August 13, 2023

This in-person, international event is the fifth Human Library we have hosted since 2014. This event is part of our #OneGoffstown series – please visit www.goffstownlibrary.com/one-goffstown/ for more information.

• PRESS RELEASE (PDF document)
• In the news: Union Leader 8/13/2023

Books in the 2023 Human Library: Disabled, Surrogate, Bipolar, Formerly Homeless, Police Officer, Pastor, Dyslexic.

The 2019 Human Library is one of a series of programs designed to help us understand racial and cultural issues, as well as provide a starting point to open up the conversation about race in Goffstown and surrounding communities. Learn more at www.goffstownlibrary.com/communityconversation/

• PRESS RELEASE (PDF document)
• See the 2019 photo album on Flickr.

Human Book Catalog for April 6, 2019
Surviving the System by Debra

“I am a woman of over 55 years who came through the orphanage system at a young age and the state foster program as a teenager. My life in the foster care system was very difficult at times. Sometime because of the stigma of ‘not belonging’ to a family and sometime because of the 2 younger siblings I had with me. One of which was special needs and could not communicate well with people. During my years ‘in the system’ I became very protective of them and it oftentimes lead to issues with other foster girls who were heartless in their dealings with a special needs child.

Being in the foster system has a stigma in the way others see you. There is a ‘Throw away’ mentality. No one wants you so be glad we took you in…etc. No vetting of homes took place at that time. Foster parent(s) were able to do what they wanted to the children. Punishments meted out were as follows: Physical and mental abuse. Forced labor at a young age. Lack of food and water…etc. Trust was not easy to earn and even harder to keep. If something went missing or was damaged it was the foster kid who was the first to be questioned. ‘She is poor and has nothing so…She’s lying…She is jealous…Even her own parent’s didn’t want her.’

I have struggled to ‘make good’ in my life without the backing of a family unit to assist me. However, where a person originates from does not define who they are. In many ways it helps shape the kind of person we can become because of the strength of will we develop in order to survive. Because of that we become the people we are today. I am now a proud mother and loving wife who knows how to care for her family.”

First, but the Last by Kelly

“I think that I have a unique story and could provide some perspective on what it is like to be an elected official in Goffstown. I am a Chicago native, Goffstown former National Service member, international volunteer, wife, and dog mom. In 2018 I was elected to the Goffstown Select Board. As a Selectwoman, I have been noted as the first woman elected in over 10 years, the first LGBTQ representative and presumably the youngest elected Selectman in the history of the town. I often am questioned not on my decisions or policies but on my age and gender. I have had to overcome an astounding amount of sexism, misogyny, ageism, and homophobia in my work environment.

I believe that I possess the ability to tell my story with a positive outlook while being honest and real. I have had the opportunity to do a lot in my career and for someone so young, I believe that gives me a unique perspective on things. I am very fortunate and while I have been the first of many things, I don’t want to be the last. Hopefully, I can inspire someone else to run for office or at the very least, provide some perspective on my day to day.

I’ve been speaking a lot with elderly residents and it would be interested to hear stories of how changing times have made them feel in this community.”

Happiness Is: Benefiting from Diversity by James

“Ever wonder how to be happy? Each of us has needs and wants and having our basic needs met is certainly a foundation to happiness. But research has found that happiness and prosperity come from interaction with diverse people.

Growing up black in the south, there were times when James was followed in stores or pulled over while driving because of the color of his skin. He came from a middle-class black family who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in the 60’s. He went on to graduate from Dartmouth College, one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, and to work at one of the largest technology companies in the world.

This book explores a life that has survived discrimination, the threat of losing the most basic needs and the achievement of happiness through interaction with diverse people and cultures in places around the world, including Goffstown.”

Tales of Gender Discrimination by Marge

“I was born and raised in a conservative white Anglo-Saxon Protestant family/community where conformity was the norm. Well, that isn’t one hundred percent, as my dad’s family were Irish Roman Catholics. I loved them and they loved me and I didn’t fully understand my mother’s prejudice.

My horizons broadened when I went to junior high school and became friends with lots of Armenian and Greek classmates. Again, I didn’t understand my mother’s bias against my new friends, but I did begin to question all of this not knowing what to do about it. These ideas conflicted with what I was learning in church.
Then came college where suddenly I was confronted with gender discrimination, even though I didn’t recognize it for what it was, taking me years to sort it all out. I attended the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and was one of seven female students in a class of one hundred twenty-one. I wish I knew then what I have come to understand now.

I would enjoy sharing my experiences of awakening and embracing the richness of diversity.”

Looking Through Darkness to See the Light by John L.

“Life is a series of events and challenges and how we deal with them will define who we are. A friend asked me once to speak to a men’s group and he wanted to know ‘Why the hell do you get up in the morning’? To find the answer I had to reflect on my entire life.

