In February, an audience at Loucks Auditorium will hear true stories and shocking family secrets from anonymous Salem residents, as performed by a troupe of local actors.
The performance, called “I Survived DNA Testing,” is one of many ways that the Salem Public Library invites the community to reflect on the 2025 Salem Reads book, “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” It’s scheduled for Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
The author, Carmen Rita Wong, is a personal finance expert who is Dominican and Chinese. In the memoir, she shares her experience growing up in a multicultural New York community before undergoing a major cultural shift moving to New Hampshire after her mom marries a white man.
When planning the events in November, Sonja Somerville, the library’s programming and outreach supervisor, told Salem Reporter that Rita Wong’s book offered a bounty of themes to explore next year, especially around the topic of complex family relationships.
The library’s calendar of events has been finalized, and include art displays, discussions and crafts, and a live discussion with the author. All events are free and open to the public. The main branch of the library and Loucks Auditorium are located at 585 Liberty St. S.E.
In collaboration with the Salem Art Association, an art exhibit of mixed media, sculpture and painted works inspired by themes of identity and family are already on display at the main branch of the Salem Public Library. The work will be up through March 1. On Friday, Feb. 14, at 9 a.m., KMUZ 100.7 will broadcast a discussion with the featured artists about their work.
A short story writing contest on the topic of identity is accepting submissions through Monday, Feb. 17. It’s open to middle schoolers, teens and adults in Salem and the top entries will be published in Press Play Salem. There are also cash prizes up to $50 for writers.
The first in-person, community event will be a live performance from Salem Latin band Pachanga on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 2-3:30 p.m. in Loucks Auditorium.
See the full calendar of Salem Reads events, including live music, book club meetings and crafts, on the Salem Public Library Foundation’s website and see the City of Salem’s website for a plain-text, chronological schedule of the events.
Print and audiobooks of “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” are available to check out in English and Spanish at the Salem Public Library, as well as digitally using the cloudLibrary and Libby apps.
Learn about the events below.
Author talk
A live, virtual discussion with author Carmen Rita Wong will take place on Friday, Feb. 7, from 11 a.m. to noon. Participants can meet at the library’s Anderson Rooms, or join virtually via Zoom. Sign up to get the Zoom link here.
Interactive art display
For the month of February, a giant art display of a tree will climb the stairway in the main space of the Salem Public Library, inviting visitors to add art honoring their family members, Somerville said. The submitted art will be mounted on the tree’s leaves, with templates available at the library’s help desk.
“These art pieces in turn will be mounted on large leaves and added to the tree, so as the month goes on, we will add and connect the images of our larger, community family,” Somerville said in an email.

Book discussions
The Brown Bag Book Club will meet to discuss “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” on Tuesday, Feb. 1, from 12-1 p.m. The drop-in chat will be in the collaboration studio at the main library.
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m., a book discussion at Xicha Brewing Norte, 2195 Hyacinth St. N.E., Suite 162, with provided Dominican-style appetizers.
“We will have tasty treats from the Caribbean Basin to enjoy while we dig in and talk about the themes of ‘Why Didn’t You Tell Me?’” Somerville said. Drinks will be available for purchase.
Financial literacy
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 11 a.m. to noon, financial planner Brenna Baucum will teach participants how to make a personalized finance strategy focusing on values and goals. The event will also discuss how history, family and societal expectations can influence financial decisions.
Through the game Pet Cents, kids grades 3-5 can create a unique pet to adopt and buy needed supplies, while learning about financial management. The activity is Thursday, Feb. 15, from 4-5:30 p.m. Advance sign-up is required.
Identity
Community organizer Hilda Leon will lead discussions about the importance of cultural heritage and preservation while living. The conversation is intended for people who have immigrated, and their direct descendants up to third generation. The discussions will be on Saturday, Feb. 8, in the Anderson Rooms at the main branch. A Spanish discussion will be from 11 a.m. to noon, and an English discussion will be from 2-3 p.m.
On Saturday, Feb. 15, a drop in-craft available from 2-4 p.m. will invite participants to bring in their own genealogy charts to make a family tree.
Salem for Refugees staff and former refugees will share their stories about resettling in Salem. The discussion will be on Friday, Feb. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Dye House at the Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St. S.E. Registration will open on Feb. 10.
History
A Thursday, Feb. 20, lecture will teach participants about Rafael Trujillo, a dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. The lecturer, Mollie Nouwen is a Latin American historian and teaches at Willamette University. The event will be in the Loucks Auditorium from 4-5 p.m.
DNA Testing
On Saturday, Feb. 22, Tyler Nusca, who teaches bioscience technology at Portland Community College, will share the science behind DNA testing and discuss the use of at-home kits. The lecture will be in Loucks Auditorium from 2-3 p.m.
On Thursday, Feb. 27, local actors will perform seven submitted stories about how Salem residents have “solved family mysteries, learned of family secrets, and come to understand themselves in new ways,” Somerville said.
The performance, called “I Survived DNA Testing” will go from 7-8:30 p.m. and is first-come, first-seated.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.