Aims Read

At Aims Community College, we're not just about textbooks and lectures. We're about fostering a community that learns together, grows together, and understands together. That's the essence of Aims Read, our annual communal read that unites students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community in a journey of shared discovery.

Aims Read is our commitment to increasing awareness of the diverse ways individuals navigate the world. By diving into different perspectives, we aim to break down barriers and build a stronger, more understanding community.

Each year, our dedicated Aims Read team delves into an ocean of literary works focused on crucial themes of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. This rigorous selection process ensures the chosen book resonates powerfully with our community, offering insights and learnings that extend far beyond the classroom.

Join us in our mission to cultivate a well-rounded perspective. Email aimsread@aims.edu to learn more or get involved.

In 2024-25, we are putting a spotlight on seeing others deeply and being deeply seen. Our common read selection is How to Know a Person by David Brooks. Brooks provides insight on the significance of understanding individuals, cultivating positive relationships, and creating strong communities.

Our common read goal for this book is to help individuals on our campuses build connections and enhance their social life experiences. The act of seeing another person, Brooks argues, is profoundly creative: How can we look somebody in the eye and see something large in them, and in turn, see something larger in ourselves? How to Know a Person is for anyone searching for connection, and yearning to be understood.

We extend an open invitation for anyone interested to pick up a free copy of the book from any Learning Commons location. Immerse yourself in the story, engage with its themes, and be a part of a larger conversation.

But the journey doesn't end with the last page of the book. Throughout the year, the Aims Read team will host a series of discussions and events.. These will provide rich opportunities to deepen our understanding, connect with one another and  have conversations. We also provide resources to help employees and faculty weave the themes of the book into their workspaces and classrooms. Find resources and suggestions to engage further with the book on the Aims Read 2024-25 Connecting Through Curiosity Padlet. 

Last year, we distributed over 1,200 books, sparking countless conversations and shared moments of learning. This year, we're aiming to do even more! Be part of this unique experience. Join the Aims Read journey and help us create a more inclusive, understanding, and engaged community.

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen is a practical, heartfelt guide to the art of truly knowing another person. Brooks goes through the steps he views as necessary in order to foster deeper connections at home, at work, and throughout our lives. The art of conversation and listening are key components to his approach. He has come to these well-thought out ideas for building bridges through his own determination to become a better person.

Last year, we turn our focus to Hispanic Indigenous People, and we couldn't be more excited to present "Child of the Flower Song People" by Gloria Amescua as our selected book. This poignant and insightful story promises to be an engaging read, shedding light on a theme that is as important as it is captivating.

We extend an open invitation for anyone interested to pick up a free copy of the book from any Learning Commons location. Immerse yourself in the story, engage with its themes, and be a part of a larger conversation. Limited copies still available.

Child Of The Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter Of The Nahua is a moving, beautifully illustrated biography that tells the remarkable story of how model and teacher Luz Jiménez became “the soul of Mexico”—a living link between the indigenous Nahua and the rest of the world. Luz became a model for internationally celebrated 20th-century artists and worked with scholars to preserve Nahuatl language and stories. Through her deep pride in her roots and her unshakeable spirit, the world came to recognize the beauty and strength of her people.