This month, Big D Reads unites the city of Dallas around reading and talking about one book, Charles Portis’ True Grit, and organizers have announced a larger location for “Dallas’ Gritty History: A Conversation on Race” on Tuesday, April 21 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Because of the overwhelming response to this program, Big D Reads has moved it to Gilley’s Dallas’ Southside Music Hall, 1135 S. Lamar, Dallas. The panelists include Jim Schutze, best known as The Dallas Observer’s controversial reporter who also wrote a book titled The Accommodation; Michael Phillips, author of White Metropolis; civil rights activist Reverend Peter Johnson and Latino Center for Leadership Development executive director Miguel Solis. Moderated by Julianna Bradley, current D Academy member, the panel will talk about grit and race in Dallas. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is encouraged but not required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dallas-gritty-history-a-conversation-on-race-tickets-16343101657.

Throughout the month, Big D Reads has organized book discussions, movie screenings, and other activities all devoted to True Grit.

On Saturday, April 25, Big D Reads celebrates the finale to the month with a free event titled EY Presents: Big D Reads Festival at Klyde Warren Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas. Open to the community, there will be line dancing, discussions about grit, a special performance by Howard Goldthwaite, Western Olympics, surprise performances, and a pet meetup with pawlebrities Nelson the Goldendoodle and Walter the Wolfhound, followed by a screening of True Grit at 8 p.m.

Big D Reads’ goal is to immerse Dallas in a shared reading experience, with a specific focus on increasing reading among ninth-grade Dallas ISD students. For the latest schedule, visit  http://bigdreads.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/TheBigReadDallas