New York State Observes MLK, Jr. Day With “Community Conversations”
Over 85 Discussions Happening in Communities Across the State
Jan 14 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sara Ogger
(212) 233-1131 x30
ogger@nyhumanities.org
January 2011. In over 85 classrooms, museums, libraries and other community gathering spots around the state New Yorkers will mark the 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service by holding a Community Conversation.
These “do-it-yourself” discussions are sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities, which is providing interested groups with an online tool kit (found at www.nyhumanities.org/conversations) containing all the materials necessary to hold thought-provoking conversations that use Dr. King’s writings as a jumping-off point to explore the personal and social importance of public service and civic engagement.
“To complement MLK, Jr. Day events that focus on commemoration and volunteerism,” says Council Executive Director Sara Ogger, “Community Conversations provide New Yorkers with an opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy of service and its meaning in today’s world.” Three types of these conversations will be happening around New York throughout January and February:
Community Conversations for adults will be sponsored by a wide range of groups, including:
• Adriance Public Library in Poughkeepsie – January 19 at 7 p.m.
• Buffalo Museum of Science – January 17 at 11 a.m.
• Freeport Memorial Library on Long Island – January 16 at 2 p.m.
• Galway Public Library in the North Country – February 1 at 7 p.m.
• Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center in Corona, Queens – January 14 at 7 p.m.
• SUNY Cortland: Institute for Civic Engagement in Central New York – January 17 at 2:30 p.m.
Community Conversations for Families will be held at libraries including:
• Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch – January 15 at 1 p.m.
• Mt. Kisco Library in Westchester – January 22 at 1:30 p.m.
• Morris-Jumel Mansion in Harlem – February 19 at 1 p.m.
• The Pelham Library in Westchester – February 7 at 7 p.m.
Classroom Conversations for students will happen at schools around the state including:
• Eagle Point Elementary School in Albany
• Immaculate Conception School in Wellsville in the Chautauqua-Allegheny Region
• Jasper-Troupsburg Elementary in the Finger Lakes Region
• Mannsville Manor Elementary in the North Country
• PS 30M - Hernandez/Hughes Learning Academy in Harlem
• School of the Holy Child in Westchester
• The Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan
Sorry, these events are open only to students and school personnel.
A full list of organizations hosting conversation events is attached along with a contact person for each organization.
EDITORS NOTE: Event coordinators and New York Council for the Humanities executives are available for in-studio, interview and photo opportunities upon request. Please call Sara Ogger for more information.
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Classroom Conversations bring together members of a school community to join in a facilitated discussion of a short reading. The teacher or facilitator introduces thought-provoking questions and encourages students to reflect on issues raised by the reading and discuss how they impact our lives and communities.
For Martin Luther King Day, the New York Council for the Humanities has developed an easy to use online tool kit containing resources and suggestions on how to lead a meaningful discussion of thoughts and ideas to develop a sense of understanding. These materials relate to New York State Learning Standards: Language Arts 1.1, 2.1 and Social Studies 1.1, 1.2, 5.1, 5.3.
For students, Classroom Conversations serves as a unique opportunity to interact with others and explore possibilities through various perspectives and interpretations. For teachers, a conversation enriches classroom curriculum by providing materials not typically taught in text books. Students and teachers are given the opportunity to share thoughts and questions through community interaction to shape individual insight and critical thinking. http://www.nyhumanities.org/discussion_groups/community_conversations/classroom_conversations.php
Community Conversations bring together members of a group, organization or neighborhood to join in a facilitated discussion of a short reading. The facilitator introduces thought-provoking questions and encourages participants to reflect on the issues raised by the reading and discuss how they impact our lives and communities.
Engaging in a Community Conversation brings people together for the purpose of sharing and listening. For participants, it can be a unique opportunity to meet neighbors and new friends. For host organizations, a conversation program can bring new audiences and build a site's capacity as a public forum. For students and teachers, it's a new way to approach standard material, encouraging individual insight and critical thinking.
Current events are an ideal place to begin a community dialogue. The New York Council for the Humanities has developed reading and discussion resources for Martin Luther King Day. http://www.nyhumanities.org/discussion_groups/community_conversations/sign_up.php
Community Conversations for Families give elementary-age children and their parents the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about current events. Elementary schools, libraries, and cultural institutions can take advantage of these conversations to make personal connections with families and to promote intergenerational discussion.
Each Community Conversation is based on a short text that is read at the beginning of the discussion. A facilitator introduces thought-provoking questions and encourages participants to reflect and discuss the issues raised by the reading and how they impact our lives and communities.
