Recently, it was my good fortune to visit Durango and to witness firsthand the astonishing events, organized by the Common Reading Experience at Fort Lewis College and the Durango community around the visit and public talk of Sister Helen Prejean. It was inspiring to see hundreds of people, of all ages, come together in thoughtful discussions of difficult and thought-provoking issues.
The ideas in Sister Helen’s book, Dead Man Walking, were enriched by music, drama, photography, panel discussions, class presentations, and films that added depth and breadth to Sister Helen’s eloquent presentation.
This collaboration could be a model for other communities to embrace as we all grapple with the difficult issues of our time.
Jennifer Birckmayer
Kinderhook, New York
