Transforming Health Partners Promote Belonging with a Summer Read Selection

Transforming Health’s “Here With You” Campaign Features “You Belong: A Call for Connection” as A Summer Read

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[HARRISBURG, PA] – Transforming Health, a WITF initiative in partnership with Capital Blue Cross and WellSpan Health, announced the selection of the 2021 A Summer Read, “You Belong: A Call for Connection,” by Sebene Selassie.

Called “a powerful work of spirituality and anti-racism” by Publisher’s Weekly, Selassie’s debut asserts that the key to facing the many challenges impacting our world is to accept that we “belong in every moment, to everything, and then, like or not,” to everyone.

This year’s A Summer Read selection is an extension of “Here With You,” a special Transforming Health campaign to promote physical and mental resiliency during these challenging times.

A Summer Read is a unique community partnership of WITF’s Transforming Health, Central PA library systems, WellSpan Health and Capital Blue Cross. Together, they’ve made 633 hard copies and 67 digital copies of the book available to more than 80 participating libraries throughout nine counties. Many libraries are coordinating programs and discussion groups around “You Belong.”

“We’ve been socially distant for so long, it can be challenging to start or rekindle relationships, to feel a part of the community,” said Cara Williams Fry, WITF’s senior vice president and chief content officer. “We are seeking a path to building connections lost, or never begun, because of isolation, partisanship or systemic racism. WITF and Transforming Health are honored to share this inspiring and practical book that offers a map back to belonging.”

A Summer Read culminates with a special event, “A Summer Read: Beyond the Pages,” with Selassie in October.

“I wrote a book all about how each of us belongs everywhere because, for so long, I didn’t feel I belonged anywhere,” Selassie said. “Over time (and with a lot of practice, including mindfulness), I learned to acknowledge my uniqueness while embracing the truth of my belonging to everyone and everything. My hope is that this book gives people perspective and practices to explore this central paradox: We are not separate, yet, we are not the same.”

Participants are encouraged to check out the book from their local library and join discussion groups.

“We’re thrilled to include ’You Belong’ as a PA Forward Health Literacy initiative,” said Karen Hostetter, Red Land Community Library manager and library liaison for A Summer Read. “This book will help our readers make informed decisions about their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.”

Participants will be eligible to win one of 30 copies of the book and a VIP invitation to attend a special, private signing with the author and the opportunity to hear her speak on Oct. 11.

To be eligible to win a signed copy, complete a survey online or at a participating library by Sept. 30. Participating library systems include:

• Adams County Library System
• Berks County Public Libraries
• Cumberland County Library System
• Dauphin County Library System
• Franklin County Library System
• Hershey Public Library
• Library System of Lancaster County
• Lebanon County Libraries
• Public Libraries of Perry County
• State Library of Pennsylvania
• York County Libraries

For details about A Summer Read, go to transforminghealth.org.

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About WITF
WITF is a trusted provider of public media news and programming for approximately 2.3 million people in 19 counties of Central Pennsylvania, encouraging children and adults to Live Inspired®. A member station of PBS and NPR, WITF uses its broadcast and digital media to connect us to each other and to opportunities for lifelong learning. In 2012, WITF launched Transforming Health to address the rapid changes in the health care landscape. Transforming Health is about health care, its quality and its costs, but most importantly it’s about maintaining health in the first place, through individual and collective action. WITF, in partnership with Capital BlueCross and WellSpan Health, are dedicated to empowering Central Pennsylvanians to make choices that lead to better personal health and a strengthened community. For more information, visit transforminghealth.org.

About Capital Blue Cross
Capital Blue Cross serves a 21-county region in Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley by offering health insurance products, services and technology solutions that provide peace of mind to consumers and promote health and wellness for our members. The company delivers innovative solutions through a family of diversified businesses to create healthier lives and lower healthcare costs. Among these solutions are patient-focused care models, leading-edge data analytics and digital health technologies. Additionally, Capital Blue Cross Connect health and wellness centers provide in-person service and inspiration to help people reach their health goals. Capital Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association.

About WellSpan Health
WellSpan Health is an integrated health system that serves the communities of central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. The organization includes a clinically integrated network of approximately 2,600 physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs), including more than 1,600 employed physicians and APPs; a regional behavioral health organization; a home care organization; eight respected hospitals; approximately 20,000 employees; and more than 200 patient care locations. WellSpan is a charitable, mission-driven organization, committed to exceptional care for all, lifelong wellness and healthy communities. Visit WellSpan.org.

For more information, please contact:
WITF – Sarah Sheehan, 717.919.8924, sarah_sheehan@witf.org
Capital Blue Cross – Michael Race, 717.541.7692
WellSpan Health – Ryan Coyle, 717-851-3151, rcoyle@wellspan.org