For Martin Luther King Day, the New York Council for the Humanities will provide a short text from Dr. King that emphasizes the importance of service in our communities. We also provide a set of age-appropriate discussion questions, along with tips for facilitating this kind of conversation. These materials are intended for children between third and sixth grade. http://www.nyhumanities.org/discussion_groups/community_conversations/CommunityConversationsforFamilies.php
Background information on the New York Council for the Humanities:
Founded in 1975 and supported by Federal, State, and private sources, the New York Council for the Humanities helps all New Yorkers lead vibrant intellectual lives by strengthening traditions of cultural literacy, critical inquiry, and civic participation. www.nyhumanities.org
MLK Day of Service Community Conversations in New York
Community Conversations for General Adult Audiences
Alfred State College, Allegany County, Western New York
Ashley Kehoe: kehoeal@alfredstate.edu
Alfred University, Allegany County, Western New York
Ryan Arroyo: arroyo@alfred.edu
Bella Italia Mia, Inc., Maspeth, Queens
Diego Lodico: bellaitaliamia@mail.com
Buffalo Museum of Science
Staci Cameron: scameron@sciencebuff.org
Caribbean Cultural Theatre, Brooklyn
E.Wayne: info@caribbeantheatre.org
Cayuga Community College Library, Cayuga County, Central New York
Rosemarie Romano: rosemarie.romano@cayuga-cc.edu
Child and Family Services, Buffalo
Lisa Holmes: lholmes@cfsbny.org
Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
Janet Egyhazi: jegyhazi@cshnyc.org
Fallsburg Library, Sullivan County, Catskills
Pennie Mercado: pmercado@rcls.org
Family Services of Westchester
Irina Miagkova: imiagkov@fsw.org
Farmingdale State College, Long Island
Dr. Veronica Henry: veronica.henry@farmingdale.edu
Five Towns Senior Center, Long Island
Georgiana Wolfson: seniorwoodmere@aol.com
Freeport Memorial Library, Long Island
Maryellen Cantanno: mcantanno@freeportlibrary.info
Galway Public Library, Saratoga County, North Country
Regina Doi: director@galwaypubliclibrary.org
Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Monroe County, Western New York
Scott Fearing: scottf@gayalliance.org
Hamilton College, Oneida County, Central New York
Madeline Lopez: mlopez@hamilton.edu
Harmony House Marketplace, Albany County, Hudson Mohawk
Diane Conroy-LaCivita: dconroylacivita@yahoo.com
Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, Long Island
Mamie Eng: hwmlcontact@hotmail.com
Hillwood Art Museum, LIU, Long Island
Barbara Applegate: barbara.applegate@liu.edu
Horace Greeley High School, Westchester County, Catskills
Mary Devane: madevane@ccsd.ws
Hudson Opera House, Columbia County, Hudson Mohawk
Gary Schiro: gary@hudsonoperahouse.org
Immaculate Conception School, Allegany County, Western New York
Nora Burdick: icsprincipal24@yahoo.com
Jamesville-DeWitt High School, Syracuse
Paul Gasparini: pgasparini@jd.cnyric.org
Keuka College, Ontario County, Western New York
Chevanne DeVaney: cdevaney@keuka.edu
Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center, Corona, Queens
Tracy Crawford: tcrawford@queenslibrary.org
Liberation Diploma Plus High School, Brooklyn
Albert Nickerson: anickerk206@aol.com
Long Island University, CW Post Campus
William Clyde: william.clyde@liu.edu
Marble Hill Senior Center, Bronx
Ernece Kelly: brownkelly1@aol.com
Montauk Library, Long Island
Carloyn Balducci: mntkprog@suffolk.lib.ny.us
Moore Memorial Library, Chenango County, Central New York
Heather McCloud: gr.heather@4cls.org
Mosaic Preparatory Academy, New York City
Lisette Caesar: LCaesar@schools.nyc.gov
Mt. Kisco Library, Westchester County, Catskills
Martha Iwan: miwan@wlsmail.org
Museum for African Art, Long Island City, Queens
Erika Gee: egee@africanart.org
New York Campus Compact, Cornell University, Ithaca
Brittany Campese: bcampese@cornell.edu
North Shore Branch, AAUW, Long Island
Diane Haney: haneydhd@yahoo.com
