SEMAP to host an evening with Jenny Slate on Dec. 16. Here's how to attend the event.

NEW BEDFORD — The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) will be hosting a special event to benefit local agriculture featuring "Parks and Recreation" and "Bob's Burgers" actress Jenny Slate on Dec. 16.

"I’m so thrilled that I can be part of such a fun and special evening," said Slate. "It's a really positive experience to be able to bring my own work to people, not just entertain them, but in a way that serves our community as a whole. I am very, very, very excited for Saturday."

"An Evening with Jenny Slate: Live Readings from Little Weirds and Beyond" will take place at the Kilburn Mill Event Center in New Bedford, featuring the award-winning actress, writer and comedian sharing excerpts from her latest book "Little Weirds," and other works.

The audience will also have the opportunity for a conversation and Q&A session with the author, facilitated by award-winning documentary filmmaker Sadia Shepard.

"Little Weirds," described by Vanity Fair as a collection of "beautiful, hilarious, genuine essays," covers a variety of topics from Slate's observations on nature to her personal experiences with heartache.

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What is SEMAP?

SEMAP, an is organization that was founded 25 years ago by a small group of people concerned with the decline of local farms. Executive Director Susan Murray said the group is proud to bring Slate to New Bedford because she also supports their mission of promoting and preserving local agriculture.

"We were lucky to have Jenny and her husband Ben Shattuck attend an event for SEMAP this fall," she said. "As soon as Jenny heard about how difficult the last several years have been for farmers in our area, she volunteered to help out with a fundraiser."

SEMAP's work in promoting and preserving local farms and farmland across southeastern Massachusetts is crucial, especially in today's challenging farming landscape, according to Murray. Developing pressure, rising production and labor costs, crop damage from wildlife, the effects of climate change and increased regulations are just a few of the obstacles that local farmers face daily.

"All of the proceeds from "An evening with Jenny Slate" will be put right to work supporting farmers in Southeastern Massachusetts and preserving our beautiful agricultural landscapes," Murray added.

The event is set to start at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased in advance at www.semaponline.org.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Jenny Slate: Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership SEMAP