Dollar General Accepting Applications for Back-to-School Literacy Grants Program

From our friends at the Philanthropy News Digest. Enjoy.

The Dollar General Back-to-School Grants program provides funding to assist elementary, middle, and high schools in meeting some of the financial challenges they face in implementing new programs or purchasing new equipment, materials, or software for their school library or literacy program.

In order to be eligible, schools must be located in Dollar General's 35-state operating territory and must be within twenty miles of the nearest Dollar General Store. (A store locator is available online at http://www.dollargeneral.com/OurStores/Pages/StoreLocator.aspx.)

Funds must be used to enhance or expand the school's library, media center, or literacy programs. Programs or projects may target new readers, below-grade-level readers, readers with learning disabilities, or general literacy. Submissions will be judged based on creativity, statement of need, and use of funds.

Grants will range up to a maximum of $5,000 each.

Complete program information and application instructions are available at the Dollar General Web site.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Wow...some of my favourite books are on this list. What does that say about me, eh?

I recently posted a blog about a grant RFP from the Lorax Challenge, (see What the Suess?!? A Grant RFP for the Lorax Challenge). While hunting for the proper spelling of "Thneed", I came across a Wikipedia article detailing the history and social impact of the story and the Lorax himself.

In said article, there was an interesting tidbit about The Lorax being a banned book. The Lorax? A banned book...seriously? I clicked a link to the Dixie State College Library website and was surprised, not to mention mildly amused, by the selections included in the list. Some of the reasons given are just downright silly, if not absurd. (Or in the case of Fahrenheit 451, painfully ironic)

This sent me on a tangent. After a little webferreting, I thought I would share a few of my favourite banned books and the "explanations" of why they are banned. This list is also available on the HumBook blog.
Riddle me this: What is/are your favourite banned book(s) and why was it/they banned?

Enjoy.

From Dixie State College Library

Fahrenheit 451
by: Ray Bradbury
Banned for being "dangerous", this book is set in the future, when all books are banned and people called 'firemen' enforce the laws against them. 451 degrees is the temperature that paper catches fire.

To Kill a Mockingbird
by: Harper Lee
Banned as recently as August 2001, in Oklahoma for "racially charged language."

James and the Giant Peach
by: Roald Dahl
A frequently banned author, this book was banned in a Florida elementary school because "it promotes the use of drugs, tobacco, and whiskey."

Of Mice and Men
by: John Steinbeck
Second most banned book in the U. S. in the 1990s. Banned for "racist language" in Florida and "vulgar language throughout" and "profanity" in Georgia.

A Wrinkle in Time
by: Madeline L'Engle
L'Engle is one of the 1990's most-challenged children's authors. This book was banned because it "challenges religious beliefs".

The Joy Luck Club
by: Amy Tan
Published in 1990, this book was banned because it "conflicted with the values of the community."

The Color Purple
by: Alice Walker
Banned from high schools in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the 1990s as "X-rated smut".

The Catcher in the Rye
by: J. D. Salinger
Banned because of "profanity, reference to suicide, vulgarity, disrespect, and anti-Christian sentiments" in 1991.

The Bridge to Terabithia
by: Katherine Paterson
Another Newbery Award winner, banned because of "anti-religion, language, and discussion of death."


From Forbidden Library

1984 . George Orwell. Harcourt. Challenged in the Jackson County, Fla. (1981) because the novel is "pro-communist and contained explicit sexual matter." Big Brother doesn't want people reading such things.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. Anne Frank. Modern Library. Challenged in Wise County, Va. (1982) due to "sexually offensive" passages. Four members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee (1983) called for the rejection of this book because it is a "real downer."

The Color Purple. Alice Walker. Harcourt. Challenged as appropriate reading material for an Oakland, Calif. High School honors class (1984) due to the work's "sexual and social explicitness" and its "troubling ideas about race relations, man's relationship to God, African history, and human sexuality." This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was finally approved for use by the Oakland Board of Education after nine months of debate. Banned in the Souderton, Pa. Area School District (1992) as appropriate reading for tenth graders because it is "smut."Removed from the Jackson County, W.Va. school libraries (1997) along with sixteen other titles.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl. Bantam; Knopf; Penguin. Removed from a locked reference collection at the Boulder, Colo. Public Library (1988), where it had been placed because the librarian thought the book espoused a poor philosophy of life.

