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September 10, 2004
A Change is Gonna Come: A Community Writing Project in the ‘Soul of Syracuse’ (Proposal)
A Change is Gonna Come: A Community Writing Project in the ‘Soul of Syracuse’ (Proposal)
Project Overview: As one of several working groups connected with the SU Writing Program’s Diversity Grant, I am proposing to use Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s inauguration theme, “The Soul of Syracuse” as the basis for a writing course that I would lead simultaneously as WRT 105 and a writing/reading/discussion group at a site in one of Syracuse’s neighborhoods. The major goal of this course is to establish dialogue between SU students, faculty, staff, and Syracuse residents outside of the usual limits imposed by service learning or literacy programs. Other goals include examining the soul era in American music and culture, exploring Syracuse’s past, present, and future, and discovering the potential and power of writing in people’s lives in both academic and non-academic genres.
Activities: While offered as two separate “courses” in separate locations (one on campus and one in the community), the work of the courses will be rooted in structured opportunities for SU students and community members to come together, write together, and learn together. In addition to the usual class discussions and writing workshops, the courses will offer:
- 3 technology workshops on topics including creating webpages in Dreamweaver and creating multimedia projects using PowerPoint and iMovie/iPhoto
- 2 Open Mic nights that would allow participants to showcase their writing for a wider audience
- An informal “Soul of Syracuse” awards program that will allow participants to both learn more about local communities, and to recognize those individuals and institutions that have been integral to those communities.
These activities will take place both on campus and off to encourage greater connection between SU students and community members. On campus activities will be held in the SU Writing Program computer clusters and Jabberwocky Lounge. Off campus activities (including the weekly writing/discussion group meetings) at “The Groove” restaurant, located on South Salina Street.
Outcomes: This project will contribute to the Writing Program’s short and long term diversity goals in the following ways:
- Publicity for the Writing Program and SU outside the university
- Establishing multicultural dialogue both on campus and off
- Introduction of African American and multicultural course content to Writing Program courses, including syllabi, assignments, and activities to be posted to the Diversity Grant’s website
- Offering a post-course roundtable and/or other professional development activities by working group members to share experiences with other instructors who might create similar projects
- Contributing to Writing Program and disciplinary knowledge on diversity issues and community writing projects through a collaboratively-written article. Working group members will present this article at a regional or national conference and submit it for publication by a peer-reviewed journal.
The texts for this course include:
- Neal, Mark Anthony. What the Music Said: Black Popular Music and Black Public Culture
- Dyson, Michael Eric. Mercy Mercy Me: The Art, Loves, and Demons of Marvin Gaye.
- Werner, Craig. Higher Ground: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and the Rise and Fall of American Soul
Posted by mryonker at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)