Building Closing

The Carnegie Center will be closed July 3rd-July 5th for the holiday.

We will reopen to the public at 9 AM on Monday, July 6th. Camp Carnegie students may arrive as early as 8:15 AM.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

~warmly~
Katherine

Memorial for James Baker Hall

There will be a memorial service for James Baker Hall on July 11 from 4-5 p.m. in Lexington’s Gratz Park. (In case of inclement weather, the event will move inside to the Jesse Stuart room of the Carnegie Center.) Afterwards, there will be a reception in the Carnegie Center, with food and drink and poetry. Folks are invited to bring along a poem to read. We hope to see you then.


~warmly~
Katherine

PS. Thank you to those who have sent donations to the Carnegie Center is memory of Jim.

Writer's Retreat

The Carnegie Center was thrilled to host 40 writers for our Writer's Retreat. Here are a few snapshots from the weekend.









Hope your week has started off well!

~warmly~
Katherine

The Carnegie Center Remembers James Baker Hall

The Carnegie Center remembers Jim Hall, former poet laureate and Carnegie Center friend, who passed away yesterday.

Jim Hall was an outspoken advocate for the Carnegie Center.

“The Carnegie Center is a real friend-in-waiting to reading and writing at all levels, and a life-changing resource for many…”

“I cherish the Carnegie Center personally and on behalf of the Kentucky literary community.”

“one of [Lexington’s] treasures.”

These quotes were part of a letter to the editor he wrote back in 2003 when city budget cuts threatened to close the center. He was the KY Poet Laureate at the time he made these statements.

Our thoughts are with his family today.

~warmly~
Katherine

New Class at the Carnegie Center

The Graphic

Memoir:

Storytelling in

Pictures &

Words

Saturdays

June 27, July 25,

August 1 & 2

9 noon-2:00 pm

Specifically concentrating on autobiographical works and memoirs, this class will investigate how stories are told through graphic novels. We’ll use what we learn to tell our own stories through the juxtaposition of words and drawings. This class will deepen your knowledge of how to read and tell narratives with comic-book craft and literary technique. During breaks between sessions, reading and writing assignments will help you become comfortable with the genre.

COST: only $40

Taught by Nickole Brown

In order for us to register you, please send the following information:

• the workshop in which you’re interested
• your name
• address
• day & evening phone numbers
• method of payment and date of that payment (If it’s by check, when it will be mailed. Please phone us at (859) 254-4175 if you’d like to pay by credit card.)

We hope that you can attend!

~warmly~
Katherine

Carnegie Center in the News

Former Carnegie Center tutor Andrew Crown-Weber and friend Stephen Eidson have embarked on their cross-country bike trip to raise money for the Carnegie Center. They are bicycling across the country---over 4,000 miles (during 70 of the hottest days of the year)---for a great cause: The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.

When Andrew tutored at the Carnegie Center last year, he was so touched by his experience that he wanted to do something to give back. And so, Andrew and Stephen are “Riding For Reading: Cycling Across America,” and raising money for the Carnegie Center through their website. They’ll also be raising awareness of literacy, using their blog to share information about their journey and about the books they’re reading during rest breaks on their trip. As Stephen said, “We will discover our American narratives and construct our own long the way.”

Andrew and Stephen will face many challenges along the way—bad weather, bike troubles, sore muscles, sunburns, exhaustion—but their requests of you are easy in comparison:

1. Make a contribution to the Carnegie Center so that children and adults can find joy in writing, reading, and learning new things.

2. Share their story with your friends, your family, and your colleagues. Challenge them to match or exceed your gift.

And remember, you are reading this e-mail now because somewhere in your life, someone taught you how.

Learn more about the trip by checking out this Herald Leader article.
We hope that you will make a donation today!
~warmly~
Katherine

A Night of Reading at the Carnegie Center

On Friday evening, the Carnegie Center hosted two readings for two of our very popular writing contests, the Young People's Poetry Contest and the Next Great Writer Competition. Finalists for both contests gathered on Friday evening to share their work and for a small reception. Here are a few photos from the evening:





We want to extend our special congratulations to the finalists and winners of both contests.

