Press Release
For Immediate Release

Contact: Sarah Weissman, Communications Specialist
(410) 685-4186 | [email protected]

Date: September 12, 2019

MARYLAND HUMANITIES ANNOUNCES 2019 ONE MARYLAND ONE BOOK AUTHOR TOUR

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who worked to uncover Flint’s lead contamination, to visit Maryland

(Baltimore, MD) – One Maryland One Book author Mona Hanna-Attisha will visit five counties and Baltimore City November 2–5 to speak about her book, What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resilience, and Hope in an American City. Dr. Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician and researcher, helped expose and make known the lead in Flint, Michigan’s water. The tour begins at Brilliant Baltimore, the newly-combined Baltimore Book Festival and Light City. Hanna-Attisha will then travel to Carroll, Washington, Charles, Talbot, and Harford counties. She will sign copies of her book, which will be available for purchase at each location, at all tour events. Seating for these free events is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The book was chosen by a committee of librarians, educators, authors, and bibliophiles in February from more than 231 titles suggested by readers across the state under the theme, “Nature.” In 2019, One Maryland One Book is part of Maryland Humanities’ Maryland H2O. A two-year initiative, Maryland H2O explores our many and varied relationships with water—which is part of our history, our culture, our future—through multiple programs. Maryland H2O also includes the Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition, Water/Ways; the Smithsonian exhibition H2O Today; Chautauqua 2019: Making Waves; and other engaging programs to spark a statewide discussion about water.

“One Maryland One Book brings together a wide range of residents from every corner of the state to talk about issues that matter to them,” says Phoebe Stein, executive director at Maryland Humanities. “I know Marylanders will find Dr. Hanna-Attisha’s book about her work in Flint and its profound impact compelling and relevant. I’m looking forward to hearing the important discussions this book will generate.”

Dr. Hanna-Attisha says: “I’m humbled and psyched that What the Eyes Don’t See has been selected as the 2019 One Maryland One Book. I am looking forward to engaging with Maryland readers about the many timely issues that the book magnifies including poverty, race, industrial decline, inequality, toxic stress, austerity, and immigration,” she continues. “I’m especially happy that the committee recognizes that environmental justice fits neatly within this year’s theme of ‘nature.’ In Michigan and Maryland—states with an abundance of natural beauty— the burden of environmental harm does not fall equally.”

In keeping with its water theme, Maryland Humanities will host a reception at the National Aquarium in Baltimore the evening of November 2 at 6:00 p.m. The event features a meet-and-greet with Hanna-Attisha and food and drink. Tickets are $75 and include a signed copy of the book. The reception is One Maryland One Book’s only event with a fee for attendees and proceeds support Maryland Humanities literary programs.

About the Book

This year’s inspirational read is What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City by Mona Hanna-Attisha. The book chronicles Dr. Mona’s relentless pursuit to uncover the contamination of Flint, Michigan’s drinking water, which would lead to her testifying in front of Congress. Gripping and emotional, Dr. Mona’s personal account reads like a scientific thriller as she vividly recounts the effects lead poisoning had on her young patients and the evidence she gathered to share with the world.

About the Author

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha is the crusading pediatrician who first researched and revealed the lead in the blood of Flint, Michigan's children. Named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” she continues to work to mitigate the impact of the water crisis on Flint’s children. In her powerful book, What the Eyes Don’t See, and her personal and inspiring speeches, she motivates audiences to speak out against injustice.

2019 One Maryland One Book Author Tour

Brilliant Baltimore (Baltimore Book Festival and Light City)
Saturday, November 2
12:00 p.m.
Literary Salon, Baltimore Inner Harbor

South Carroll High School
Sunday, November 3
1:00 p.m.
1300 West Old Liberty Road, Sykesville

The Maryland Theatre – The Ballroom
Sunday, November 3
6:00 p.m.
27 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown

College of Southern Maryland – Center for Business and Industry Building (BI)
Monday, November 4
11:00 a.m.
8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata

Chesapeake College – Todd Performing Arts Center
Monday, November 4
7:00 p.m.
1000 College Circle, Wye Mills

Abingdon Library
Tuesday, November 5
7:00 p.m.
2510 Tollgate Road, Abingdon

About One Maryland One Book

When we read a great book, we can’t wait to share the experience and talk about it with others. That’s one of the joys of reading.

In that spirit, through its Maryland Center for the Book, Maryland Humanities created One Maryland One Book (OMOB) to bring together diverse people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. We invite readers to participate in book-centered discussions and related programs at public libraries, high schools, colleges, museums, correctional facilities, bookstores, and community and senior centers around the state.

OMOB programs, including an author tour, take place each year in the fall. A calendar of free public events will be available online beginning in September.

One Maryland One Book is presented in partnership with Enoch Pratt Free Library and is sponsored by The Institute of Museum and Library Services via the Maryland State Library as well as PNC Foundation and BGE, with additional support from M&T Bank, an anonymous donor, and the Citizens of Baltimore County. Hanna-Attisha's appearance at Brilliant Baltimore is funded in part by Mayor Jack Young and the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts.

About Maryland Center for the Book
The Maryland Center for the Book (MCFB)—an affiliate of the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress—develops and supports literary programs and outreach activities that engage citizens across Maryland in literature and reading. As a program of Maryland Humanities, MCFB highlights our region’s literary heritage and calls attention to the importance of books, reading, literacy, and libraries.

Learn more at www.mdhumanities.org.