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In the Multicultural Writing Project, which was begun in 2000-2001,
several authors from
different ethnic backgrounds visit groups from equally diverse to
share some of their
writing and personal experiences and give the students direction and
inspiration in their
own writing. The writers also give the students a writing
assignment, which the
classroom teacher or group leader helps them to develop. In the
proposed project for
2001-2002 the authors return for a second visit to the students,
wherein the students
share the pieces they have written, and the author would give
suggestions on how to
improve the works. During their visit to Forsyth County the authors
also make a public
presentation at the Forsyth County Central Library.
During the fall a number of the students can also participate in a
photography segment
of the project, taking pictures with disposable cameras that
document their personal,
family, and community life. Another piece of the project are
multicultural book talks
presented by the staff of the public library. These readings
reinforce the impact of the
author visits.
At the beginning of January teachers and group leaders submit the
best pieces by their
students to be reviewed by a selection committee for possible
inclusion in a multicultural
anthology, Many Voices, One World, which is professionally laid out
and printed and
distributed to the community. The best photographs, as well as any
outstanding
drawings submitted by students are also included. In addition to
printing several
thousand copies of the multicultural anthology, the library staff
also creates in-house
classroom collections, in a simple report format, containing the
best piece of each
student to be distributed to the individual members of that group.
In this manner every
participating student has the satisfaction of seeing his work in
print. All entries in the
multicultural anthology are published in both Spanish and English,
with the project staff
translating any pieces not presented in bilingual form by the
authors. In addition, pieces
written by a students whose first language is other than Spanish or
English are printed
in that other language if a translation can be provided.
Soon after the multicultural anthology is published, a public
reading and book signing at
Barnes & Noble Booksellers is held, as well as individual readings
in classrooms and,
wherever possible, joint readings between two groups, preferably of
different
backgrounds.
The individuals served by this project are students from varying
ethnic backgrounds in
grades 4 through 12. The greatest number are in English As a Second
Language
classes of the WSFC Schools or after school programs sponsored by
the school system
or other organizations, such as the Best Choice Center.
The Hispanic League assists in the Multicultural Writing Project by
providing funds and
assisting in publicity and distribution of the multicultural
anthologies. This project is an
excellent example of "lighting the path toward multicultural
understanding." Both the
visits of the different authors and the publication of this
collection of writings drawn from
many different lives and experiences helps to advance this purpose.
It also serves as a
great inspiration to students to help them improve their confidence
and their sills at
writing and self expression. In its first year the project received
a great deal of attention
from the media, being featured in over six articles of local
newspapers. |
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