Aims Read

Discover Aims Read

A Journey of Learning, 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.

This Year’s Focus: Hispanic Indigenous People

This year, we turn our focus to Hispanic Indigenous People, and we couldn't be more excited to present "Child of the Flower Song People" by Gloria Amescua as our selected book. This poignant and insightful story promises to be an engaging read, shedding light on a theme that is as important as it is captivating.

We extend an open invitation for anyone interested to pick up a free copy of the book from any Learning Commons location. Immerse yourself in the story, engage with its themes, and be a part of a larger conversation.

But the journey doesn't end with the last page of the book. Throughout the year, the Aims Read team has a series of workshops, mini-discussion groups, and guest speakers planned. These will provide rich opportunities to deepen our understanding and continue the conversation. We also provide resources to help faculty weave the themes of the book into their classroom discussions.

Last year, we distributed over 1,000 books, sparking countless conversations and shared moments of learning. This year, we're aiming to do even more. Be part of this unique experience! Join the Aims Read journey and help us create a more inclusive, understanding, and engaged community.

Upcoming Aims Read Events

Child of the Flower-Song People

Luz Jiménez, daughter of the Nahua

About the Book

Child Of The Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter Of The Nahua is a 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.

About the Author

Gloria Amescua (Ah MES qua) has been a writer since she was a child, writing poems and stories throughout her life. She loves books that reach a young person’s heart, head or funny bone and strives to do just that in her writing. Gloria’s debut picture book biography, Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams Books), was awarded a Pura Belpré Author Honor It was also a co-winner of the Américas Award and received three International Latino Book Awards (English): Alda Flor Ada (Gold), Best Educational (Gold) and Most Inspirational (Bronze). Her book received three starred reviews and was also a 2022 SCBWI Golden Kite finalist. It was listed as a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, ALA Notable Books, SLJ’s Best Books 2021 and various other Best of Nonfiction/Informative lists for 2021/2022. Gloria is an educator, poet and children’s book writer.

Through Child of the Flower-Song People, Gloria Amescua carries on the legacy of her subject, Luz Jiménez, by modeling exquisite writing and teaching Nahuatl culture.