PEN WOMEN REACHING OUT
The Pen Women have refocused ourselves on the outreach mandate in our mission, namely, “provid[ing] educational, creative, and professional support to members and non-members in” the disciplines of Art, Letters, and Music. Three new outreach programs have been approved by your Board that will form the cornerstone of our outreach efforts, and use our history and resources to their fullest.
The “Field Trip in A Box” uses our Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln anthology as the centerpiece of a series of grade-appropriate multi-media curricula and lesson plans that reach across disciplines to teach students at all levels about the importance of arts, letters, and music in their daily lives. Each Field Trip in A Box is self-contained, with lesson plans, teacher guides, audio and visual aids, and assessment guides, so that teachers (or volunteers from the Pen Women branches around the country) can teach the entire lesson from the box.
We have developed two prototype boxes that will be used to solicit funding for a pilot project to roll the boxes out first in the D.C. area, then nationwide through our branches. At a time where school districts are cutting back on outside field trips, this is an opportunity to bring outside resources into the classroom in a convenient, cost-effective way for the school districts.
We are also excited to announce the creation of The Vinnie Ream Medal for outstanding accomplishment in the arts, letters, and music. The “Vinnies” will provide a platform to recognize women of distinction in these fields. More information will be announced about the Vinnies.
The Pen Women are also developing a Speaker’s Bureau, which will be cross-referenced by geography, expertise, and other factors, with speakers made available to the public. Pen Women across the country, if interested in belonging to the Speaker’s Bureau, will be asked to provide information on a standard form that will then be uploaded to a central database to be consulted by those needing a speaker.
We have also established programming collaborations with several other exempt organizations serving the community, including: For the Love of Letters, a collaboration with Youth Visions, Inc.; enrichment programming for the City of Takoma Park Recreation Department’s Youth Job Training Program; co-programming with the Charles Sumner School Museum; and ongoing or anticipated collaborations with Ford’s Theatre, National Geographic Society, and others.
These outreach programs, working together and with existing programs at the local, state, and national level, will help re-establish and reinforce the Pen Women as a distinctive organization of professional women.
Laura E. Jordan, Outreach Chair
OUTREACH CHILDREN’S POETRY CONTEST
In 2003 the Alexandria Branch Poetry Workshop Group contacted the Alexandria Public Schools to propose promoting poetry in the public school system. They were enthusiastic about involving children in composing poetry, and after talks with them, we decided to have a poetry contest for grades 3-5 in all the public schools in Alexandria. Our branch was unable to provide much assistance other than money, but they were delighted to receive funds to advance poetry.
The school teachers worked with students and provided a group of teachers to judge the poems. The winners of each school were recognized at a public reading where the winners read their poems. In addition, all of the winning poems were published in a loose-ring notebook. The event was well attended by students, their parents and families, teachers, superintendents and school board members along with members of our branch.
What a treat it was to see and hear the young people, some dressed in their best clothes, read their poems. Parents were proud to have their sons and daughters recognized and honored. In addition to having their poems published, each young poet received a medal. At the event, a string quartet from the public school of Alexandria played music in the foyer. Following the readings, cookies and punch were served.
We have continued this event for the past 6 years, and each year it has been better with poems written by the children and published. In addition, a poet laureate is selected for the year.
This has been a very successful outreach program, and we are proud to have made a difference in the community.
Barbara Nunes--President, Alexandria Branch