A Light in the Attic. Shel Silverstein. Harper. Challenged at the Cunningham Elementary School in Beloit, Wis. (1985) because the book "enourages children to break dishes so they won't have to dry them." Removed from Minot, N.Dak. Public School libraries when the superintendent found "suggestive illustrations." Challenged at the Big Bend Elementary School library in Mukwonago, Wis. (1986) because some of Silverstein's poems "glorified Satan, suicide and cannibalism, and also encouraged children to be disobedient."

My Friend Flicka. Mary O'Hara. Harper; Lippincott. Removed from fifth and sixth grade optional reading lists in Clay County, Fla. schools (1990) because the book uses the word "bitch" to refer to a female dog, as well as the word "damn."

Where the Sidewalk Ends. Shel Silverstein. Harper. Challenged at the West Allis-West Milwaukee, Wis. school libraries (1986) because the book "suggests drug use, the occult, suicide, death, violence, disrespect for truth, disrespect for legitimate authority, rebellion against parents." Challenged at the Central Columbia School District in Bloomsburg, Pa. (1993) because a poem titled "Dreadful" talks about how "someone ate the baby." On the other hand, this book does present the negative consequences of not taking the garbage out.

And while not one of my favourite books, per se, I find the irony overwhelming.

The Bible The holy book of Christianity, it was claimed in Minnesota that its "lewd, indecent and violent contents are hardly suitable for young students."

Read Aloud America Book List 2008

A big "thanks" to Julie Douglas, MHC'S Family Programs Specialist, for passing on this great reading list from Read Aloud America. It lists a great variety of "Read-Aloud" books, categorized by age. These range from Toddlers and Infants all the way up to 9-12 Graders. There is also a list of timeless Family Favorites.

In addition for children's and adolescent titles, RAP offers a list of books for Adults readers and a great section on Resources for Parents and Teachers. The RAP Book List offers a wide range of books, covering an even wider range of subject. There is something for everyone. It is well worth a look!

Read Aloud America was founded in Hawaii in 1995 by Jed Gaines. It is a nonprofit 501(C)3 organization that promotes literacy, encourages a love of reading in adults and children, and increases children's prospects for success in school and life.

Chris Stuckenschneider to Be Honored by City Library

On behalf of the Board and Staff of the Missouri Humanities Council, I want to congratulate Chris Stuckenschneider on her recent award from the Washington (MO) Public Library. Ms. Stuckenschneider is a Discussion Leader for our Read from the Start family reading program and friend of the Council.

Chris Stuckenschneider, Missourian columnist and book editor, is being
honored for her dedication to community literacy, particularly her efforts on
behalf of the Washington Public Library.

The library board of trustees will present Stuckenschneider with the Velma Jones Stroetker Award at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at the library.

Stuckenschneider retired from the library board in 2007, after nine years of volunteer service. During her tenure, she worked with the board to extend hours to include Sundays, was on the committee to hire a library director when longtime librarian Carolyn Witt, retired, and worked to help the board carry through its mission of becoming a community center offering an increasing number of services.

Following her departure from the board, Stuckenschneider began organizing a
"Friends of the Washington Public Library" group to further support the library.

For the past year, she has served as president of the group's steering
committee, which is in the process of attaining nonprofit status and developing
membership marketing materials.

In addition to her direct work for the library, Stuckenschneider has been a
proponent of adult and youth literacy in her work for The Missourian.

In 2002, she initiated a column in the newspaper for adult readers called
Novel Ideas. Published monthly, the column offers suggestions on new and
noteworthy titles for adults. The column recommends books each month and offers
news briefs on literary awards and local author events.

Five years ago, Stuckenschneider co-created a youth literacy project at the
newspaper, Book Buzz. As part of The Missourian's educational outreach
effort, Missourian In Education, the Book Buzz project includes a monthly column
recommending children's books on three different reading levels, opportunities
for young readers to respond to the titles and the distribution of more than 100
donated copies of the monthly "picks" to area school and public libraries.

Stuckenschneider works with both the library and The Missourian to bring
adult and children's authors to Washington; she's involved in organizing the
annual Run to Read and Family Reading Night events promoting family literacy;
she serves on the Four Rivers Area Family YMCA's Step Into Reading Committee;
and she is a trained discussion leader for the Missouri Humanities Council's
Read From the Start program.

