be available to attend the project orientation workshop in Chicago. Airfare, lodging and some meals will be covered by ALA. Orientation for "Deeper Than Our Skins" will take place on February 21-22, 2019; the "Finding Your Voice" workshop will take place on March 7-8, 2019.

Must libraries give the TRHT GSC books away to teens?

Yes. The library may keep up to one copy of each title for the library collection, and provide up to one copy for the discussion leader. All other books received through the grant must be gifted to program participants to keep as their own. If you cannot fulfill this program requirement, please contact Brian Russell (brussell@ala.org) to explore options for meeting the grant terms.

How were the books chosen?

The books featured in both TRHT GSC series were selected and the supporting resources developed during a process supported by a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. This process involved collaboration between humanities scholars, programming librarian advisors, and ALA staff. Learn more about the individuals on the TRHT GSC Implementation Team.

Will ALA substitute other books that are not on the list at our request?

No. The TRHT GSC program will provide supporting resources and training specific to the titles on the reading list only. ALA cannot accommodate substitutions, though applicants are invited to select 3-4 titles to work with from the six-title reading list.

Will only successful applicants receive notification about the outcome of the application?

No. All applicants will be notified by ALA, regardless of the outcome of their applications. Libraries will be notified via e-mail by December 7, 2018. If your library has not received notification by the stated date, please contact ALA at 312-280-5045 or publicprograms@ala.org.

What if I have questions about my application?

The ALA Public Programs Office staff is here to help. Please direct questions to Brian Russell (brussell@ala.org. We strongly advise interested applicants to get in touch by October 26 to allow enough time for staff to assist you before the November 16 application deadline. Technical questions and questions that do not involve draft proposal review are welcome any time.

What is Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT), and where can I learn more?

TRHT is a comprehensive, national and community-based process to plan for and bring about transformational and sustainable change, and to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism. It was launched by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in January 2016 with a year-long design phase and builds upon and complements the foundation's decades-long commitment to advancing racial healing and racial equity throughout the U. S.

A primary focus of TRHT is jettisoning the deeply held, and often unconscious, beliefs that undergird racism—the main one being the belief in a hierarchy of human value. This belief, which has fueled racism and conscious and unconscious bias throughout American culture, is the perception of a person's or group's inferiority or superiority based on physical characteristics, race, ethnicity or place of origin.

Read more about TRHT on the Kellogg Foundation website or review the TRHT-related resources curated for the Great Stories Club.