District 11 Book Club: "The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America" October 22nd at 7:00 PM, Sequoya Library

All community members are invited to join Alder Tishler for the next District 11 Book Club event, a panel discussion on the 2017 book The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein. In this thought-provoking conversation, invited panelists will explore Rothstein’s groundbreaking examination of how government policies at the local, state, and federal levels intentionally created and reinforced racial segregation in American cities.

Panelists:
• Kacie Lucchini Butcher, Director, Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
• Katie Kołakowski, Real Estate Broker at City RE and Ambassador of Own It: Building Black Wealth
• Tiffany Malone, Co-Founder of Own It: Building Black Wealth and Realtor, Alvarado Group
• John Strange, Assistant Teaching Professor, UW– Madison and former Assistant City Attorney, City of Madison

Where: Sequoya Library, Meeting Rooms A and B
4340 Tokay Blvd Madison, WI. 53711
When: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
7:00 to 8:30 PM
 

Image credit: 2025 County of Dane

Before attending, area homeowners are encouraged to look up their properties using the Prejudice in Places map online to see if their house still has a discriminatory covenant on the deed. If so, you can file a “Discharge and Release of Discriminatory Restriction Affecting Real Property” form at the event.

Dane County property assistants and notaries will be on site to help validate documents, and will take the documents to the Register of Deeds on your behalf. 

I hope you’ll join me for the next District 11 Book Club gathering on Wednesday, October 22, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the main meeting room at the Sequoya Library. A limited number of copies of the Book will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the library’s Ask Desk.

This informal, public event is open to everyone—and even if you haven’t finished the book, you’re encouraged to take part in the discussion. Come for an evening of conversation as we explore how understanding our shared history can guide us toward a more just and inclusive future.