Click Here to read the full article from eMissourian.com

American Library Association Announces Outreach Grant Program for Federal Writers' Project Documentary

A grant RFP from the American Library Association, recently listed in the Philanthropy News Digest.

The American Library Association, in partnership with Spark Media, a Washington, D.C.-based production and outreach company, has announced an innovative library outreach program to enhance and increase the nationwide impact of Spark Media's documentary film, "Soul of a People: Voices from the Writers' Project." Major funding for the program has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The film and library outreach program is designed to acquaint public, academic, and special library audiences with the story of the largest cultural experiment in U.S. history — the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration — told against the backdrop of the Depression and 1930s America.

Click Here for more information

Click Here for the complete RFP

Jack Miller Center Establishes Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program - Humanities and Social Sciences

An announcement from the Philanthropy News Digest about the Jack Miller Center's Post-Doctoral Fellowship program. This program is for those who have recently earned doctoral degrees in the humanities or social sciences.

The Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles and History, a Philadelphia-based educational organization, has announced a new post-doctoral fellowship program, established with a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor.

The fellowships will be available on a national basis to students who recently earned doctoral degrees in the humanities or social sciences and are dedicated to strengthening the teaching of America's founding principles and history at the undergraduate college level. Fellowships have recently been established at Emory University in Atlanta and the University of Texas at Austin.

"These fellowships are of immense value to young scholars for a whole host of reasons, not least of which is they give them the time to turn their dissertations into publishable manuscripts or a series of articles in peer-reviewed journals," said Dr. Michael Andrews, vice president for academic programs at the center. "[Scholars also] gain valuable teaching experience and the opportunity to work with some of the leading scholars in the country — a very desirable credential as they enter the academic job market."

Click Here for more information and the full press release

AT&T Launches $100 Million Program to Address Dropout Crisis

Philanthropy News Digest posted an announcement about AT&T's new program focused on America's "dropout crisis".

AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have announced a four-year, $100 million initiative to help address the high school dropout crisis while strengthening student success and workforce readiness.

The AT&T Aspire initiative will provide grants to schools and nonprofit organizations working to help students graduate from high school and become better prepared for college or the workforce. In partnership with Junior Achievement, the program will offer a job-shadowing program for a 100,000 students nationwide, while underwriting research on how practitioners — teachers, principals, superintendents, school counselors, and school board members — perceive the dropout issue. It also will provide support for dropout prevention summits in all fifty states to be led by the America's Promise Alliance.

According to America's Promise, nearly a third of U.S. high school students — roughly seven thousand a day — drop out before graduating. And according to the Alliance for Excellent Education, students who are unprepared to enter college cost the U.S. economy more than $3.7 billion per year in lost earnings and remedial education costs.

"In the United States, 1.2 million students drop out of high school every year. This has implications for individuals and for our nation's global economic leadership," said AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson. "AT&T Aspire is about supporting the great work already underway to help our kids succeed in school, and helping students see the connection between education and their best future."

The full press release and more information are available on AT&T's website.

Asia Society and Goldman Sachs Foundation Invite Applications for Youth Prizes for Excellence in International Education

RFP for the Youth Prizes for Excellence in International Education competition, from the Philanthropy News Digest.

The Asia Society and the Goldman Sachs Foundation have announced the 2008 Youth Prizes for Excellence in International Education. Up to five winners will be selected to receive up to $10,000 each as well as an all-expense paid trip to New York City in November 2008 to receive their prize.

The 2008 competition asks students to create an in-depth written essay or multimedia feature examining a social or economic issue that has relevance to them in a global context. In the essay category, students will compare and contrast how the issue affects their community and a community abroad, as well as create recommendations for what lessons the two communities could learn from each other. In the multimedia category, students will explore how a global problem or challenge affects their life as an individual, as a member of their local community, and/or as a global citizen.

Click Here to read more Click Here to go directly to the RFP

Newspaper Association of America Foundation to Support Middle and High School Student Newspaper Projects

Grant RFP for middle and high school student newspaper projects, from the Philanthropy News Digest.

The Newspaper Association of America Foundation encourages middle and high schools to partner with professional newspapers in their communities and seek funding to start, relaunch, or revitalize student newspapers, whether online or in print.

