NewsStudent LifeAcademicsFine Arts
One Book/Many Voices to foster literacy, feature Angelou
Mar 1, 2007 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Citizens of Floyd County are encouraged to participate in One Book/Many Voices, a program seeking to foster literacy, to encourage dialogue and to build community.
"Modeled after similar initiatives throughout the nation, and building on successful local school-wide reading programs, One Book/Many Voices is designed to encourage reading, spark discussion and bring the community together through the reading of one great book," said Katherine Powell, co-chairperson of the project and director of Berry College's Office of First-Year Experience.
The book selected to inaugurate this annual event is Dr. Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." The project will culminate with a lecture by Angelou, an internationally respected poet, writer and educator, at the Forum on Sept. 27.
“A guest appearance by Angelou is likely to be one of the best and most beautiful things a community like Rome and Floyd County can possibly experience," said Bruce Watterson, director of communication at Darlington School, who has also volunteered his time to the literacy initiative. "Every time I hear Dr. Angelou speak I am compelled to think differently, to react differently, to be a better person. Think of the positive impact a community reading and writing project will have on our citizens."
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Rome Alumnae Chapter will host an open house highlighting the works of Maya Angelou on August 18 from 3-5 p.m. at the Kelsey Aycock Burrell Center (Old Main High School) and organizers hope other community organizations will become involved.
In addition, One Book organizers have planned a variety of other events to encourage the community to read and talk about the book, including a panel discussion titled "One Book, Many Voices: A Town Hall Meeting" on Sept. 13. The dialogue will be hosted by Georgia Highlands professor Jon Hershey and Greg Shropshire, president of the 100 Black Men of Rome and Northwest Georgia.
There will be an all-day read of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" on Sept. 14 — location to be announced — and citizens are invited to Sarah Hightower Regional Library on Sept. 15 for a discussion, party and viewing of the film adaptation of the book. Other community events will be posted on an events calendar on the One Book/Many Voices Web site, where readers can also participate in a blog about the book and the project.
"We really want to encourage local book clubs, schools, civic organizations and churches to host other opportunities for the community to come together and talk about the book," said Susan Cooley, director of Sarah Hightower Regional Library and co-chairperson of the One Book/Many Voices initiative. "In doing so, we hope to spark conversation not only within but across demographic lines in our community and to offer numerous opportunities for the expression of ideas both on the book and the issues that it raises."
Cooley added that the library is purchasing 200 copies of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which will be available to the public in April.
The Rome News-Tribune will sponsor a writing contest to encourage high-school students and community members to engage in serious reading and reflection about the book and its themes prior to Angelou's lecture. Winners, whose writing will be published in the newspaper, will be invited to a reception sponsored by the Rome News-Tribune, where they will get to meet Angelou. They will also received signed copies of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
Angelou's lecture is scheduled for Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. at The Forum. Tickets for this event will be $5 and will go on sale in August. Be sure to check the One Book/Many Voices Web site as well as the Rome News-Tribune Web site for updates and ticket information.
Partners for One Book/Many Voices include Berry College, Darlington School, Georgia Highlands College, Rome Area Council for the Arts, Rome-Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth, Sarah Hightower Regional Library, Shorter College and 100 Black Men of Rome and Northwest Georgia and the Rome News-Tribune.
For more information, you may also contact Katherine Powell by e-mail at kpowell@berry.edu or Susan Cooley at scooley@romelibrary.org.
"Modeled after similar initiatives throughout the nation, and building on successful local school-wide reading programs, One Book/Many Voices is designed to encourage reading, spark discussion and bring the community together through the reading of one great book," said Katherine Powell, co-chairperson of the project and director of Berry College's Office of First-Year Experience.
The book selected to inaugurate this annual event is Dr. Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." The project will culminate with a lecture by Angelou, an internationally respected poet, writer and educator, at the Forum on Sept. 27.
“A guest appearance by Angelou is likely to be one of the best and most beautiful things a community like Rome and Floyd County can possibly experience," said Bruce Watterson, director of communication at Darlington School, who has also volunteered his time to the literacy initiative. "Every time I hear Dr. Angelou speak I am compelled to think differently, to react differently, to be a better person. Think of the positive impact a community reading and writing project will have on our citizens."
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Rome Alumnae Chapter will host an open house highlighting the works of Maya Angelou on August 18 from 3-5 p.m. at the Kelsey Aycock Burrell Center (Old Main High School) and organizers hope other community organizations will become involved.
In addition, One Book organizers have planned a variety of other events to encourage the community to read and talk about the book, including a panel discussion titled "One Book, Many Voices: A Town Hall Meeting" on Sept. 13. The dialogue will be hosted by Georgia Highlands professor Jon Hershey and Greg Shropshire, president of the 100 Black Men of Rome and Northwest Georgia.
There will be an all-day read of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" on Sept. 14 — location to be announced — and citizens are invited to Sarah Hightower Regional Library on Sept. 15 for a discussion, party and viewing of the film adaptation of the book. Other community events will be posted on an events calendar on the One Book/Many Voices Web site, where readers can also participate in a blog about the book and the project.
"We really want to encourage local book clubs, schools, civic organizations and churches to host other opportunities for the community to come together and talk about the book," said Susan Cooley, director of Sarah Hightower Regional Library and co-chairperson of the One Book/Many Voices initiative. "In doing so, we hope to spark conversation not only within but across demographic lines in our community and to offer numerous opportunities for the expression of ideas both on the book and the issues that it raises."
Cooley added that the library is purchasing 200 copies of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which will be available to the public in April.
The Rome News-Tribune will sponsor a writing contest to encourage high-school students and community members to engage in serious reading and reflection about the book and its themes prior to Angelou's lecture. Winners, whose writing will be published in the newspaper, will be invited to a reception sponsored by the Rome News-Tribune, where they will get to meet Angelou. They will also received signed copies of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
Angelou's lecture is scheduled for Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. at The Forum. Tickets for this event will be $5 and will go on sale in August. Be sure to check the One Book/Many Voices Web site as well as the Rome News-Tribune Web site for updates and ticket information.
Partners for One Book/Many Voices include Berry College, Darlington School, Georgia Highlands College, Rome Area Council for the Arts, Rome-Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth, Sarah Hightower Regional Library, Shorter College and 100 Black Men of Rome and Northwest Georgia and the Rome News-Tribune.
For more information, you may also contact Katherine Powell by e-mail at kpowell@berry.edu or Susan Cooley at scooley@romelibrary.org.