Starting with the doctor’s pronouncement at birth that I would not live more than 24-48 hours, I lived a ‘normal’ childhood. But I was living with a yet undiagnosed visual impairment. I played basketball on an undefeated city championship team in elementary school. I was captain and all-star on my high school football team. So my visual impairment didn’t slow me down.

Being blind and relying on a Seeing Eye dog, going deaf, a cancer survivor and a battery pack in my chest to keep my heart going won’t slow me down either. I’ve been discriminated against by cab drivers, counter persons at take out restaurants, church, workplace, museums, airplanes, and a variety of restaurants, but relying on faith, family and friends has always gotten me through.”

The Second Amendment Must be Protected at All Costs by John B.

“I like to talk to people. I am very personable. I am willing to talk to anyone. There is not a prejudiced bone in my body.

God Himself gave me the right to protect myself, my family and my property. The founding fathers of our nation understood that right and guaranteed it in the Constitution. The Second Amendment has enabled more freedom to the world than any other right in history. My fight against second amendment attacks has been a fight for protection against government control. Wherever gun confiscation has occurred around the world, millions of citizens have been murdered by their own dictatorial or illegal governments.

Being a white male in today’s society is not always easy. I have faced prejudices for being overweight, not a good speller, extremely conservative, and only having a high school education.”

Drag Queens and Covered Bridges by Andre

“I’m a California boy, and when I first moved to New Hampshire, my first exposure to culture was watching a septuagenarian in drag lip syncing and dancing on stage. After driving around this beautiful state, I had jokingly told a friend, ‘I’ve discovered the culture of New Hampshire. It’s two things: covered bridges and drag queens.’ He replied, ‘You should make a calendar.’ So I did.

Wanting to incorporate the seasons too, I spent a year shooting drag queens in front of covered bridges across New Hampshire. That septuagenarian, I experienced when I first moved, was my Miss May. My project, I feel, represents an interesting time and place where New Hampshire is culturally. New Hampshire is an interesting place. It is both very socially liberal and conservative. Certainly a place of contradictions.”

Being LGBT in the Internet Age by Koie

“Being an LGBT person in the internet age definitely comes with pros and cons. I am seeing more people like me but I wish more people would use available resources to learn about us and be informed. We are seeing a lot of miscommunication and hate in the world and I think talking to real people about real experiences is a way to combat that. I very much want to have open conversations with people of all beliefs and lifestyles.

Currently, I am actually “out” only to some people in my life due to issues that have arisen because of how I identify. Starting in middle school and high school, I was told I couldn’t be a lesbian because I didn’t look right or wasn’t popular. My identification was treated as a fad or a phase. My sister has outed me to relatives in whose homes I am no longer welcome. To them, anything homosexual in nature is disgusting.

I started questioning my gender about three years ago. Most recently I have had a lot of comments from people in my group, confused as to how I appear and who I’m attracted to. Recently I’ve started identifying as Queer and I hear things that people say about transgender and gay people that are incorrect and insulting. I don’t always notice that they are being directed at me but I am also not out to everyone yet. I think part of why I am not is because I hear these hurtful things around me all the time.”

Who Would Want To Be Known As The Lady with BPD? by Miranda

“I will be speaking about my experience and recovery with Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD. This mental illness is (in my experience) almost always judged negatively, and that is if the person has even heard of it. I’m often met with either misconceptions (‘Are you going to be a different person every time I talk to you?’) or shock (‘Wow! But you look so normal! Aren’t people with BPD like…psychos?’). I’ve also had medical professionals tell me to avoid getting a diagnosis because it will haunt me for the rest of my life, and who would want to be known as the lady with BPD?

If someone asked me to list the big moments of my life, it would look something like this: graduated college, did a year of service with AmeriCorps, got my Master’s degree, got married, and am publishing a book. Most people would have a similar list. These are the ‘pretty’ and socially acceptable big moments. What’s missing from my list are the years of therapy, the hospital visits for suicidal ideation, the monthly weigh-ins, blood tests, and that extra important intensive treatment I received from 2014-2016. Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) gave my life a lot of big moments, but people mostly like to hear the first list. Even before I knew what to call the disordered-anxious-paranoid-self destructive thinking I knew that my second list of big moments would often get confused for big sad/scary/shameful experiences, rather than the beautiful/transformative/inspiring moments I find them to be. This book is for anyone who wants to know more about living a happy and healthy life while living with BPD.”

A Mother’s Love, Against Addiction in the Family by Lynn

“Addiction is a family disease affecting each family member in their own personal way. It can tear families apart. Often times family members become ‘addicted to addiction,’ neglecting healthy siblings and other family members, creating wedges in marriages and enabling the person with substance use disorder to dangerous levels.I felt very misunderstood when I was faced with my son’s addiction.

As a business owner and involved member of the community, I felt isolated and alone when I learned of my son’s addiction and the public consequences of his addiction, homeless, criminal charges and spiraling loss of addiction. I decided to educate myself on the disease of addiction and advocate for access to treatment and support those suffering. I found my voice and personal experience gave the darkness of addiction a human face. A face of the families affected. I also found that I was not alone, and many others were suffering in darkness. My passion then turned to family support groups and the strength of sharing without shame.

