Early Bird

1 Book/1 Project/2 Transform asks us to look at our past and present to build a better future

Faculty members are encouraged to integrate ‘A Mind Spread Out on the Ground’ into fall courses.

By Lynne Winter ’17

April 13, 2021

Now in its 12th year, the annual Metropolitan State University of Denver common reading program 1 Book/1 Project/2 Transform is proud to announce its 2021-22 selection, “A Mind Spread Out on the Ground” by Indigenous author Alicia Elliott.

Through a collection of personal essays, Elliott draws on the details of her life spent between Indigenous and white communities. By exploring a wide range of topics, including mental illness, racial justice, parenthood, gentrification, poverty, representation and intergenerational trauma, Elliott offers insight into the ongoing legacy of colonialism and the treatment of Indigenous people in North America.

Developed in 2010, 1 Book/1 Project/2 Transform encourages reading, engaging in meaningful discussion and participating in a related service project to connect students to their peers, campus and community. Additional programming includes an author visit (in-person or remote), a student essay contest, panel discussions and more.

Faculty and staff members who wish to incorporate “A Mind Spread Out on the Ground” in a 2021-22 course or program can request copies free of charge by filling out this survey.

For more information, contact Randi Smith, Ph.D., 1 Book/1 Project/2 Transform chair, professor of Psychological Sciences.