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The Exchange - Summer 2006
"Words --the Ownership of Language"
Milwaukee Poet Laureate Peggy Hong gave an inspiring presentation at GMLC’s June 9 monthly meeting. In her introduction, Hong connected her passion for words as a poet to the greater, universal human need to own one’s language. She explained that an individual’s ownership of language allows him or her the freedom to express stories and emotions that would otherwise remain unspoken.
To demonstrate this, Hong presented a poetry writing activity that could be used with literacy students to increase language acquisition while nurturing each participant’s individual voice. The activity was simple: as we listened to Hong present a series of her poems, we were asked to write down 15 words that struck us either in sound or meaning. At the end of her lecture, we selected 10 of our 15 words and wrote a 10- line poem, using one word per line.
As we read the poems out loud, it was amazing to hear each person’s individual approach to the words they had selected. From Janet Nortrom’s inspirational ode to literacy to Dawn Lauber’s tribute to the working (or overworked) female, the results showed us how language is as unique as the individual using it.
We invite GMLC members to use this activity to help students reveal their own individual voices and show how words are the building blocks of self-expression.
--Betsy Fowler
GMLC celebrates International Literacy Awareness Day
International Literacy Day is celebrated every September 8, and was first sponsored by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1965. Today, communities and countries throughout the world observe the day in a variety of ways.
GMLC will celebrate International Literacy Day on September 8 with events at area Barnes & Noble Bookstores from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. An informational forum will be held at each location at 1 p.m. to talk about GMLC, the problems of literacy in our community and what can be done about it.
GMLC also will be present at Johnson Creek Outlet Mall, and will provide brochures to local Starbucks. There will be tables at each of the bookstores and the mall staffed by GMLC volunteers. The tables will include our display board, our new brochures, informative brochures from ProLiteracy, GMLC pens, and membership and donation forms. Volunteers are needed to staff tables. If you can help, contact Tracy Loken Weber at 414-643-5108 X103.
In addition, Barnes & Noble Bookstore locations at Mayfair Mall, 76th Street (Southridge) and Brookfield Square will donate a percentage of any purchases to GMLC. Just present one of these vouchers at the time of purchase. The vouchers will be honored September 8-10. Please feel free to make additional copies of the voucher and distribute to your friends and co-workers to help GMLC.
--Tracy Loken Weber
