In partnership with the Tucson Birthplace Open Space Coalition and the University of Arizona English Department, Mission Garden invites you to a marathon live reading of Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower. This novel is an Afro-futurist vision of growth in the face of violence and climate disaster…set in 2024.

We are reading this novel aloud in Mission Garden – a living example of our collective power to re-interpret the relationship between humans and the environment, as well as between the past, present and future.

Though The Parable of a Sower is ultimately a tale of hope and growth and change, its content is often disturbing, and contains references to violence, including sexual violence. Because of this, we recommend participants and audience members to be over the age of 18. A separate children’s area will operate from 3:00-6:00 with stories, crafts, and a seed planting activity.

Light refreshments will be provided throughout the event. Please feel free to bring your own food and drink, as well as flashlights or lanterns.