Piedmont University students, faculty, and staff have collected nearly 1,000 books for X Books and Common Good Atlanta. The books will be used in prison classrooms across the state of Georgia.
"It’s been inspiring to see people from across campus come together for this effort,” said Dr. Matthew Teutsch, director of Piedmont University’s Lillian E. Smith Center. “The books we’ve collected will be used in prison education programs, helping currently incarcerated individuals gain new knowledge that they will put to use as they make positive changes in their lives.”
Teutsch said the book drive aligns well with the mission of the Lillian E. Smith Center. Smith was a best-selling author and Civil Rights activist. Smith studied at Piedmont. Piedmont now owns and operates the Lillian E. Smith Center on more than 100 acres where Smith lived and worked in Clayton. The Center is an educational facility and a retreat for artists, writers, scientists and others committed to continuing Smith’s work.
The collected books span a wide variety of topics, from literature and grammar to art history and sociology, fictional bestsellers.
Along with Teutsch, Piedmont’s Student Government Association and Student Organization of Latinos (SOL) have taken lead roles in the book drive.
"These books might capture someone’s interest, and once they transition out of prison into the world, they could use that interest to expand themselves in our society," said SGA President Micahel Mack.
SOL President Odalys Rendon said the book collection is a project that will make a difference.
"Incarceration affects the Hispanic community. We saw this as a way to help our community while also working with other organizations on campus to make a difference," Rendon said.
The university continues to accept donations for the project. To make a donation, contact Teutsch at [email protected].