Young People's Poetry:

Cinastasha Cable “A Million Candles”

Upper Elementary Winner Annie Deitz “Just Like the Animals”

William Ding “Summer”

Middle/High School Winner Ittai Eres“Birth of the Muse”

Charlie Frederick “My Earth”

Ezekiel Grier “Kentucky”

Early Elementary Winner Sam Hayden “Sea Serpent’s Egg”

Gabe Hillyard “Horses”

Julian T. Little “A New Beginning”

Dani Miller “Daydreamer”

Luc Morgan “Summer”

John Nichols “Beginning as Trickling Drops”

Natalie Pacheco “dissection”

Tamara E. Ray “Fox”

Maggie Rue “Rollercoaster”

Rena Sakai “To America”

Rebecca Sanders “Corpse”

Suzanne Seivers “Homecoming”

Madison Shifflett “I Heard That!”

Abigail Winfield “A Leprechaun’s Favorite Stew”

Next Great Writers:

Katrina Boone*, selected poems

Eva Kristine Cox, Green Feet & B Habby

Virginia Dulworth, The Red Ball

Kari Evely, The Tree

Sarah Glenn, Criticus Ex Machina

1^st Place Winner-Jason Grant, The Watercolor Woman and the Empty

Runner-up-Whitney Groves, Elementals

Matthew Haughton*, selected poems

Janet Holloway, Waiting to Know

Hannah LeGris*, You Go Even If She Asks for Me

Barbara Phillips, selected poems

Sacha Pruitt, Heartstrung

Irene Savine*, selected poems

Jesse Sisken, Red Sweater and the Brushes

Jessica Swafford, selected poems

Eric Sutherland, selected poems

James Vincent, Salvaging Fallujah

Charles Edward White, A Gift from the Gods

Jason Williams, selected poems

Morgan Williams*, A Saturday in August

* Denotes an Honorable Mention

We hope you'll enter our next contest, Short Stories ONLY!, deadline is July 31st. Check here for details!

~warmly~
Katherine

Early Learner Book Club Dates Changed

Please note that dates for Early Learner Book Club have changed for summer 2009. The group will now meet on the fourth Saturday of the month. New dates area:

June 27th
July 25th
August 22nd

Happy weekend!

~warmly~
Katherine

Summer Kick Off

Summer is in full swing at the Carnegie Center. We got things started with our Summer Kick-Off Family Fun and Learning Night last week. Here are a few photos:

Homemade cookies made by staff

Hotdogs and BBQ

Going fishing

Sidewalk Chalk

Games in Gratz Park

Campfire storytelling

Board games

Friendship bracelet making

Fortune fishing

S'mores!

Balloon Game by the Girl Scouts

Local baby animals

Making edible campfires

We hope to see you soon!

~warmly~
Katherine

Ready, Set, Study!

The Carnegie Center just completed one of their favorite projects---the Ready, Set, Study program, conducted this year with Northern Elementary school. Students were selected by their Family Resource Coordinator to participate in the program. Grant funding allowed us to provide parenting workshops, workshops on study skills, school supplies for next year, and a brand new desk for their homes. Students decorated their desks last weekend with volunteers to personalize their new, improved study space! Here are a few photos from the project:











~warmly~
Katherine

Calling All Writers

Another exciting writing opportunity at the Carnegie Center!

Here are the details:

WRITERS’ RETREAT WITH KENTUCKY WRITERS:
AN INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT WHERE WRITERS CAN GROW

Thursday, June 25: 6:00-8:00 pm
Friday, June 26: 9:00 am-4:30 pm
Saturday, June 27: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Join established Kentucky writers for four workshop sessions and plenty of writing time. We’ll break for lunch, but lunch will not be provided. $50 Saturday-only; $150 for 3-day event.

