Glazier to Host Sept. 18 Book Signing at Barnes & Noble
Dr. Rebecca Glazier, a professor of public affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will host a book signing for her engaging new book on the Little Rock Congregations Study on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Glazier’s book, “Faith and Community: How Engagement Strengthens Members, Places of Worship, and Society,” was published by Temple University Press in July. This book shows the benefits of religious people taking action in their communities and represents the culmination of a dozen years of research on the intersection of religion, politics, and community engagement in Little Rock.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 11500 Financial Center Pkwy., Little Rock. You can reserve a copy of the book by calling Barnes & Noble at 501-954-7648.
Nathan Treece, host of NPR’s Morning Edition for Little Rock Public Radio, will host a question-and-answer session with Glazier.
Community members can also drop off non-perishable food items for the Arkansas Foodbank and learn more about how to get involved in serving the community. Local organizations like JustServe, the Interfaith Center of Arkansas, CityChurch Network, and the City of Little Rock will be in attendance.
“Since the heart of this book is community engagement, we are hoping to make this event much more than a book signing,” Glazier said. “We will have free discussion guides for congregations, and we hope people will walk away with new ideas and a sense of excitement about community engagement.”
Through more than a decade of multi-method data collection through the Little Rock Congregations Study, Glazier, who serves as director of the research project, has surveyed more than 4,000 congregants and nearly 500 clergy in Little Rock to gather opinions from members and leaders on community issues and engagement. Together with interviews and case studies, her findings indicate that active congregants are happier and more civically involved.
“The book uses qualitative and quantitative data from clergy and congregants over 12 years of research to make the case that community engagement benefits everyone,” Glazier said. “Members are happier and healthier, places of worship have warmer and more giving cultures, and society is less divided and more democratic. I’m grateful to the congregations, clergy, and community members who contributed to this research and opened up their sacred spaces to make all this possible.”
Glazier started the Little Rock Congregations Study in 2012 with a single class of students at UA Little Rock working with just five congregations in Little Rock. In 2016, they partnered with the University of Arkansas-Clinton School of Public Service, received a grant from the American Political Science Association, and expanded to work with 17 congregations.
During 2020, the Little Rock Congregations Study moved data collection online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were able to work with 35 congregations, producing personalized reports for each congregation. Altogether, more than 200 students at UA Little Rock and the Clinton School have conducted research through the Little Rock Congregations Study, all of whom are listed in the book.
Glazier will also speak about her book during a Central Arkansas Library System Legacies and Lunch meeting Oct. 2 at noon at UA Little Rock Downtown, 333 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock.