The importance of healing ourselves and the finding of healthy boundaries, sometimes by making difficult decisions. I found family recovery by strengthening myself with support and understanding addiction. I chose to not let addiction take from me or the rest of my family. I never gave up hope. I then formed a family support group in my community and presently work to advocate for all family support groups in the state of NH.”

• See the 2017 photo album on Flickr.
• In the news: Manchester Ink Link 3/28/17

Human Book Catalog for April 9, 2017

Incarcerated Mother: No Matter What I Will Ever Do In Life, I Will Never Stop Being A Mother by Amanda

“Even during incarceration, a parent is still a parent. During my incarceration, staying connected with my children was my primary objective. I was quickly brought back to my childhood memories where the only action I came in contact with was a revolving door of disappointment which haunted me for years to come. I knew I had to change history and be the mother my children needed and deserved. I would jump through hoops to sustain our bond built over the many days that would pass.

In preparation for my sentence, my visualizations would become a clouded, grandiose judgment call. In a moment came the realization that this was their sentence as well; a sentence imposed by my actions. From the outside looking in, it would be easy for people to say it was the result of my selfishness. That just wasn’t the case. I am a good mom, I just made poor choices.

Something miraculous happened to me after a short phone call with my children’s father. After a long night of tears, I awoke to a newfound strength and call to action that would take us through to the finish line: going home. I began to find my heart blossoming with attributes I never knew existed. I remember waking one day with the decision to crochet my daughter a doll blanket and I did! I began crocheting them little gifts, drawing pictures, making them homemade games, all a piece of me and all of which they happily received. They became actively involved in requesting specific items from their imaginations. Natalie wanted a doll. Julian, a robot. Zander, a skateboard dude and Alex was happy with my letters.

My time behind the walls has come and gone. While I would love to say there have been no hiccups, there are moments of reality when society likes to remind me that I am a former inmate. There have been attempts to break the bond I tirelessly worked for and discount my continuous efforts to enforce the boundaries around my children. There are few to nil resources to support a former inmate who continues to be active in her children’s lives. In an effort to break the rules set by confined minds, I have created our own paths behind hope-filled doors where my children continue to flourish with open arms of enduring, forgiving love.”

Loving Someone With Mental Illness Is Hard by Carole

“My family includes one biological child and three adult children adopted from foster care. All three of my adoptive children suffer from multiple physical and psychological disabilities ranging from moderate to severe. People assume we are “so wonderful” for being part of a different family structure, as if you can choose to only love healthy people. This is my family and my family includes those with significant mental health and physical health problems.

Living in a family with a mentally ill family member, loving someone with mental illness, is hard. I’m not going to sugar coat it. The goal is to keep the love your family shares safe from the frustrations and setbacks out in the world. I hope my story will be helpful to someone who is living with a mentally ill loved one.”

I Am More Than What I Look Like by Caroletta

“I am more than people generally choose to see or get to know. People sometimes mistake my silence for ignorance. People are not aware of how secure and confident I am within myself. I have done much more than I speak of in public. I do not brag. Those who have taken the time to get to know me are aware of my accomplishments.

I am a strong woman. I am a woman of color. I am more than what I look like. I am more than what you see.”

Yes, I Am A Woman And Yes, I Am A “Real” Warrior by Denise

“Every day is a challenge, one that I must face no matter how difficult it may be. I am a former Army medic, honorably serving for nearly 10 years. I completed one tour of duty during the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was one of 166 member of a Reserve unit from NH that deployed and spent 18 months in a war zone. I survived, but not without invisible wounds. These wounds take their toll every day, on my mental, physical and spiritual self. They also take a toll on my personal relationships with family and friends. I do not define myself by my PTSD or my TBI, but by the strength and resilience I have to overcome daily obstacles.

Since leaving the military, the stereotypes I face are that I didn’t serve over there like the men, that I am not a “real” warrior. I face discrimination from civilians, other military veterans and so-called veteran agencies, all because I am a woman. I do not receive the same acknowledgement for my time in service as male counterparts.

No, I am not what you think a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom looks like. But make no mistake. I am as tough as tough can be. Listen to my story and learn what drives me to find the best in me, day in and day out. Obstacles are everywhere. It’s all about how you face them.”

Around The World On A Handcycle by Douglas

“Thirty years ago, I was helping my brother paint his house when the staging gave way. I fell 30 feet and sustained a spinal cord injury which left me paralyzed. Being paralyzed never slowed me down nor did it control my life.

Sustaining a life-altering injury inspired me to get involved in disability advocacy, working to make a difference in the lives of others. In an effort to improve my own strength and stay healthy, I got involved in sports and recreation. I have been able to use this involvement to educate people about disabilities. It has also afforded me opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise had or even considered, like handcycling across the country and around the world in order to raise awareness and funds for organizations that support individuals with disabilities.”