North Syracuse Central School District
Gary Rothenberg: grothenb@nscsd.org
Northport-East Public Library, Long Island
Candace Reeder: creeder@suffolk.lib.ny.us
Otego United Methodist Church, Otsego County, Central New York
Lisa Jo Bezner: otegoumc@hotmail.com
Poughkeepsie Public Library, Dutchess County, Hudson Catskill
Debora Shon: dshon@poklib.org
Rochester School for the Deaf Association
Pamela Conley: prcnge@rit.edu
Seventh Day Adventist Church, South Richmond Hill, Queens
Michelle Gonzalez: michi1516v@gmail.com
St. Francis College, Brooklyn
Ian Maloney: imaloney@stfranciscollege.edu
St. John's University, Jamaica, Queens
Christopher Solkshinitz: csolkshinitz@gmail.com
Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Long Island
Barbara Moon: bmoon@suffolk.lib.ny.us
SUNY College at Brockport, Monroe County, Western New York
Sara Dierks: sdierks@brockport.edu
SUNY Cortland: Institute for Civic Engagement, Cortland County, Central New York
Stephanie Plude: stephanie.plude@cortland.edu
SUNY Plattsburgh, Warren County, North Country
Dave Iasevoli: david_iasevoli@yahoo.com
SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse
Siobhan Arey: areys@upstate.edu
UnionDocs, New York City
Christopher Allen: christopher@uniondocs.org
Wadsworth Library, Livingston County, Western New York
Anna Grace: geneseolibrary@owwl.org
West Irondequoit Teaching Learning Center, Rochester
Karen Finter: karen_finter@westiron.monroe.edu
Westhill Schools, Syracuse
Mark Bednarski: mbednarski@westhillschools.org
Classroom Conversations for Student Audiences
Albany Central School District
Tammie Keough: tlkeough@nycap.rr.com
Binghamton City School District, Broome County, Central New York
Susan Phelps: phelps@binghamtonschools.org
Brocton Central Schools, Chatauqua County, Western New York
Alexis Berman: aberman@broc.wnyric.org
Buffalo Public Schools
Charles Brandy: wbrandy@buffaloschools.org
Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
Janet Egyhazi: jegyhazi@cshnyc.org
Conversations With Shakespeare, New York City
Daniela Varon: dwvaron@earthlink.net
Cypress Hills Collegiate Prep, Brooklyn
Jessica Anaya-Lopez: janayal@schools.nyc.gov
Dominican Academy, New York City
Katie Leo: kleo@dominicanacademy.org
Dunkirk Public School #7, Chatauqua County, Western New York
Julie Freling: jfreling@dunkirk.wnyric.org
Eagle Point Elementary School, Albany County, Hudson Mohawk
Marni Neenos: mneenos@albany.k12.ny.us
Ellenville Elementary School, Ulster County, Catskills
Sarah Mitchell: smitchell@ecs.k12.ny.us
Freeport Memorial Library, Long Island
Maryellen Cantanno: mcantanno@freeportlibrary.info
Hamilton College, Oneida County, Central New York
Madeline Lopez: mlopez@hamilton.edu
Holland Middle School, Erie County
Mary Gardon: mgardon@holland.wnyric.org
Horace Greeley High School, Westchester County, Catskills
Mary Devane: madevane@ccsd.ws
International Community High School, Bronx
Maryam Dilakian: mdilakian@yahoo.com
Jamesville-DeWitt High School, Syracuse
Paul Gasparini: pgasparini@jd.cnyric.org
Jasper-Troupsburg Elementary, Steuben County, Western New York
Nancy Wyatt: magp81692@yahoo.com
Long Island University, CW Post Campus,
William Clyde: william.clyde@liu.edu
Madrid Waddington Central School, St Lawrence County, North Country
Sandy Steinberg: ssteinberg@mwcsk12.org
Mannsville Manor Elementary, Jefferson County, North Country
Ron Perry: rlperry1012@gmail.com
Mosaic Preparatory Academy, New York City
Lisette Caesar: LCaesar@schools.nyc.gov
Museum for African Art, Long Island City, Queens
Erika Gee: egee@africanart.org
Nazareth College Center for Civic Engagement, Rochester
Danielle Rhubart: drhubar1@naz.edu
New York Campus Compact, Cornell University, Ithaca
Brittany Campese: bcampese@cornell.edu
North Syracuse Central School District,
Gary Rothenberg: grothenb@nscsd.org
Notre Dame School, New York City
Mary Kate Blaine: blainem@cheznous.org
OCM BOCES, Syracuse
Chris Kaleta: ckaleta@ocmboces.org
