Residents of Vero Beach looking to start the new year with meaningful conversation and community connection are invited to a special event focused on the themes of courage and spiritual growth. The local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has announced an upcoming book review breakfast that aims to explore how individuals navigate life’s pivotal moments through faith and discernment.
The event will feature Carol Ludwig, the executive director of the Vero Beach Center for Spiritual Care. Ludwig will lead a review and discussion of the book How We Learn to Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde. The gathering is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 5, at 9:30 a.m. and will take place at the Richardson Center, located on the Indian River State College campus.
Ludwig brings extensive experience to the discussion, with a background in spiritual direction shaped by training at the Washington Theological Union and the Shalem Institute. She has also taught at Loyola University in New Orleans and Sacred Heart University. She will unpack Budde’s work, which serves as a guide for building courage through small, daily decisions.
Regarding the central theme of the book, Bishop Budde writes:
“The courage to be brave when it matters most requires a lifetime of small decisions that set us on a path of self-awareness, attentiveness, and willingness to risk failure for what we believe is right. I want to expand our notion of what constitutes a decisive moment, for they come in many forms.”
The event is free and open to the public. Organizers have emphasized that no prior reading of the book is required to attend and enjoy the discussion. Guests will be treated to breakfast snacks while exploring these topics of self-awareness and risk.
In addition to the literary discussion, the event serves a charitable purpose for the local community. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations of new or gently used children’s books. These contributions will go toward supporting four “Little Free Libraries” within the area, fostering a love of reading among local youth.
The Vero Beach AAUW chapter helps host this series to further its mission as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to promoting equity and education for women and girls.
Event Details:
- Date: Monday, Jan. 5
- Time: 9:30 a.m.
- Location: Richardson Center, Indian River State College Campus
- Cost: Free (Children’s book donations encouraged)
