Peoria Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Friday, April 4, 2025 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Peoria Women's Club, 301 NE Madison Ave., Peoria

In collaboration with Bradley University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), the PWC invites you to join the Peoria Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, recognized as the oldest continuous book club in the United States. Lynette Steger, a professional educator and Peoria Women's Club board member, is the moderator.

Registration is available through the OLLI website under Spring Semester: https://www.bradley.edu/academic/continue/olli/. A small fee includes membership in the national Chautauqua Institution, contributing toward CLSC graduation, and access to the discussion, snacks, and coffee.

What we are reading and discussing:

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

In Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Isabel Wilkerson argues that beyond race, class, or other societal factors, there exists a deeply ingrained caste system that shapes people's lives and the nation's trajectory. Drawing parallels between the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson identifies eight fundamental pillars—such as divine will, bloodlines, and stigma—that underpin these rigid hierarchies. Through compelling stories of figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Satchel Paige, and ordinary individuals, she illustrates how the invisible forces of caste affect daily life. Ultimately, Wilkerson calls for a reckoning with these divisions, offering a path toward healing and a more just society based on our shared humanity.

Questions? Contact Lynette Steger at VicePres1@PeoriaWomensClub.com or (309) 642-2688