September Book Club Recap by Chrissy Thompson

Not only did we get to discuss this incredible book, but we also had the amazing opportunity to bounce questions off of George Tillman Jr. – the director and producer of "The Hate U Give" movie. YES...You read that correctly! MPISCC brought on Director George Tillman to share his motivations for producing the movie and his perspective on what it was like growing up Black in America.

Side note: If you haven’t seen this movie yet, it’s available on YouTube for free!

More on the event + why you should join MPISCC's Book Club:

The evening started with an introduction to the club and a highlight of the agenda. MPISCC then introduced their guest speaker, sharing his background and setting the stage. MPISCC President-Elect Amani Roberts led an engaging 30-minute interview with George, asking a range of questions about the film and why he decided to produce it. At the end of the interview the floor was opened to attendees, allowing us to ask George anything that came to mind (questions were posed using Zoom’s chat feature and read aloud by a moderator).

When 6 o’clock rolled around, it was time to say goodbye to George, and the remaining attendees broke out into smaller groups to network and discuss the book further – emotions and personal stories included.

All in all, MPISCC didn’t disappoint with their first virtual Book Club. From interviewing the film's director and producer to facilitating seamless breakout sessions that engaged genuine conversation, they truly managed to capture an inclusive theme and offer unequivocal value to everyone that attended. Can’t wait until next time!