All public and private schools serving grades 7 through 12 and working in partnership with daily or nondaily professional newspapers are eligible to receive Student/Newspaper Partnership Grants from the NAA Foundation. Schools are also encouraged to seek a university or a college as an additional partner. Funding priority is given to startup student newspapers. However, grant applications to relaunch or revitalize former or current programs also will be considered. The NAA Foundation especially welcomes grant applications from urban, rural, or minority-majority schools.

Click Here to read more Click Here to go directly to the RFP

USArtists International Offers Funding for U.S. Artists to Perform at International Festivals

Grant RFP for music and dance ensembles, from the Philanthopy News Digest.

USArtists International is committed to ensuring that the impressive range of expression and creativity of the U.S. performing arts is represented at international festivals abroad. The program is managed by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation,with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Trust for Mutual Understandingfor engagements in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe.

The program works to strengthen the creative and professional development of U.S. artists by providing support for their performances at significant international festivals. Grants are available to U.S. dance and music ensembles that have been invited to participate in international festivals.

Click Here to read more
Click Here to go directly to the RFP

Be a Read First! Community -- A Month that pays off for a Lifetime!

The Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) announces Read First! – an action-packed, month-long, community-based program that engages people in reading to young children. The program’s goal is to promote community-wide awareness and participation in discovering the joy of reading to children and appreciating the significance of storytelling in children’s lives.

“Family reading lays the foundation for a child’s future learning and promotes strong parent-child bonds. It’s a gift that pays off for a lifetime”, says MHC executive director Michael Bouman. MHC believes that by working to create a culture of family reading in the community, the number of children who are read to regularly by a caring adult will increase markedly.

Applications for participation have been mailed to libraries, civic groups, schools and child care organizations in communities throughout the state of Missouri. Participating communities will have opportunities to host reading celebrations and workshops, storytelling events, and other creative activities designed to engage families in reading – all with the support of MHC.

Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and State of Missouri as well as through grants and donations, the Missouri Humanities Council’s mission is to enable families and communities throughout the state to broaden their appreciation of history, literature and the ideas that shape our democracy.

To learn more about Read First! or the Missouri Humanities Council, contact Julie Douglas at 800.357.0909 or Julie@mohumanities.org.

Independence, MO Celebrates Harry S. Truman's Birthday

From the April 13, 2008 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Independence is celebrating the birthday of its favorite son, Harry S Truman, our nation's 33rd president, on May 3.

Visitors can explore Truman's home, ponder his decisions in his presidential library and visit his favorite haunts.

The Dream Factory Tractor Parade will have a caravan of up to 200 tractors, which will converge on Independence Square at 7 a.m. and remain on display until 10 a.m. They will leave for the day, and return again at 4 p.m.

Saturday also will mark the opening of the city's Farmers Market.

In honor of Truman's "The Buck Stops Here" motto, tourism sites will offer dollar admission all day. They include the Puppetry Arts Institute, Harry S Truman Home Historic Site, Vaile Mansion, Truman Library and Museum, National Frontier Trails Museum, Chicago and Alton Depot, 1859 Jail, Marshal's Home Museum and the Bingham-Waggoner Estate.

Call 1-816-325-7111 or visit visitindependence.com.

What the Suess?!? A Grant RFP for the Lorax Challenge

I could not resist posting this RFP, from the Philanthropy News Digest, as it is named after one of my favorite children's books The Lorax. So put down that Thneed and have a read.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Ashoka's Youth Venture, in partnership with Earth Island Institute, have announced the Lorax Challenge, an opportunity for people between the ages of 12 and 20 across the United States to turn their ideas for helping to save the planet into reality.

The challenge invites teams of young people to create action plans for their earth-saving ideas.

To be considered for the Lorax grant, a venture team must be youth-created, -led, and -managed; be community-benefiting; be structured as a lasting organization (meaning not just a one-time event, but rather an ongoing entity such as a new school club, a business, or a new community organization); involve a strong team (meaning at least two people) with clear, attainable goals and budget and the commitment to lead their venture; and have at least one "Ally" — a supportive adult who guides and encourages the team.

Selected teams will receive funding of up to $1,000 each to turn their ideas into a reality. In addition, five grand-prize winners will receive a free trip to the University of Florida for a weekend of activities, learning, and fun. (Please note that only high school students are eligible for the Grand Prize.)

Visit the Youth Venture Web site for complete program information and application procedures.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP