Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Asheville Writers In The Schools & Communities
Legal Name (if Different): Asheville Writers In The Schools
Also Known As: AWITSC
Mailing Address: PO Box 1508
City: Asheville
State: North Carolina
Postal Code: 28802
Main Phone: 828-505-8377
Main Fax: n/a
Organization Website: www.ashevillewritersintheschools.org
Employer ID Number: 46-1681488
Organization Tax Status: 501c3 nonprofit

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/29/2022
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Family Voices
Project Description:

Family Voices is a creative writing program for students in grades 1-6 that includes an in-school writer-in-residency and out-of-school time family engagement. The program aims to engage participants with creativity and literacy in general, and, specifically, to amplify and celebrate stories, poetry and art which are too often undervalued and overlooked.

The children work on personal and imaginative narratives and poetry during after school sessions. The families work on poetry and narratives during the Family Night sessions. An anthology of work from both the afterschool and the evening programs will be produced and distributed to each child and their family at an end-of-program author celebration.

Family Voices seeks to improve student and family literacy by connecting students’ diverse family histories and knowledge from home to their classroom learning and by increasing family engagement in their education. Many teachers find it difficult to realize authentic relationships with parents. Assumptions that families lack the ability or interest to help their children, along with practices of calling upon parents only to attend conferences or assist with school activities without specific regard to their talents, experience, and aspirations reinforces a lack of trust in and engagement with an institution that many parents feel marginalizes the importance of their voices.

Family Voices will introduce writing activities rooted in family narratives so that students discuss school learning with their families at home. This will not only involve families in the students’ education, it will also bring diverse culture and home knowledge into the classroom to create a more inclusive learning environment.

Total Project Budget: 40,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): SouthArts S10,000 committed, NC Arts Council $15,000 potential, Buncombe County Government $20,000 potential

Project Duration: August 2022 – June 2023
Geographical Area Served: This program engages youth and families in Asheville and Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Age Group To Be Served: This program engages youth in grades 1-5 with an emphasis on those who test at a 3rd grade reading level.

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr
Contact First Name: Sekou
Contact Last Name: Coleman
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 828-505-8377
Contact Email: sekou@ashevillewritersintheschools.org