Juniper Village Unites Community With Second Juniper Reads Program

This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.

Juniper Village at Brookline in State College brought its residents and members of the community together with its second-ever Juniper Reads event.

The second iteration of Juniper Reads explored the novel “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown. Juniper Reads participants met on Friday, Jan. 10, to discuss the book and its themes of perseverance, teamwork and history. The evening also was an opportunity to further deeper community connections through reading.

“Leading the discussion on ‘The Boys in the Boat’ was a wonderful experience,” Judy Bedford, a Juniper resident and former English teacher, remarked. “It was incredible to hear everyone’s thoughts and reflections and to see how the story sparked such meaningful conversations among us all.”

“The Boys in the Boat” follows the story of nine American rowers from the University of Washington on their way to the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin during the Great Depression, exploring themes of teamwork, triumph and determination.

The group discussion on Friday, Jan. 10, discussed topics such as class struggles, comparing the book with its film counterpart and the importance of preserving history through stories.

“The success of this event is a true indication of the power of community and the joy that literature brings to all ages,” Caitlin Rokavec, the connections director at Juniper Village at Brookline, shared. “It was a great opportunity for the residents to share their thoughts as well as listen to Judy’s encouraging discussion.”

 The event, a collaborative effort with the Pennsylvania Center for the Book and the Schlow Centre Region Library, aimed to not only celebrate the power of storytelling, but to also foster a strong sense of community connections.

“The partnership between Juniper Village at Brookline with the Pennsylvania Center for the Book and the Schlow Centre Region Library brought more than just reading material — it highlighted the importance of community and the joy of exploring stories that inspire and connect us all,” a press release from Juniper Village at Brookline outlined.