Confessions Of A Transsexual Physician by Jennifer

“I have had an interesting life. As a child, many of my experiences were a lot like those of Tom Sawyer; full of mischievous adventures. After high school, I spent four years in the United States Air Force and then went on to college and medical school. I got married somewhere along the way and had two children. My experiences are unique to me but certainly worth sharing.

I wrote and published a book called “Confessions of a Transsexual Physician” under the pen name of Jessica Angelina Birch. It was therapeutic for me, but as much as I want to write now, I can’t seem to find the emotion again. Maybe that’s okay. In addition to my practice, I take dance classes a few nights a week and I’m learning to play the piano.

Being me has always been a work in progress. I don’t think about personal discrimination much these days but I remember a time when certain medical personnel didn’t want to be put on the same shift with me in the ER. I never knew who they were, just that there were objections. I have always tried to be a good physician and focus on my patients, so having heard this has always bothered me.

I would like to be a human book so I can give others a glimpse of my thoughts and dreams. Everyone has a story to tell.”

Being LGBT In The Internet Age by Koie

“Being an LGBT person in the internet age definitely comes with pros and cons. I am seeing more people like me but I wish more people would use available resources to learn about us and be informed. We are seeing a lot of miscommunication and hate in the world and I think talking to real people about real experiences is a way to combat that. I very much want to have open conversations with people of all beliefs and lifestyles.

Currently, I am actually “out” only to some people in my life due to issues that have arisen because of how I identify. Starting in middle school and high school, I was told I couldn’t be a lesbian because I didn’t look right or wasn’t popular. My identification was treated as a fad or a phase. My sister has outed me to relatives in whose homes I am no longer welcome. To them, anything homosexual in nature is disgusting.

I started questioning my gender about three years ago. Most recently I have had a lot of comments from people in my group, confused as to how I appear and who I’m attracted to. Recently I’ve started identifying as Queer and I hear things that people say about transgender and gay people that are incorrect and insulting. I don’t always notice that they are being directed at me but I am also not out to everyone yet. I think part of why I am not is because I hear these hurtful things around me all the time.”

Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired by Marek

“I have always enjoyed the way a library provides stories, points of view and knowledge. Having people be the point of communication can give more emotion and connectivity to the story.

I have a chronic illness, called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which has changed how I work with people. The illness also caused a delay in my life, putting me in the awkward situation of being older than many of my peers but in the same place as them. Many times when explaining my illness I was told simply to “man up”, “drink coffee” or “take some medicine”, which served to minimize what I was dealing with. I’ve also made friends with others who have similar illnesses and have seen their issues take root.

My story is the life and times of someone who is sick and tired of being sick and tired. Each day, I deal with the ramifications of a relatively unknown illness, social pressure, self-actualization and trying to be useful. Success for me is winning the battle of energy efficiency in order to do the simple things in life. Failure is spending the day in bed unable to do anything.

In coming to terms with CFS, I have discovered more about myself and why just being able to be awake and active can be a blessing. Just because you look healthy doesn’t mean you are.”

Easy Does It: Being An Addict At 24 by Miranda

“Most people look forward to their 21st birthday with joy at becoming an “adult”. They can now go to clubs and drink with their friends at the bar. As a recovering addict/alcoholic, social options like these are no longer available to me. I have restructured my social life to exclude alcohol and all the things that go with it, even if it means I miss out on going to my favorite club to dance. No one assumes someone at the age of 24 is committed to their sobriety, and I find myself having to explain more and more frequently why I can’t do this or that. There are many young people in recovery, and understanding the challenges we face as this specific demographic can help them continue their sobriety.

Addicts are notorious for lying, cheating, and stealing and as a recovered addict I face these assumptions on a fairly regular basis. I have found that the best way to promote understanding is to answer questions honestly. As someone who is in recovery from drugs and alcohol, I have had my fair share of these discussions with friends and family, trying to clear the wreckage I left behind and trying to mend relationships.”

The Road To The Future: From Refugee Camp To Manchester by Tilak

“I was born in a small village in Bhutan, a small, landlocked country bordered by China and India and located entirely within the Himalayan mountain range. In the 1990’s, a government reign of terror began with arrests of innocent citizens, torture, rape, looting and death. Along with my parents, four siblings, and 120,000 other Bhutanese, we fled the country for a refugee camp in eastern Nepal. I was 2 years old.

We had no money. Shelter in the camps consisted of bamboo huts with plastic roofs and mud floors. We had no electricity of personal water supply. Humanitarian agencies provided minimal amounts of food. Life was very pathetic.

In 2013, with the generosity of UN refugee agencies and the US Government, I came to this country in search of a future. After arriving in NH, I began working for the Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire, a vibrant ethnic community-based non-profit formed to create an enduring legacy of the New American heritage for future generations through successful integration and community contributions. My involvement is geared toward supporting families and individuals to achieve self-sufficiency. Some of the services I provide are crisis intervention, counseling, educating refugees and immigrants on post-resettlement needs for medical, employment and family issues. Other services include providing transportation to appointments, case management, naturalization and citizenship orientation and home visits. We provide an outlet and resource for seniors, youth and teenagers to socialize and integrate meaningfully.

