'Strong Roots: A Group Memoir of George Williams College' To Debut Oct. 27

AURORA, Ill, October 11, 2007—"Strong Roots: A Group Memoir of George Williams College," a collection of reflections by former students, will debut with an author appearance and signing on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Author Sandra Alcorn of Glen Ellyn, Ill., will sign the book from 1 to 4 p.m. in Lewis Hall at George Williams College of Aurora University at 350 Constance Blvd. in Williams Bay, Wis.

The public is invited. In addition to the signing, book copies will be available before the event at the Campus Shop in Weidensall Administration Building.

The 261-page book is the result of two years of work by Alcorn, a GWC faculty member for 15 years and then dean of Aurora University's School of Social Work for 17 years when GWC became a part of AU.

The book, which costs $30, is available online at www.aurora.edu/strongroots or call (630) 844-5486. Shipping and handling are included.

In the book, Alcorn records stories of students who have passed through GWC for more than 100 years. She said their history is uniquely tied to that of the YMCA, founded by George Williams in the 19th century.

"The memoirs demonstrate consistent themes of what people value about their college education that prepared them for effective living," Alcorn said. "They share a common identity around service; relationship in community; learning-by-doing approaches; regard for the whole person in body, mind and spirit; and a disposition to learn and serve through diverse local and global ties. The narrators represent many generations. They tell their stories in the language of their time, in their own ways, but the common vision and shared values of the college are evident in each and every voice."

Alex Kotlowitz, author of the award-winning bestseller "There Are No Children Here," said, "In the best of oral storytelling traditions, Sandy Alcorn recounts the history of little-known George Williams College which it turns out had a big influence on how we deliver social services and how we think about building community. It's an inspiring and important story."

Alcorn said each of the book's five chapters traces a theme chronologically through the college's history. Particular attention is paid to the impact on its four principal locations: Williams Bay on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin, the city of Chicago, the western Chicago suburb of Downers Grove; and the city of Aurora, Illinois."

In addition to the Williams Bay signing event, future signings include from 1 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Book Store, 475 N. Main St. in Glen Ellyn, and in Bar Harbor, Maine, on Aug. 31, 2008.

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