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RI is in! On Mon, Mar 2, 2020 at 1:07 PM Jim Davis <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > An excellent idea! Count La. in. > > > > Jim Davis > > Director of the Louisiana Center for the Book > > State Library of Louisiana > > 701 North 4th Street > > Baton Rouge, LA 70802-5232 > Phone: 225-342-9714 / Fax: 225-219-9840 > > Do not forward this message without permission. > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended > solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. > If you have received this email in error you may not copy or disseminate > this message in any manner. > Please notify the sender by return email that you received this > transmission in error, and delete it from your computer. > > > > > > *From:* Center for the Book state centers communication < > [log in to unmask]> *On Behalf Of *Sharon Shaloo > *Sent:* Sunday, March 1, 2020 1:38 PM > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Idea -- Unifying Project > > > > Happy March, All! > > > > It was an interesting experience to listen to the meeting that you all > held last week! I have a thought about a couple of things (I know, I know > ... "of course, you do, Sharon"...). But the main thing is I may have an > idea for a unifying project and wanted to float that by you.... > > > > On Thurs night I went to an interesting program at the Edward M Kennedy > Institute for the Senate, and if you don't know about this place here's the > link: https://www.emkinstitute.org/ > > > > Here is its stated mission: The Edward M. Kennedy Institute brings > Senator Kennedy’s vision for a dynamic hub of civic engagement to life. > With educational programs, public forums, and digital exhibits, the Kennedy > Institute welcomes individuals of all ages to debate the issues of the day, > learn from each other, and leave empowered to make their own contributions > to improving their communities and our nation. > > > The program focused on Presidential Inaugural Poet, Richard Blanco, whose > new collection of poetry is titled HOW TO LOVE A COUNTRY. I won't go into > great detail about the book at this point, but enough to say that Blanco > takes the civic role of poetry seriously and believes it can be the avenue > to productive civil discussions about improving society. That, and he is > freaking engaging and approachable and the high school kids in the audience > (all students of color) ate him up. As did all of the adults (we > collectively of a certain age). In other words, he bridges generations in > his appeal. > > > > So ... what I am thinking is that his idea -- and a bit of his self in > selected appearances -- could be the springboard to community conversations > in preparation for the 250th anniversary of this country ... not > conversations that say "what do you want to fix by 2026"? But rather "how > are the ways we can love this country?" Convos, emerging from poetry, that > seek the good in the country and build on that good with civic action. > > > > Partners on this project might well be the EMK Institute, the Urban > Libraries Council (whose book to action model we would be adapting), the > Poetry Foundation (or even the source of their funding in the Ruth Lilly > Philanthropic Foundation), LOC and NEH ... the project would even engage > NEA if there were interest in extending there. > > > > I think it would be a strong cultural response to the call for convos > about the approaching 250th anniversary of the Dec of Independence ... > which Blanco adapts, interestingly, to start his collection, calling his a > "Declaration of Interdepence." The nice thing about how to love a country > as a frame, too, is that the link to environmentalism and caretaking of the > land is apparent and so we add to the social ... > > > > I spoke with Richard Blanco a bit after the program about the discipline > of occasional poetry and its interplay with the political ... but in the > course of our chat I asked if he had yet been approached to work on any > projects leading up to 2026 and he is definitely available and -- I guess > I'd say -- intrigued. I told him I would float this idea with you all to > see if you think it has legs. > > > > About Blanco ... Cuban immigrant, raised in Miami, now living in Bethel, > ME, with his partner. Talks about democracy with the extended metaphor of > a garden, that has to be continually seeded, watered, tended, and etc. > Inclusively political and civic, I think. > > > > If there is a general interest in exploring, I thought I'd talk to his > publisher (Beacon Press here in Boston) to see if I could get copies of his > book -- I think it's about to come out in paper -- to send out to all of > you. > > > > For now, links: > > > > http://www.beacon.org/How-to-Love-a-Country-P1429.aspx > > > > https://richard-blanco.com/ > > > > Love to hear what you think, > > > > Best, Sharon > > > > P.S. He says he was named after Richard Nixon ... "but that's another > story." > > > > > > ********* > > Sharon Shaloo, Executive Director > > Mass Center for the Book > > [log in to unmask] > > 617.872.3718 (office) > > massbook.org >