In 2014, I began serving as a residential instructor for Easter Seals where I work with adolescents on communication skills, self-help skills, sensory issues and any additional individual activities that will lend themselves to inclusion in a variety of community settings for recreational and vocational pursuits.

I have lived through many ups, downs, struggles, confusion and hopelessness. I want to guide growing immigrant communities, make a difference in the lives I serve and to be a voice for the voiceless. I am a human being and want to serve any other human being who is searching for the hands that will help them succeed.”

I Thought I Had Made It: The Journey From Passing The Bar To Becoming A Convicted Felon by Zachary

“There is a stigma surrounding addiction. People believe that being an addict makes you a “bad” person or that addiction only happens to a certain kind of person.

When I passed the bar exam and became a lawyer, I believed I had made it. After trying heroin for the first time, the law and its practice became meaningless. My life has run the gamut of human experience. I couldn’t have known the places my journey would take me; from graduating law school to conducting jury trials to opiate dependency, being a convicted felon, going to jail and detoxification.

The journey continues as I help to raise addiction awareness.”

For Further Reading

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

• See the 2015 photo album on Flickr.

Human Book Catalog for April 12, 2015

Drag Queens and Covered Bridges by Andre

“When I first moved to New Hampshire, I was pleasantly surprised to find a vibrant drag queen community. I jokingly told my friend, Seth, “I’ve discovered the culture of New Hampshire. It’s drag queens and covered bridges” That off–the-cuff joke was the spark for me to spend a year making my calendar to show what it is like to live in the Live Free or Die state. While working on my project, some people showed curiosity and acceptance but others welcomed my project with fear and disgust. In several communities, the project was met with closed–mindedness, with some bridges declared off limits. I consider my calendar to be a time slice of New Hampshire, exposing its beauty and its warts.”

Proving Fitzgerald Wrong by Keith

“What do you get when you combine high SAT scores with graduating second from the bottom of a high school class? Or when you join the Army out of high school and then go on to become a high school administrator? Or when you start off as a social drinker in seventh grade and end up stealing and drinking mouthwash from dollar stores? Keith Howard is what you get. Executive Director of Liberty House, a transitional living facility for homeless veterans in Manchester, I have managed to return to respectability in the past eight years, after living on the street.

Homeless folks are often assumed to be intellectually limited and potentially dangerous. As an active alcoholic at the time, my intellect was occasionally impaired by booze but I wasn’t limited and the only danger I presented was to myself. As a veteran who spends a lot of time with politically liberal folks who went straight to college, I’ve been stereotyped as conservative, pro-violence and again, potentially dangerous.

With a quick sense of humor, a knowledge of paper and cardboard books and a background in improv theater, I look forward to the experience of serving as a human book where I will have the opportunity to demonstrate that prejudices are not always based on fact.”

Yes, Women Really Can Be Rabbis! by Rabbi Robin

“As a Jewish lesbian rabbi who became an adoptive mom at 53 to a daughter of Mexican descent, I have faced stereotyping, misunderstanding and prejudice on many levels. I was raised a Jew in a small, mostly Roman Catholic community in northern New Jersey, where I faced religious bias—everything from having pennies thrown at me to a classmate turning on gas jets in the chemistry lab as he shouted, “Hitler didn’t get enough of you!” I came out as a lesbian to myself when I was nine years old and since then, have lost friends, jobs and places to live because of my sexual orientation. As a rabbi, I am asked some fascinating questions like, “Can women really be rabbis?” and “Does this mean you are Jewish?” My daughter, now close to 14 months, is often assumed to be my granddaughter and with her Hispanic complexion, many people feel they have the right to ask, “so, like um, where is she from?” (She was born in Phoenix, Arizona!) I am open to both sharing my experiences and hearing questions from others, believing deeply that only through relationships, even brief ones, are we able to open hearts, minds, and souls.”

Blind Optimism: “Seeing” the World Through My Rose Colored Dark Glasses by Roger

“One of three children born to a Japanese mother and father in the military, I arrived 3 ½ months premature. Due to an insufficient oxygen supply, I was given oxygen at a level that destroyed my optic nerves, leaving me completely blind.

As a child, not only was I emotionally and physically abused by my family, but was socially isolated and withdrawn. It was instilled in me that I would have to perform better than average to make up for my blindness. I was told I would have to go out of my way to be nice or face not being liked because of my handicap. Girls told me they wouldn’t date me because I was blind. In fact, I was told I couldn’t do much of anything because I was blind.

I learned early on that the one and only person I could count on was myself and that I didn’t need to compensate or apologize for who or what I am. I also learned that optimism and humor were the antidotes to many evils.

Being blind did not prevent me from completing college, marrying, having a family and running my own business. As an independent clinical social worker, I draw upon my own life experiences, treating others with compassion and empathy. I am living proof that it is possible to overcome real life hardships with hard work, personal responsibility and a positive outlook.”

