Museum of African Diaspora February 13, 2010

WritersCorps, the youth writing program, joins forces with four museums this spring to present Claim the Block, readings by young writers who are connecting to their city and its art. The readings take place in various cultural venues in one city block. Most of the events are free and open to the public.

The series runs from February 13 to April 23 and takes place at the Museum of African Diaspora (MoAD), Contemporary Jewish Museum, Zeum: San Francisco’s Children Museum, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA). Each reading features WritersCorps students from public middle and high schools, paired with local writers who serve as WritersCorps teachers. Through poetry and prose, the students will relate to the art in the museums, tackle issues of adolescence, and claim their place in their neighborhoods and communities in San Francisco. The events also feature artwork and performance by youth groups from the museums.

WritersCorps, a project of the San Francisco Arts Commission and the San Francisco Public Library, is a 16-year-old literary arts organization that places professional writers in community settings to teach creative writing to youth. Since its inception in 1994, the program has helped more than 15,320 youth improve their literacy and increase their desire to learn. It is a recipient of a National Endowment of the Arts grant through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“WritersCorps exemplifies the best in arts as a public service,” says Luis R. Cancel, the city’s director of cultural affairs. “These readings represent the efforts of young people who have overcome challenges to express themselves in a positive and meaningful manner.”

Calendar Listing
Claim the Block: A WritersCorps Reading Series
WritersCorps joins forces with 4 museums to present Claim the Block, readings by young writers who are connecting to their city and its art.
February 13, 4:30-5:30 pm
Museum of African Diaspora
685 Mission St / $2
Featuring Myron Michael Hardy and Neela Banerjee
With students from Downtown High School and Ida B. Wells High School
March 11, 7-8 pm
Contemporary Jewish Museum
736 Mission St / Free
Featuring Carrie Leilam Love and Cindy Je
With students from Mission High School, Hilltop High School and the San Francisco Main Public Library
April 10, 6:30-7:30 pm
Zeum
221 4th St / Free
Featuring Aracely Gonzalez and Rick D’Elia
With students from International Studies Academy and Aptos Middle School
April 23, 7:30-8:30 pm
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
701 Mission St / Free (RSVP required)
Featuring Milta Ortiz
With students from the WritersCorps Apprentice Program

For more information: 415-252-4655, writerscorps.org

Official Website: http://www.writerscorps.org