In partnership with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) the Centre for Engaged Inclusion (CEI) brings you Beyond the Book for the entire Lansing Community College community.
What is Beyond the Book?
As a part of the four pillars of the ODI:
- Social Justice
- Belonging
- Advocacy
- Education
Beyond the Book is focused on embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by exploring four themes with four different books at the campus-wide level:
- Gender and Self Identity
- Global and Cultural Perspective
- Accessibility & Advocacy
- Diversity and Racial Equity
LCC students and employees are provided with free copies of best-selling books from major publishing houses in order to provide as much accessibility to the book as possible.
LCC individuals are encouraged to engage with these two outstanding, thought provoking books in 2022-2023 academic year.
You do not need to have read the book to join a Beyond the Book conversation each month.
Ask your faculty if you can receive extra credit for attending the Beyond the Book conversations.
Once a month designated facilitators will cover topics related to the specific theme for each of the books, the information in the book, music related to the theme, art components related to the ODI and CEI designated themes and more.

Themes:
Global & Cultural Perspectives
Diversity & Racial Equity
How to be an Antiracist
by Ibram X. Kendi
The purpose of Beyond the Book is to expand the dialogues, learning and engagement around diversity, equity, and inclusion themed books to foster a greater sense of community all while celebrating difference. This program is designed to provide an enjoyable and positive reading experience both inside and outside of the classroom. The aim of the Diversity Campus Reading Circles is to engage students, faculty, staff, and the larger community in a wide range of social discussion around DEI themes and intellectual activities to create an inclusive campus community.
Research Guide
Use the Beyond the Book Research Guide to learn more about the book and explore related themes.
Previous Titles and Facilitators
2021-2022

Theme 2 - Global & Cultural Perspectives:
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of
Plants
by Robin Wall
2020-2021

Theme 1 - Gender & Self-Identity:
We Should All be Feminists
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Theme 2 - Global & Cultural Perspectives:
From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death
by Caitlin Doughty

Theme 3 - Accessibility & Advocacy:
The Sun Does Shine
by Anthony Ray Hinton

Theme 4 - Diversity & Racial Equity:
There There
by Tommy Orange
Facilitators:
Prof. Judy Allen, English
Prof. Tim Deines, English
Prof. Mel Hernandez, English
Sarah Garcia-Linz, Academic Success Coach
Prof. Christopher Manning, English
Angela Patrick
Eric Pouncil
Prof. Melissa Kaplan, Business, Communication & Arts
Prof. Mark Kelland, Psychology
Prof. Tamara McDiarmid, Criminal Justice
Eva Menafee, Academic Advisor
Loretta Osborn, Health & Human Services
Jonathan Rosewood
Ana Woehr, Academic Advisor
2019-2020
There There by Tommy Orange
2018-2019
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
2017-2018
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
2016-2017
Tomatoland by Barry Estabrook
2015-2016
The True American by Anand Giridharadas
2014-2015
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Centre for Engaged Inclusion
Email: lcc-thecentre@star.lcc.edu
Phone: (517) 483-1616
Hours:
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location:
Gannon Building, Room 2204