Visit

Main Content Area

A student sits in a large chair smiling and reading a book.

Aims Read

Discover Aims Read

A Journey of Learning, Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Aims Community College, we're not just about textbooks and lectures. We're about fostering a community that learns together, grows together, and understands together. That's the essence of Aims Read, our annual communal read that unites students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community in a journey of shared discovery.

Aims Read is our commitment to increasing awareness of the diverse ways individuals navigate the world. By diving into different perspectives, we aim to break down barriers and build a stronger, more understanding community.

Each year, our dedicated Aims Read team delves into an ocean of literary works focused on crucial themes of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. This rigorous selection process ensures the chosen book resonates powerfully with our community, offering insights and learnings that extend far beyond the classroom.

Join us in our mission to cultivate a well-rounded perspective. Email aimsread@aims.edu to learn more or get involved.

2025-2026 Belonging

Gather Me Book Cover

Gather Me by Glory Edim

This beautiful memoir of family, community, and resilience, is an ode to the power of books to help us understand ourselves. Glory Edim found community through books, and as she grew older she discovered authors and ideas that resonated with her when she most needed it. Edim recounts how different writers taught her how to value herself by helping her to find her own voice. She also highlights the power of representation in literature. Her Well-Read Black Girl book club focuses on the power of books to create bonds with others. The aim is to uplift more diverse authors and stories. Immerse yourself in her memoir, engage with its themes, and be a part of a larger conversation during the 25-26 academic year!

The journey never ends with the last page of the book. Throughout the year, the Aims Read team will host a series of book club-style events. These will provide rich opportunities to deepen our understanding, connect with one another and have conversations. We will also provide resources to help employees and faculty weave the themes of the book into their workspaces and classrooms - stay tuned!

Aims Read invites you to discover and engage with this book for yourself. Consider how you might use it in your group, department or classroom to make connections with one another. We invite you to request your hard copy, ebook or audiobook below by clicking on the link below.

Book request form

Upcoming Aims Read Events

Past Aims Read Books and Resources

2024-2025 Connecting Our Community Through Curiosity

Book cover photo of new book by David Brooks, How to Know a Person: The art of seeing others and deeply and being deeply seen

In 2024-25, we put a spotlight on seeing others deeply and being deeply seen. Our common read selection was How to Know a Person by David Brooks. Brooks is one of the nation’s leading writers and commentators. He provides insight on the significance of understanding individuals, cultivating positive relationships, and creating strong communities. The act of seeing another person, Brooks argues, is profoundly creative: How can we look somebody in the eye and see something large in them, and in turn, see something larger in ourselves? How to Know a Person is for anyone searching for connection, and yearning to be understood. Limited copies still available. Learn more about the book theme by visiting the Connecting Through Curiosity Padlet

Child of the Flower-Song People book cover

In 2023-2024, our focus was on Hispanic Indigenous People, and we were excited to present "Child of the Flower Song People" by Gloria Amescua as our selected book. This moving, beautifully illustrated biography that tells the remarkable story of how model and teacher Luz Jiménez became “the soul of Mexico”—a living link between the indigenous Nahua and the rest of the world. Luz became a model for internationally celebrated 20th-century artists and worked with scholars to preserve Nahuatl language and stories. Through her deep pride in her roots and her unshakeable spirit, the world came to recognize the beauty and strength of her people. Limited copies still available. Learn more about the book's themes from these resources 

Meet the Team

Aims Read is a sub-committee of the Council For Equity & Inclusion. CEI promotes and fosters an equitable, diverse, and inclusive climate. 

Eden Welker

Eden Welker

Adjunct Faculty, Anthropology and Ethnic Studies
Chalese Nelson

Chalese Nelson

Program Coordinator II, Learning Resource Technicians