This October & November, The One Book Project (One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern)
is encouraging the entire community to share experiences related to a single book’s
themes through discussions, educational programming, and entertainment. The read is
meant to pull a community together, cross cultural divides, and enhance understanding
of our diversity, all while supporting literacy. Presented by Kern County Library’s One Book Project, CSUB Office of the Provost, Walter
W. Stiern Library, CSUB General Education Program, the Kern High School District,
Kern Council Teachers of English, CSUB Department of English, and Sigma Tau Delta,
the English honor society. Celeste Headlee is an internationally recognized journalist and radio host, professional speaker and
author of bestselling book We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter, Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving, Speaking of Race: Why Everyone Needs to Talk About Racism and How to Do It, and You’re Cute When You’re Mad: Simple Steps for Confronting Sexism. Her TEDx Talk, 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation, has been viewed over 34 million times. Close to 50,000 talks have been given at 10,000
events since the TED program launched in 2009, and Celeste’s talk is one of the 10
most-watched talks posted on TED’s homepage. In her 20-year career in public radio, Celeste has been the Executive Producer of On Second Thought at Georgia Public Broadcasting and anchored programs including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, Here and Now, All Things Considered, 1A, and Weekend Edition. She also served as co-host of the national morning news show, The Takeaway, from PRI and WNYC, and anchored presidential coverage in 2012 for PBS World Channel.
Celeste is a regular guest host on NPR and American Public Media, serves as an advisory
board member for ProCon.org and The Listen First Project, and received the 2019 Media Changemaker Award. She is the host of “Women Amplified,” a podcast from the Conferences for Women, the largest network of women’s conferences
in the nation, drawing more than 50,000 people to its annual events. Celeste is also the president and CEO of Headway DEI, a non-profit that works to bring racial justice and equity to journalism and media
through targeted training and interventions, and she serves on the board of the National
Center for Race Amity. Celeste is the granddaughter of composer William Grant Still,
known as the Dean of Black American Composers and she is a trained operatic soprano.
She lives in the DC area with her rescue dog, Samus Aran.
2026 One Book Project Author
From: celesteheadlee.com 
Sharing Perspective: Art That Illustrates Conversation
To participate, please follow the guidelines found on the Call For Participation.
Finished pieces are due by 5PM on Friday, October 9th.
Questions? Contact Rebecca Penrose at rpenrose@csub.edu or Kristen Gallant at kgallant1@csub.edu.
For the Call for Participation, click HERE
2026 One Book Project Author Keynote Speech
An Evening with Celeste Headlee
Author of We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter
7:00 PM
Thursday, October 29, 2026
CSUB Icardo Center
Book Discussion - Q&A - Book Signing
Free and Open to the Public
Free Parking in Lot I after 6:00 PM
2026 KCTE One Book Essay Contest
Every Voice Matters. Every Conversation Counts.
In We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter, Celeste Headlee argues that meaningful conversations require listening, empathy, openness, and a willingness to learn from others. She insists that we must learn to talk and listen to people we disagree with, because you can't unfriend everyone in real life.
Prompt: Write an essay describing a conversation -- real, imagnined, historical, or future -- that has the power to change a person, a relationship, a community, or even society. Explain how active listening, empathy, understanding different perspectives, or overcoming bias can help people connect despite their differences.
Consider such questions as:
- Why are meaningful conversations important today?
- What prevents people from truly listening to one another?
- How can a conversation help solve a problem or build understanding?
- What can we learn when we listen to someone whose experiences or beliefs differ from our own?
Essay length:
- Grades 7-8: 500-750 words
- High School: 750-1,000 words
- College: 1,000 - 1,500 words
Remember to support your ideas with evidence from We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter. Cite specific examples from the book. Also use your personal experiences, examples from history, literature, current events, or observations from your community to support your points. Your submission should demonstrate critical thinking about the complexities of how conversations can strengthen relationships, communities, and understanding.
Submission Deadline: October 10, 2026.
Send submissions to julie_young@kernhigh.org.
Be sure to include the teacher's name, participating school, student's name and grade level.
For a copy of the contest flyer, click HERE
One Book Project Events
See a complete list of One Book Project events.
Past One Book Authors and Books
One Book Project Author Event Photo Gallery
