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Yolanda Mendez, WISE Arizona Secretary, is a self-proclaimed “bookhead.” She loves reading and she loves WISE. The WISE Arizona Book Club was born out of her desire to bring those two loves together in a place for women to connect over these shared loves.  “I wanted to create a fun and spirited place to talk and learn for connection,” she says.

WISE Arizona’s Book Club (WISE ABC) launched in 2020, with the conscious decision to -read books written by women, helping to amplify underrepresented voices, and broaden the perspectives of the readers. Rather than selecting titles one might expect to see on a professional organization’s booklist, Yolanda and the club choose books from a variety of genres and forms - from mystery to biography to contemporary social issues - and always with the women’s perspective in mind. It offers WISE ABC readers the chance to “read things we might not normally read,” according to Yolanda. The list of past reads is a diverse one, and includes such titles as:  “Becoming,” by Michelle Obama, “Clap When You Land,” Elizabeth Acevedo, “Such a Fun Age,” Kiley Reid, and “The Undocumented Americans,” by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio.

The books are nominated and chosen by the readers, thereby offering everyone who wants one, a vote for the choices. When the book club started in 2020, the world was still in lockdown, so the group shared their readings virtually. As the world reopened, the club has remained virtual, allowing WISE members from any chapter to join in the conversations. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month, and are free to attend, but RSVP is requested. The schedule and upcoming book selections can be found on the WISE Arizona event page. 

Come read with the WISE Arizona Book Club on the third Thursday, make new friends, both on and off the page - and be prepared to read outside of your comfort zone!!