Books, Life, & More Book Club: December 2023
Welcome to Books, Life, & More Book Club! Our first book selection is Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González.
L image: Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González; R image: the author, Xóchitl González
Summary:
It's 2017, and Olga and her brother, Pedro “Prieto” Acevedo, are boldfaced names in their hometown of New York. Prieto is a popular congressman representing their gentrifying Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn, while Olga is the tony wedding planner for Manhattan’s power brokers.
Despite their alluring public lives, behind closed doors things are far less rosy. Sure, Olga can orchestrate the love stories of the 1 percent but she can’t seem to find her own. . . until she meets Matteo, who forces her to confront the effects of long-held family secrets.
Olga and Prieto’s mother, Blanca, a Young Lord turned radical, abandoned her children to advance a militant political cause, leaving them to be raised by their grandmother. Now, with the winds of hurricane season, Blanca has come barreling back into their lives.
Set against the backdrop of New York City in the months surrounding the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico’s history, Xochitl Gonzalez’s Olga Dies Dreaming is a story that examines political corruption, familial strife, and the very notion of the American dream―all while asking what it really means to weather a storm.
Interested in joining us?
Dump Your Debt Thursday Cohort
As part of each new Dump Your Debt Six Week experience, you will receive the following:
The Dump Your Debt Kit
This will be emailed before the program begins to give you tools and resources you need to show up for yourself on this journey!
The Dump Your Debt Six Week Intake Questionnaire which will guide you as you set your goals/intentions for the program.
Invitation to join the private conscious + aligned Dump Your Debt community group
The Dump Your Debt Six Week Program has a community group where you will check-in daily on your commitments as well as read and engage with posts alongside your community. This can help you stay motivated and accountable during the program..
This is also where your I will post group messages and weekly resources to come alongside you in a meaningful, helpful, and appropriate way so that you’re supported and informed throughout the program.
The Dump Your Debt Accountability System
Each Dump Your Debt Six Week participant will be assigned to another participant for the duration of the course to foster community + connection, accountability + action further investing in yours and everyone’s success.
We encourage you to get a group together and have multiple buddies. This is a wonderful way to stay accountable with family members, your group of close friends, and/or co-workers.
Meetings via Zoom
We will foster connection and meet weekly via Zoom.
Dump Your Debt Monday Cohort
As part of each new Dump Your Debt Six Week experience, you will receive the following:
The Dump Your Debt Kit
This will be emailed before the program begins to give you tools and resources you need to show up for yourself on this journey!
The Dump Your Debt Six Week Intake Questionnaire which will guide you as you set your goals/intentions for the program.
Invitation to join the private conscious + aligned Dump Your Debt community group
The Dump Your Debt Six Week Program has a community group where you will check-in daily on your commitments as well as read and engage with posts alongside your community. This can help you stay motivated and accountable during the program..
This is also where your I will post group messages and weekly resources to come alongside you in a meaningful, helpful, and appropriate way so that you’re supported and informed throughout the program.
The Dump Your Debt Accountability System
Each Dump Your Debt Six Week participant will be assigned to another participant for the duration of the course to foster community + connection, accountability + action further investing in yours and everyone’s success.
We encourage you to get a group together and have multiple buddies. This is a wonderful way to stay accountable with family members, your group of close friends, and/or co-workers.
Meetings via Zoom
We will foster connection and meet weekly via Zoom.
Look After Yourself
Photo credit: Chidimma Ozor Commer
I’m moving into a new season with a renewed focus on looking after myself which for me translates into conscious + aligned living, education, and some new ABCs ➡️ (A)dvocacy and (B)eauty that’s (C)lean.
I’m encouraging you to join me in looking after yourself. As per usual, I’ll always share the brands I love, illuminate the women I respect, and toss in some of the things that I do to look after myself!
Join me on IG live on Sunday, 3/20/22 at 730pm ET / 430pm PT for a self care + self love fundraising event focused on clean beauty — skincare and makeup. 🧖🏾♀️💅🏾💄💋 I’ll be joined with my amazing sisters Neeshea and Tatum who will be sharing how they self care + self love too. Can’t wait? Here’s a sneak peek.
A portion of proceeds will be donated to Black Women for Black Lives (BW4BL), an organization that is supporting Africans in Ukraine. If you want to donate directly to them you can do so here.