Olmstead School #64, Buffalo
Susanna Schenk: sschenk@buffalopublicschools.org
P.S. 10, Brooklyn
Rosanne Macrina: rmacrina@optonline.net
Pan American International HS at Monroe, Bronx
Daniel Stein: mrsteinlearning@gmail.com
PS 30M - Hernandez/Hughes Learning Academy, New York City
Brenda Shufelt: bshufel@schools.nyc.gov
Queens Central Library, Jamaica, Queens
Lynn Gonen: lgonen@queenslibrary.org
Robert C. Dodson School, Westchester County, Catskills
Joanne Casella: jcasella@dodson.ypschools.org
School of the Holy Child, Westchester County, Catskills
Emily Moore: e.moore@holychildrye.org
St. Anthony School, Westchester County, Catskills
Elizabeth Carney: StAnthonySchool1395@yahoo.com
St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, Long Island
Patricia Callahan: callahan@sjbdhs.org
St. John's University, Jamaica, Queens
Christopher Solkshinitz: csolkshinitz@gmail.com
St. Theresa School, Bronx
Josephine Fanelli: b262@adnyschools.org
SUNY Plattsburgh, Warren County, North Country
Dave Iasevoli: david_iasevoli@yahoo.com
SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse
Siobhan Arey: areys@upstate.edu
TST Community School, Ithaca
Suzanne Massa: smassa@tstboces.org
Wagner College, Richmond, Staten Island
Curtis Wright: curtis.wright@wagner.edu
West Irondequoit Teaching Learning Center, Rochester
Karen Finter: karen_finter@westiron.monroe.edu
Westhill Schools, Syracuse
Mark Bednarski: mbednarski@westhillschools.org
William Cullen Bryant High School, Astoria, Queens
Barbara Tutino: btutino@schools.nyc.gov
Community Conversations for Families
Brooklyn Public Library
Angeli Rasbury: a.rasbury@brooklynpubliclibrary.org
Caribbean Cultural Theatre, Brooklyn
E.Wayne: info@caribbeantheatre.org
Child and Family Services, Buffalo
Lisa Holmes: lholmes@cfsbny.org
Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
Janet Egyhazi: jegyhazi@cshnyc.org
Fallsburg Library, Sullivan County, Catskills
Pennie Mercado: pmercado@rcls.org
Galway Public Library, Saratoga County, North Country
Regina Doi: director@galwaypubliclibrary.org
Guilderland Public Library, Albany County, Hudson Mohawk
Deborah Shoup: shoupd@guilpl.org
Hudson Opera House, Columbia County, Hudson Mohawk
Hudson Opera House: gary@hudsonoperahouse.org
Long Island Children's Museum
Kayla Dove: kdove@licm.org
Brooklyn Public Library, Macon Branch
Taneya Gethers: t.gethers@brooklynpubliclibrary.org
Mannsville Manor Elementary, Jefferson County, North Country
Ron Perry: rlperry1012@gmail.com
Morris-Jumel Mansion, New York City
Carol Ward: education@morrisjumel.org
Mosaic Preparatory Academy, New York City
Lisette Caesar: LCaesar@schools.nyc.gov
Mt. Kisco Library, Westchester County, Catskills
Martha Iwan: miwan@wlsmail.org
Museum for African Art, Long Island City, Queens
Erika Gee: egee@africanart.org
North Syracuse Central School District
Gary Rothenberg: grothenb@nscsd.org
Olmstead School #64, Buffalo
Susanna Schenk: sschenk@buffalopublicschools.org
Otego United Methodist Church, Otsego County, Central New York
Lisa Jo Bezner: otegoumc@hotmail.com
Penn Yan Public Library, Yates County, Western New York
Sarah Crevellilng: screvelling@pypl.org
Queens Central Library, Jamaica, Queens
Lynn Gonen: lgonen@queenslibrary.org
School of the Holy Child, Westchester County, Catskills
Emily Moore: e.moore@holychildrye.org
Seventh Day Adventist Church, South Richmond Hill, Queens
Michelle Gonzalez: michi1516v@gmail.com
St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, Long Island
Patricia Callahan: callahan@sjbdhs.org
St. Theresa School, Bronx
Josephine Fanelli: b262@adnyschools.org
Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Long Island
Barbara Moon: bmoon@suffolk.lib.ny.us
Town of Pelham Public Library, Westchester County, Catskills
Lillian Hecker: lhecker@wlsmail.org
Uniondale Public Library, Long Island
Deirdre Escoffier: descoffier@uniondalelibrary.org
Westhill Schools, Syracuse
Mark Bednarski: mbednarski@westhillschools.org