Easy Does It: Being an Addict at 22 by Miranda

“Most people look forward to their 21st birthday with joy at becoming an “adult”. They can now go to clubs and drink with their friends at the bar. As a recovering addict/alcoholic, social options like these are no longer available to me. I have restructured my social life to exclude alcohol and all the things that go with it, even if it means I miss out on going to my favorite club to dance. No one assumes someone at the age of 22 is committed to their sobriety, and I find myself having to explain more and more frequently why I can’t do this or that. There are many young people in recovery, and understanding the challenges we face as this specific demographic can help them continue their sobriety.

Addicts are notorious for lying, cheating, and stealing and as a recovered addict I face these assumptions on a fairly regular basis. I have found that the best way to promote understanding is to answer questions honestly. As someone who is in recovery from drugs and alcohol, I have had my fair share of these discussions with friends and family trying to clear the wreckage I left behind and trying to mend relationships.”

Liberty in Our Lifetime: A Free State Perspective by Calvin

“Any opportunity to communicate should be taken. Left to their own imaginings, people often come to false or limited conclusions. Although I have not experienced much in terms of bias or preconceived notions but when I have, it has been due to limited understanding.

Like most people, I am trying to find my place in the world. I’ve traveled extensively and lived in ten different states. Of them all, New Hampshire holds high promise for me going forward. I hope to contribute to preserving the traditions of personal freedom that personify New Hampshire. This is also the hope of many other participants in the Free State Project and the people of New Hampshire who have welcomed us here.”

From Karachi to New Boston: My Year as a Pakistani Exchange Student by Hiba

“I am a 16 year old exchange student from Karachi, Pakistan. I am living with a host family in New Boston while attending Goffstown High on full scholarship as a sophomore. Not only am I an exchange student but I am also a cultural ambassador for my country.

One of the biggest misconceptions that Americans have about Pakistan is in terms of women. We wear jeans, we hang out with friends, and we work. There is more religious freedom than you would imagine. Yes, I am Muslim. No, I do not wear a head covering. It’s a personal choice, more cultural than religious. Another big misconception is about our religion. Islam is simple and teaches us to be good human beings. There are some who have no humanity who are giving our religion a bad image and that is something I want to correct.

When I return to my homeland, it will be my responsibility to clear up misconceptions that Pakistanis have about Americans. Much of our view of this country is from movies where we see a lot of irresponsible behavior and drugs and alcohol and not caring about people’s feelings. After coming here, I realize that is not true at all.

I hope to come back to America, maybe on scholarship to a university but in the meanwhile, I hope that people can see how beautiful other people are, no matter their religion or origin.”

Surviving Spirit – Hope, Healing and Help by Michael

“Michael, a survivor of horrific child abuse, addresses issues of trauma, abuse and mental health through public speaking, writing and music. He has been a presenter on the national level on the topic of sexual exploitation and human trafficking and was part of a ground-breaking Oprah Winfrey show on males who were sexually abused as children.

Since 1993, he has travelled the country, sharing his story of hope, healing and help. His website has been visited by well over a million people and he is the founder and director of Surviving Spirit, a non-profit helping those impacted by trauma, abuse and mental health challenges through creative arts, advocacy, awareness and education.”

Beauty is Deeper Than Skin by Kevin

“I was born and raised on Manchester’s West Side until the age of 15 when we moved to Goffstown, where I graduated from high school in 1994. As a young overweight and oversized child, I endured heartbreaking bullying and physical abuse at the hands of older, stronger neighborhood kids.

Struggling to learn the art of tattooing as a young adult, I was discriminated against because of the visible tattoos on my lower arms as well as my choice of tattooing as a profession. In 2007, my life was turned upside down when my cousin, Jason Violette, was murdered in a home invasion. That event opened the doors to my gifts as a psychic medium but opened me up to further discrimination based on my beliefs in the paranormal. I now heal people through spiritual tattooing and have truly come to understand that beauty is so much deeper than the skin.”

A Place Called Home by Jerrianne

“As a Jamaican who immigrated to this country and state over 30 years ago, I had struggled to call this place home. I had planned to move as soon as my sons were grown. Move to a place that had more Black history. Until I discovered that New Hampshire did indeed have what I was looking for and more. My story will tell how the discovery of a 300 year history of Blacks in New Hampshire changed the landscape of a town that once felt like a ‘stop through place’ to a place where I can call home a place I belonged.”

From a War Torn Country to the Land of Opportunity by Sara

“When my parents decided to leave Croatia for the United States, I was only 3 years old. Completely unaware of the impact this move would have on my life, I had to grow up quickly. As an English-speaking child of non-English speaking parents, I took on the responsibility of translator, secretary, tax filer, and appointment maker. And though it was a challenge, I am grateful for the preservation of culture, language and family in my home.

