At Valley Outreach, our commitment to racial equity and social justice is an ongoing part of how we learn, grow, and build community together. As part of that commitment, we created the Valley Outreach Book Club — a space for staff to engage with diverse perspectives and deepen understanding together.

Organized by Indyah Henderson, StyleXchange Assistant Store Manager, the Book Club meets every three months.  “I felt there was a need for more community-based activities,” Indyah shared. “We were doing great work through our racial equity initiatives, but outside of the committees there seemed to be a gap in how we could continue learning, growing, and connecting as an organization.”

Book Club creates space for staff to engage in meaningful conversations around complex and sometimes uncomfortable topics safely and respectfully.

Centered on Equity and Representation

The books selected for Book Club are rooted in Valley Outreach’s broader racial equity work, with a focus on voices and experiences from marginalized and underrepresented communities. Through reading and discussion, staff are encouraged to reflect on different lived experiences, examine systems and perspectives, and strengthen empathy both within our organization and in the broader community we serve.

Indyah approaches each book selection thoughtfully: “When I’m considering a book, I usually ask myself: Will this help us learn something new or see an issue from a different perspective? I look for books that encourage reflection, build empathy, and create opportunities for meaningful conversation.”

To help deepen the conversation, Book Club also incorporates supportive forms of media such as podcasts, articles, interviews, and videos that provide additional context and perspectives alongside each book.

Books We’ve Read

Looking for your next great read? These are the titles we’ve explored through Valley Outreach Book Club so far:

• Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom

• Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
• Where They Last Saw Her by Marcie R. Rendon
• Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Whether you’re a longtime reader or just looking for something new, any of these books offers a powerful window into experiences and perspectives that stay with you long after the last page.

Building Community Together

The Valley Outreach Book Club is about more than reading — it’s about creating intentional space for growth, curiosity, and connection. We are grateful for the willingness of staff to engage openly and thoughtfully, and we look forward to continuing these important conversations together in the future.

“More than anything, I hope staff leave Book Club with curiosity,” Indyah shared. “Curiosity about other people’s experiences, curiosity about their own assumptions, and curiosity about the world around them.”