PA Award: Shy Porter (and Welles Robinson) on Creating Community Through Books
NPDC’s March Positivity Award Winners, Shy Porter and Welles Robinson.
Last year, two NPDC community members came together with an idea: What if we took our love of reading and combined it with our love of this community? Now, the #bookworms channel of NPDC’s discord is filled with chatter of our favorite reads, plus details on upcoming discussions planned months in advance.
This month, we’re celebrating Drs. Shy Porter and Welles Robinson with our Positivity Award as a thanks for putting together NPDC’s beloved monthly bookclub. The answers below are from Shy:
How, when and where were you introduced to November Project DC?
I was first introduced to November Project by a current member while at a totally different social event. Because I’m obsessed with documenting everything, I know the exact dates: she told me about it on April 26, 2022, and I showed up at my first workout on May 9, 2022. As a historically solo runner, the idea of running with a group was totally new to me. Throw in the fact that the start times were in the 6 a.m. hour and my immediate thought was, “absolutely not.” But given how close the Monday workouts are to where I live, I figured I would at least give it a shot and…well, the rest is history.
What’s your favorite way to stay active?
Definitely running–I’ve been doing it to varying degrees of intensity since cross country in middle school. I also enjoy barre and recently started swimming. One day I’ll fully get my life together and will throw cycling in the mix. Triathlon, here I come.
Shy in action at NPDC
What does community mean to you?
I’ve learned through experience that community is everything. It means having a tribe of people that you can lean on during tough times and who are there to celebrate with you during good ones. Community means showing up consistently, even when you don’t want to, knowing that the power of connection will make waking up early totally worth it. I’m so grateful for the NP community–it’s not an overstatement that joining NP DC changed my life for the better. I have found community and also reconnected to my love of running in a way that has led to really exciting connections, opportunities, BIG goals, and incredible possibilities for the future.
What inspired you to begin co-leading a book club outside of workouts?
Haha, funny story. During one of the Capitol Hill workouts, Welles and I connected over our love of reading and I recommended my favorite book of all time (Homegoing). His response when I described it told me that he was serious about picking it up. Sure enough, maybe a couple of weeks later he brought it up to me at the end of a Monday workout. We didn’t know each other well at that point, so I was pleasantly surprised and pleased that he’d actually read it (and loved it, of course).
Katherine Foley, one of the co-leaders, was in the vicinity as we were having this conversation and may or may not have jumped in to ask about what the book was about. Two days later, Foley approached Welles and me at the end of the Wednesday workout and asked if we would be interested in starting an NP book club. I have a long history of running book clubs and already had one going in my apartment building, but I can never say no to an opportunity like this, so we were both in.
To this day, the running joke between Welles and me is that Foley overheard us talking about Homegoing, was inspired by the conversation, and asked us to spearhead a formal book club for the community. We’re not 100% sure that it’s true, but either way, we’re so glad that she asked us. It has been such an incredible way to expand the community, see people outside of workouts, and connect with other book lovers. I’m so happy we’re doing it!
What’s the best thing you’ve learned from a book club? Doesn’t have to be NPDC’s, but give us your elevator pitch on why anyone should join a one:
Oh man, book clubs are THE BEST. It’s so nice to be in a space with people who also love the written word. I always loved English classes in school–I found the process of reading a book and then digesting and dissecting it with other people so enjoyable. I had too many majors going on to add another one, but I totally would have been an English major in undergrad if I had the time. Now I’ve settled for the possibility of a third doctorate in English once I retire. Because WHY NOT?!
What book are you reading (or listening to) now?
Famously, I don’t do audiobooks. But I’m always READING at least a couple of books at a time–to be honest I’m not sure that working on more than one is efficient, but there are so many books out there it’s hard to have just one in rotation. Of course, there’s the April 2023 book club pick: The Novelist: A Novel, which I haven’t started yet because we’re still 3 weeks out from the book club meeting and I want the details to be fresh for the discussion. I’m also reading Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make–and Keep–Friends, which is SO GOOD. I’m considering lobbying for it to be a book club pick one of these months.
What book are you most excited to read next?
My “to-read” list is truly never-ending. But one that I’m really looking forward to is Lessons in Chemistry. I’ve heard such good things about it.
What’s your top fashion tip for runners?
When it’s cold outside, WEAR MITTENS. I feel like they’ve become my fashion symbol over the past few months and I’m 100% here for it. My fingers stay toasty.
What’s your top life tip for readers?
Spread the joy of books far and wide, folks. Far and wide.