Some may think of Croatia as a beach destination, but it is more than just beaches. It has been affected by war and unrest, something many of my American friends have not experienced. But like them, I dream of an amazing future. I hope to be the first member of my family to graduate college, open my own veterinary practice, and live the American dream!”

Look at Me Now by Porcia

“When I was in high school, people would make fun of the way I looked. I was uncomfortable with who I was. I struggled with it and it hurt. But when I found out what I wanted, I decided to change it. So one day I wore a bra and nobody really said anything. And when I saw Mercedes, my drag mother, for the first time at Club 313 on stage, I was inspired. That’s when I knew what I wanted, where I would have all the power, where I am beautiful. I feel comfortable with who I am. Look at me now!”

Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Diverse Community Voices

The first event of its kind in New Hampshire, this program brings together a collection of Human Books who have volunteered to tell their personal stories and to answer questions about their occupations, lives and experiences. Readers will have the unique opportunity to check out and converse with these Human Books, giving them the chance to experience another’s journey and challenges, ask questions, and expand awareness.

• See the 2014 photo album on Flickr.

Human Book Catalog for April 6, 2014

Blind Optimism: “Seeing” the World Through My Rose Colored Dark Glasses by Roger

One of three children born to a Japanese mother and father in the military, Roger arrived 3 ½ months premature. Due to an insufficient oxygen supply, he was given oxygen at a level that destroyed his optic nerves, leaving him completely blind.

As a child, not only was he emotionally and physically abused by his family, but was socially isolated and withdrawn. It was instilled in him that he would have to perform better than average to make up for his blindness. He was told he would have to go out of his way to be nice or face not being liked because of his handicap. Girls told him they wouldn’t date him because he was blind. In fact, he was told he couldn’t do much of anything because he was blind.

He learned early on that the one and only person he could count on was himself and that he didn’t need to compensate or apologize for who or what he was. He also learned that optimism was the antidote to many evils.

Being blind has not prevented Roger from completing college, marrying, having a family and running his own business. As an independent clinical social worker, he draws upon his own life experiences, treating others with compassion and sympathy. He is living proof that it is possible to overcome real life hardships with hard work, personal responsibility and a positive outlook.

Courage to Change: From White Coats to Wings by Elizabeth

Crazy. Impractical. Just plain foolish. Those were just some of the words used to describe Elizabeth’s 180 degree career change. With a solid background in counseling, public health and clinical research , it took great courage to leave the world of pharmaceutical/biotech research to enter the spiritual world of angels, metaphysics and the paranormal.

Despite experiencing ridicule and doubt in leaving the clinical world, Elizabeth followed her heart, believing that her work as a metaphysician/angelologist was of a higher service. Assisting others as they seek spiritual truths, she is called upon to listen, guide, and educate. She is here to share the journey that took her from the steely sterility of a laboratory to the mystical, mysterious world beyond.

Embracing My Identity: Latino Pride by Eva

Eva found her passion and life’s mission when she came to the United States in 1975. Coming from an upper class family in Venezuela, it was a shock to experience going from being a member of the privileged minority to being a member of the unprivileged minority simply by crossing the border. She was the same person, with the same education and from the same background but just like that, she was automatically associated with “those people” because of her ethnicity.

In talking to her Latino friends, she discovered that Americans didn’t care who her daddy was, they were all lumped together. She decided that she wanted to raise the bar for all Latino immigrants by educating the receiving communities. By embracing her identity, she found her calling.

She is proud of who she is and had no intention of spending her life pretending to be someone she wasn’t or suppressing her true self. People fear what they don’t know and fall for myths and misconceptions. That’s why taking the time for dialogue is so important to Eva.

Along with being a wife and mother, Eva is a Police Commissioner in Manchester, serves on the Governor’s Commission on Latino Affairs and works as an immigrant rights advocate and organizer.

15 Minutes with Kurt’s Husband: Living My Dreams by Steven

Steven is a man living his dreams! Last August, he and his husband celebrated 30 years together. He is his own person and as such, is optimism personified.

Having dealt with many issues through the years, including his appearance, lack of confidence and doubting his talents, he never stopped to worry about what people thought of him being queer.

At the age of 54, he fulfilled a life-long dream of becoming a film actor and has been busy ever since, not only as an actor but as a model and producer. His talents have been called upon for the NOH8 Campaign and as a judge for Windham High School’s art scholarship as well as the NH Film Festival’s scriptwriting competition. He is currently the subject of a documentary being produced by Markin’s Media entitled, “Steven: A NH Man’s Optimistic Journey in Front of the Lens”.

His mantra? It’s never too late to live for your dreams so just try new things! Oh, and Steven’s day job? He is an order/picker for LIFE IS GOOD company. But of course!

Finding a Place to Belong by Michele

Michele is the proud mother of two sons. As her second son, Nick, grew from baby to toddler, it became apparent that things weren’t “right”. At eighteen months of age, she and her husband were handed a diagnosis or label of “mental retardation”, now referred to as a developmental disability. As Nick grew older, he had less and less in common with his peers and had a difficult time fitting in. In 5th grade, his life changed when he had the opportunity to join DreamCatchers, a group designed to provide kids with disabilities a place to belong, make friends and talk freely and openly about their challenges.