Workshop sessions:

Thursday 6:00-8:00 pm – Welcome event/WRITER SESSION (with Karen McElmurray)

Friday 9:00-11:30 am –WRITER SESSION (with Crystal Wilkinson)

Friday 11:30 am-12:30 pm – lunch on your own

Friday 12:30-2:00 pm– writing practice/free write

Friday 2:00-4:30 pm – WRITER SESSION (with new Kentucky Poet Laureate Gurney Norman)

Saturday 9:00-11:30 am – WRITER SESSION (with Nickole Brown)

Saturday 11:30 am-?? Participant Reading

Space is limited; register now: (859) 254-4175

We hope to see you then!
~warmly~
Katherine

Calling All Teachers

Kentucky Literature Academy

Thursday, July 9^th and Friday, July 10^th, 2009

9am-4pm

Middle and High School Teachers from around the state are invited to participate in the Carnegie Center’s third annual Kentucky Literature Academy. Participate in four workshops led by established Kentucky authors, while familiarizing yourself with Kentucky’s rich body of literature. Learn ways to integrate the works of Kentucky authors into your classroom and receive free texts and materials for classroom use. This is a must-attend event for all teachers!

Space is limited to the first 15 registrants. Teachers receive a per day stipend of $100 or six professional development hours (subject to district approval). To register, please contact the Carnegie Center for a registration form (859.254.4175 or ccll1@carnegieliteracy.org).

~warmly~

Katherine

Gratz Park

Our lovely view of the park. Particularly lush-looking after this week's rain. Thanks Fatimah for your lovely photo!

We hope to see you next week for the start of summer classes!
~warmly~
Katherine

Carnegie Center in the News

Check out an article on the Carnegie Center in the Summer 2009 Keeneland magazine!

~warmly~
Katherine

Literary Reception Honoring James Baker Hall and Mary Ann Taylor-Hall

The Carnegie Center hosted a literary reception for Kentucky authors, editors and publishers a few weeks ago. The event was to honor James Baker Hall and Mary Ann Taylor-Hall, as well as to recognize outgoing and incoming poets laureate, Jane Gentry Vance and Gurney Norman. Special thanks to all of the restaurants and businesses whose donations and sponsorships made this event possible, and to all our guests, we were thrilled to welcome you to our building. Here are a few photographs from the event:
Hope that your week starts out well. Remember that summer classes start next week!

Thank you to photographer Andrew Owens for your great pictures!
~warmly~
Katherine

Lunchroom Poem

The Carnegie Center staff placed a whiteboard in our kitchenette, where staff make their lunches. The board contained the following prompt: "Write about a children's book or books that impacted you." Staffers each wrote a few lines. Here was the result:

Eggs and ham, green as the tree leaves
Under which Harriett spies
And wild things roar.
While the Patriot lads saved old Falmouth
I was digging holes in the dirt
Eating a bowl full of mush under the moon
While we had a no good, very bad day
As Amy lay dying.

We have so much fun at work! Can you guess the children's books to which the lines allude?
Happy Guessing!
~warmly~
Katherine

Summer

With Memorial Day weekend over, summer is officially here! Remember to sign up for summer class.


Happy "summertime" from the Carnegie Center staff!
~warmly~
Katherine

National Children's Book Week

The Carnegie Center celebrated National Children's Book Week with a Family Fun and Learning Night program last night. Seventy kids and family members enjoyed making their own books, paper, puppets and more! Also, in honor of National Children's Book Week, many of the staff dressed up as Alice in Wonderland characters. Here are a few pictures of our fun evening:











~warmly~
Katherine

Summer Class Schedule

Hi, Carnegie Center friends!
Our summer class schedule is now available on the web. Sign up for our exciting classes here!

For those on the mailing list, your class schedule should be arriving anytime. Be checking your mailbox!

~warmly~
Katherine

Twitter

You can now follow the goings-on of the Carnegie Center on Twitter.

Check it out!

~warmly~
Katherine