Congratulations to three faculty members from the Department of Literacy, Language, and Culture!
Dr. Kathleen McGovern, Dr. Nicole Siffrinn, and Dr. Mindy Butler have been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts BIG READ grant.
The award funds a series of activities in September and October 2022 (TBA), including:
– A lecture by Dr. Carola Suarez-Orozco of the Harvard Immigration Institute, in partnership with the Osher Map Library.
– A performance by Pihcintu, an all girls’ all refugee choir, in partnership with the Theatre Department.
– A book club with the selected Big Read book, Infinite Country, Patricia Engel, in partnership with the Portland Public Library.
– A community read of accompanying children’s books in partnership with I’m Your Neighbor Books and the Portland Public Schools.
– A performance of “Snow in the Jungle” with the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.
– Several other events, all focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and community, specifically with regards to the immigrant community.
An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience.
The Portland/Gorham community is one of 62 communities nationwide participating in the 2022-2023 NEA Big Read.
For more information on this event, please contact Dr. Kathleen McGovern, Dr. Nicole Siffrinn, or Dr. Mindy Butler.