As the mother of a child with disabilities, Michele experienced the pain of her son standing on the sidelines because of his differences. She understands well the challenges and gifts of raising a “special” child. Witnessing the impact DreamCatchers had on Nick and others inspired her to want to share this concept and support model with other parents and their children in communities around New Hampshire and beyond. In 2012, DreamCatchers NH was formally recognized as a non-profit organization and has been adopted in 4 communities with over 40 members.

Learn about Nick, the DreamCatcher kids and Michele’s plans to grow this wonderful organization because everyone needs a place to belong!

Happiness Is: Benefiting from Diversity by James

Ever wonder how to be happy? Each of us has needs and wants and having our basic needs met is certainly a foundation to happiness. But research has found that happiness and prosperity come from interaction with diverse people.

Growing up black in the south, there were times when James was followed in stores or pulled over while driving because of the color of his skin. He came from a middle-class black family who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in the 60’s. He went on to graduate from Dartmouth College, one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, and to work at one of the largest technology companies in the world.

This book explores a life that has survived discrimination, the threat of losing the most basic needs and the achievement of happiness through interaction with diverse people and cultures in places around the world, including Goffstown.

Hope, Humor and Civil Disobedience by Arnie

Arnie’s work is unusual. Where else would you meet someone who has been arrested and stood trial as part of his job?

In a career of social and political activism that spans nearly 40 years, Arnie now serves as the NH Director of the American Friends Service Committee. As such, he coordinated the campaign to win acceptance of Martin Luther King Day, organized acts of civil disobedience, impersonated a presidential candidate in training exercises for grassroots activists, negotiated union contracts, interviewed sweatshop workers in foreign countries and mentored young activists early in their careers. He has had the opportunity to be a lobbyist, radio show host, writer, protester and teacher and even a “human book”!

He is currently working to repeal New Hampshire’s death penalty and will be embarking on a 2 year project to address the excess of influence large corporations and the super-rich have on presidential candidates. Through it all, he maintains a sense of hope and a sense of humor.

Yes, his work is unusual!

Lettuce Tastes Like a Wet Paper Bag by Jenny

“Pudgy” and “fat” were the names she was called as a child. Having been overweight most of her life, Jenny came face to face with size based stereotypes and prejudices early on.

She would have starved herself to death rather than eat a salad. “Lettuce tastes like a wet paper bag.” Instead, with a steady diet of pizza, chips, beer, M &M’s and ice cream, she was out of control! Coupling her food choices with little to no exercise, she one day found herself looking at 314 pounds staring back at her from the scale.

After have life-saving, life-altering bariatric surgery, Jenny lost the weight of what was equal to an entire person and in the process, gained self-respect. She now has the ability to move freely without loss of breath, has increased the quality of her life and no longer suffers the derogatory, behind the back comments about her size.

She is eager to share her journey, using humor and reality to bring awareness to the issue of “size” and the benefits of weight loss surgery.

*According to Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, there is documented evidence that overweight people face discrimination in employment, healthcare and education. With 2 out of 3 adults and 1 in 3 kids considered to have weight issues, this bias affects millions and is considered to be the last socially accepted form of discrimination.

The Power Within by Elaine

We all tend to stereotype, whether consciously or subconsciously, seeing people through our own lens. As soon as the lens is changed, we are often able to see how off base we truly were.

As a woman in construction, Elaine was stereotyped more than she can say. In her first construction job, she was the only woman working alongside 500 men. As a result, she had to work ten times as hard to prove herself in a male dominated field.

She is passionate about empowering girls and women to tap into their inherent potential through building. Helping girls at risk to have an experience that leaves them feeling powerful and strong instead of defeated and weak is the motivation and driving force behind her work.

Many young girls see themselves as powerless, torn down and objectified at every turn. Finding ways to combat that by helping them discover their potential has become her life’s work. Trading her career as a general contractor specializing in residential renovations for the non-profit Girls at Work, Elaine is doing just that!

Yes, We Have No Tomatoes by Mel

Unfortunately, the issues of hunger and poverty are often misunderstood and associated with laziness or lack of drive. The assumption is often made that individuals accessing food pantries and other services are abusing the system.

As a native Granite Stater with ten years experience in non-profit leadership, Mel will take you through a day in the life of a Food Banker working on the front lines of the war against hunger. With hunger and poverty on the rise in New Hampshire, it is hard not to feel responsible for the gaps in the system. Thriving in a business that really shouldn’t exist calls for heel-digging, resourcefulness and drive in order to stay the course and connect with the right resources, be they food, funds, friends or meaningful programs that will improve the lives of the less fortunate.

In addition, Mel has learned to develop strong relationships while overcoming her own personal fears. She hopes to share the emotional highs and lows of the all-consuming fight against hunger here in the Granite State.