Ohio Book Awards

The Ohio Book Awards will be presented live at the historic Ohio Statehouse Atrium, with a reception that includes heavy hors d'oeuvres and complimentary drinks. The program will include interviews with each Award winner — including Laura — followed by book signing and meeting the winners. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

This is a ticketed event.

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Dream Town with Laura Meckler

Join award-winning Washington Post journalist Laura Meckler as she talks about her book, Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equality. Meckler—herself a product of Shaker Heights—takes a deeper look into the place that shaped her, investigating its complicated history and its ongoing challenges in order to untangle myth from truth.

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Researching Dream Town: A Talk with Laura Meckler about Making the Book

Washington Post writer Laura Meckler returns to Shaker Library to discuss the process of researching her book, Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity. Laura will focus on primary source materials she used from Shaker Library’s Local History Collection and elsewhere, and will discuss the methods she used in researching the story.

The conversation will focus on both the author's research process and the book’s content.

Laura's visit is cosponsored by the Shaker Historical Society.

Register for the event here.

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Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Laura will participate in a panel discussion titled “American Dreams and Nightmares: The Life of the American Suburb.” With Becky Nicolaides, Tracie McMillan, Benjamin Herold and Miriam Pawel

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Book Talk

I’ll be in conversation with L’Heureux Lewis-McCoy, associate professor in the Sociology of Education program at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development; and Renee Romano, the Robert S. Danforth Professor of History and Professor of Comparative American Studies and Africana Studies at Oberlin College (and fellow Shakerite and friend of mine from high school).

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A book talk celebrating my grandmother

This book talk is part of a day of celebration marking the legacy of my grandmother, Dr. Frances Reissman Cousens, who was a sociology professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. UM-Dearborn’s Sociology Department is naming a lab in honor of two of the school’s beloved sociologists — Jim Gruber and my grandmother.

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Book talk and reading

Laura will be discussing and reading from her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity. Questions and answers welcomed. Book signing and wine and cheese reception to follow.

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Learning Together Book Conversation

An online discussion of Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity sponsored by the New Jersey Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. In conversation with Rev. Eric Dobson, Deputy Director of the Fair Share Housing Center. Advance registration required at this link.

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By the Book talk

Laura will be discussing her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity. Her appearance is part of the By the Book series at the Cleveland History Center featuring a diverse group of authors whose narratives draw on historic events.

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Cleveland Jewish Book Festival

Laura will be discussing her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity. This event is in conjunction with the Siegel Life Long Learning Program, and sponsored by the Sharon and Joel Freimuth Memorial Fund, beloved mother and brother of a dear friend.

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Book talk

Laura will be discussing her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity

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Book talk

Laura will be discussing her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity

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On Racial Equity & the Legacy of Dr. King

King: A Life is the first major biography of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. in decades; in it, JONATHAN EIG offers an intimate view of an emotionally troubled man who was rarely at peace with himself. In Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity, LAURA MECKLER tells the story of a decadeslong pursuit in Shaker Heights, Ohio, to become a national model for housing integration, uncovering the persistent roadblocks that have threatened the progress of racial equity.

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Book talk

Laura will be discussing her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity

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John Carroll University forum

Laura will discuss her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity.

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The City Club Forum

Laura will be in conversation with WKYC anchor Russ Mitchell, discussing her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity. The event will also be livestreamed.

To register, please visit the City Club website.

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Book talk, in conversation with Aisha Sultan

Laura will be discussing her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity.

She will be in conversation with Aisha Sultan, a nationally syndicated columnist, award-winning filmmaker and features writer.  Her work has run in more than a hundred publications, including The Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal and Newsweek. Her work explores social change with an emphasis on education, families and inequality.

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Book Talk

Laura gives a talk about Dream Town for an online event with the Cleveland Club of Washington, D.C. Cleveland-area ex-pats in D.C.—and anyone else interested—is welcome to join. RSVPs are requested.

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NPC Headliners Book Event

Washington Post reporter Laura Meckler will discuss myths and realities of Shaker Heights at "Dream Town" book talk

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Virtual forum

Laura gives a talk about Dream Town, the history of Shaker Heights and its current challenges for an online event sponsored by the Ohio Fair Lending Coalition and Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs and Education. After Laura’s presentation, responses will be offered by Reuben Harris, Jr., a former parent activist and school board member; Carrie Pleasants, executive director of the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research; and Lawrence Burnley, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Shaker Heights City School District.

Registration is required.

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Book talk, in conversation with Wesley Lowery

Laura will be in conversation with former Washington Post colleague Wesley Lowery, a fellow alumni of Shaker Heights High School. Wes is the NYT-best-selling author of American Whitelash.

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Book Talk, in conversation with Paul Mason

Laura will be joined in conversation by Paul Mason (Shaker Heights High School Class of 1973), son of Ludlow Community Association pioneers Beverly and Ted Mason. Event will be in person and live streamed.

Seats are limited. Register for the event here.

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Shabbat services

Laura will appear as a guest speaker during Shabbat services, offering some of her favorite stories and most important lessons gleaned from her research and reporting of her book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity. Among other points, she’ll offer observations about the role the Jewish community played in the integration of Shaker Heights and food for thought on the path ahead.

Book Talk, in conversation with Susan Glaser

Laura will be in conversation with Susan Glaser, longtime and award-winning writer for the Plain Dealer and fellow alumni of Shaker Heights High School. Susan and Laura met at their first jobs at the Canton Repository. Susan lives in Shaker Heights and is the mother of two Shaker graduates.

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Dream Town book launch

Celebrate publication day for Dream Town. Laura will be in conversation with Mark Joseph, father of three Shaker graduates and founding director of the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.

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