Hartford Public Library receives NEA grant for citywide reading initiative
Hartford Public Library (HPL) has been awarded a $19,490 grant to host the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read, a citywide initiative designed to foster community connection through literature.
The program, held in partnership with Arts Midwest, will center on the book “Bite by Bite” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, which explores themes of food, nature, and cultural identity. For younger readers, the library will feature the companion book “Anni Dreams of Biryani” by Namita Moolani Mehra and Chaaya Prabhat.
As part of the grant, the library will distribute more than 200 free copies of the selected titles to residents, local schools, and community partners.
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“This generous grant allows Hartford Public Library to celebrate storytelling as a way to build bridges across cultures, generations, and experiences,” Bridget E. Quinn, HPL’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “Through food, literature, and shared dialogue, we hope to create lasting moments of connection and understanding across our community.”
Planned programming includes community discussions, cooking demonstrations, creative writing workshops, and nature walks.
The NEA Big Read is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on the impact of these grants, the library encourages the public to visit arts.gov.
The NEA Big Read event schedule
Youth Events and Programming
Stories and Spices: Biryani Bash
Step into a world of flavor! In this interactive youth workshop, we’ll bring history to life through smell, storytelling, and art. Inspired by the book Anni Dreams of Biryani, participants will explore the deep roots of food and culture before crafting their own spice-infused collages. Come discover the stories hidden in your kitchen with guest presenter Sarada Nori, artistic director of Layavinyasa.
Monday, April 20 | 3:30 p.m.
Boundless Library @ Rawson
260 Holcomb
Tuesday, April 28 | 3:30 p.m.
Ropkins Library
1750 Main Street
Wednesday, April 29 | 3:30 p.m.
Barbour Library
261 Barbour Street
The Secret Ingredient
Children will go on a culinary adventure beginning with the story, Anni Dreams of Biryani. Children will learn about Indian foods while enjoying the taste and smell of ingredients found in Indian cooking such as cardamom, bay leaf, and star anise. Each child will receive a journal to record their Indian food discoveries and take home a copy of the book!
Wednesday, April 22 | 4:00 p.m.
Downtown Library
500 Main Street
Register HERE.
Taste and Tell: A Food Journal Class
Join us for a delightful reading of Anni Dreams of Biryani by Namita Moolani Mehra. After the story, participants will take part in a hands-on workshop inspired by the book, where they will learn about the cultural traditions behind biryani and record their discoveries in a creative culinary journal. Each participant will also receive their own copy of the book to take home and continue the experience.
Tuesday, April 28 | 3:00 p.m.
Park Street Library @the Lyric
603 Park Street
Register HERE.
Adult’s Events and Programming
Tasting Words: Poetry & Storytelling Workshop
Join local poets and storytellers for a hands-on workshop inspired by Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. Participants will explore poetry, storytelling, and creative writing, sharing their own voices and experiences in a supportive, interactive community setting.
Thursday, April 16 | 5:00 p.m.
Downtown Library
Classroom 139
500 Main Street
Register HERE.
Adult Book Discussion: Unity Gathering: A Salon of Family Memories
Indulge in food by sharing a cherished family recipe and its history/story with others. Savor the world of food through the stories and personal reflections of author Aimee Nezhukumatathil, in her newest book, Bite by Bite.
Wednesday, April 22 | 3:30 p.m.
Barbour Library
261 Barbour Street
Taste Buds Explosion
Explore and discover new recipes that connect to nature through food and drink, and how it evokes our associations and remembrances—a subtext or layering, a flavor tinged with joy, shame, exuberance, grief, desire, or nostalgia.
Thursday, April 30 | 2:00 p.m.
Park Street Library @ the Lyric
603 Park Street
Plant and Paint
Inspired by Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s Bite by Bite, this hands-on workshop blends gardening and creativity. Learn how to grow edible herbs, vegetables, and flowers using sustainable techniques, then decorate a terracotta pot to personalize your space. Leave with new skills, a custom planter, and inspiration to grow your own flavorful garden.
Session 1: Thursday, April 30 | 11:00 a.m.
Session 2: Saturday, May 16 | 2:30 p.m.
Albany Library
1250 Albany Avenue
Register HERE.
Creative Writing Workshop
As part of our NEA Big Read programming centered on Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, join us at your local Hartford Public Library location for a creative writing workshop exploring environmental and food justice. Inspired by the book’s reflections on nature, memory, and the meaning we attach to what we eat, participants will respond to guided prompts and create original pieces rooted in personal experience, culture, and community.
Wednesday, April 15 | 2:00 p.m.
Albany Library
1250 Albany Avenue
Register HERE.
Wednesday, April 22 | 11:00 a.m.
Camp Field Library
30 Campfield Avenue
Register HERE.
Thursday, April 30 | 10:00 a.m.
Ropkins Library
1750 Main Street
Register HERE.
Wednesday, May 6 | 2:00 p.m.
Downtown Library
Classroom 139
500 Main Street
Register HERE.
Thursday, May 14 | 2:00 p.m.
Park Street Library @ the Lyric
603 Park Street
Register HERE.
Wednesday, May 20 |11:00 a.m.
Dwight Library
7 New Park Avenue
Register HERE.
Book Discussion and Community Conversation
Join Kamora Herrington, community organizer and healer, for a discussion of Bite by Bite and a guided conversation on the healing powers of food, art, and nature. Share your ideas and reflections in this interactive community space.
Tuesday, May 12 |6:00 p.m.
Downtown Library
Center for Contemporary Culture
500 Main Street
Register HERE.
Adult Book Discussion: Aromatic Journeys: Exploring Memory Through Spices
Explore the sensory and emotional power of spices in this writing workshop inspired by Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s book, Bite by Bite. Participants will create a communal spice rack together and then craft a reflection about how a chosen spice relates to their own memories and experiences. Each participant will leave with their very own mini spice rack, filled with inspiring “spices” to spark their creativity and ignite future memories.
Thursday, May 14 | 3:00 p.m.
Dwight Library
7 New Park Avenue
America 250 Panel/ Black and Indigenous Contributions to America
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion honoring the enduring contributions of Black and Indigenous communities to the fabric of America. In celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, this conversation will explore histories of resistance, innovation, culture, and leadership that have shaped the country from its founding to the present. Attendees are invited to engage in thoughtful dialogue and reflect on how these legacies continue to influence our collective future.
Wednesday, May 20 | 6:00 p.m.
Downtown Library
Center for Contemporary Culture
500 Main Street
Register HERE.
All Ages Events and Programming
Bushnell Park Nature Walk
Join artist and environmental activist Tenaya Taylor for a guided walk-through of Bushnell Park, exploring creativity, community, and the natural world.
Friday, May 15 | 1:00 p.m.
Downtown Library
500 Main Street
Register HERE.
Don’t miss
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