Literature for Life meets NOW HEAR THIS!
In November 2009, NOW HEAR THIS! teamed up with Literature for Life and hosted 2 writing workshops with poet Desi Di Nardo through the WRITE ON! Workshop program. WRITE ON! Workshops can be offered at schools, community centres and other organization and feature a professional writer to help participants improve their writing skills, enhance creative thought and produce writing that is self-empowering.
The workshop “Life Writing: Personal Myth, Memoir & Autobiography” explored a variety of ways in 
which a person can choose write about her life. Fifteen participants from the local Jane & Finch neighbourhood took part in the workshop, many involved in the Women Moving Forward program.
Desi began the workshop by sharing her own poetry with the group. She talked about her own life story and explained how each of the women would have an opportunity to share their own stories.
After Desi led the young women in an exercise, encouraging them to draw maps of their childhood neighbourhood. From there participants brainstormed topics that they could build into a personal narrative.
The women wrote out their own stories and collaborated with their peers in order to perform a collective piece with the group. The spoken word aspect of the workshop made writing autobiography active and immediate, highlighting how important it is for women to share their stories aloud. Desi was then able to give them constructive feedback for both their writings and performances.
NOW HEAR THIS! Social Network Links:
BLOG: nowhearthis.ca
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/NOWHEARTHIS.ca
TWITTER: twitter.com/NOWHEARTHISca
For more information about this specific workshop, please email Whitney.
Mini Interview with Reading Circle Facilitator Desi Di Nardo
Credit: Rick O'Brien
Question: What factors do you keep in mind when choosing which books you’ll be using in your reading circles? What makes a successful book for the circles, and is there anything that the less successful books have incommon? What book have you discovered the most from through your participants’ responses?
There are indeed key factors I try to take into consideration when selecting the books we read at the June Callwood Centre. Certainly, a bias on my part influences choice as I feel it is important to expose the group to books with a more literary slant no matter how simple the story line or narrating seems to be. However, I know to remain cognizant and sensitive to age, background, and reading ability when making that decision. The books should be able to touch the girls in a way that allows them to examine their own situations and empower them with the tools and motivation necessary to continue reading further books based not only on plot and character development but also out of the sheer simple pleasure they derive from reading aloud and the thought-provoking discussions which emerge from the reading circle.
I feel the books which are accepted and read with zeal are typically ones which portray a strong yet ‘fallen’ female protagonist, usually relayed in first person perspective so the girls are able to penetrate the mind and feelings of the character(s). There tends to be obstacles they themselves have personally encountered or are currently experiencing and often the struggle or conflict is resolved in a way that is accessible to the reader and illustrates how that character is redeemed or salvaged in a manner the girls can relate and/or aspire to.
The books which have proved most successful and engaging are Leslie’s Journal by Allan Stratton, The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara, The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, and (my personal favourite) A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
-Desi Di Nardo
Broken wings
June Callwood Centre
Faciliator: Desi Di Nardo
The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara
Question: We learn of Mariatu’s indomitable spirit within the first few chapters. In fact, she is compared to the little yellow and brown weaver bird (chapter 6) who flaps on the ground, fighting fiercely for its life despite a broken wing.
What is the significance or relation of a wing to a hand? And where does this sense of hope and strength come from? Would you prefer to die at this point if you were in Mariatu’s shoes?
Answer: I think the reason why they related her to a bird is because she got her hands cut off and the bird likewise broke a wing. Probably because the bird was in danger and so was Mariatu. The wings help do certain things as does the hand (brush teeth, comb hair, etc).
The sense of hope and strength comes from her being raped, her hands getting cut off, and now that her childhood is gone because she’s pregnant and doesn’t want to be. If I was in her shoes, I would probably kill myself because it would be too much to deal with at twelve years old – getting my hands cut off and having to live with the fact I was raped by a much older man and then getting pregnant would be much too much.
-Taylor Partridge
WomenwithWordz
WomenwithWordz is an interactive blog where women of all races, ages and backgrounds can post and share their writings, rhymes, poems, stories, scripts, and words. This virtual space is welcoming of all types of work: a quiet reflexive song, an angry loud poem even silly fun lyrics and stories are accepted and celebrated.
The WomenwithWordz blog was born from the Women with Wordz writing circle held every Wednesday at 1900 Sheppard Ave in Toronto. Supported by Literature for Life, the women are led by their instructor Motion to let go and write freely and openly about what is most important to them.
Literature for Life on YouTube
We are excited to announce that we have launched our own YouTube Channel!
Literature for Life on YouTube shows you the impact that Literature for Life is making in the lives of young families in and around Toronto. Listen to the testimonials and watch the progress of the young families involved in our Women with Words Reading Circles!
Tune in often to find updates on the books we are reading, the written works of our program participants, Literature for Life events and more!
Everyone’s secrets
Essay Question: In your opinion, is Chanda’s Secrets an appropriate title for this book. Explain:
I don’t think it’s a good title because it’s not only based on Chanda’s secrets. Because everyone has secrets like Mama, her step-dad, Mrs. Tafa, and Ester. Chanda’s not the only one with secrets. This book should be based on everyone’s secrets and everyone’s problems in their life.
I think that the book should be called The Life of Secrets so that it focuses on the lives of those who are affected by AIDS as it touches so many lives.
Taylor Partridge, June Callwood Centre
New Study Shows ‘A Mother is a Child’s FIRST Teacher’
Literature for Life’s core belief is that a Mother is her child’s first teacher. A new study supports this belief and shows why Literature for Life’s programming is effective in educating two generations for the price of one.
Infants give mother tongue new meaning
ANNE McILROY — SCIENCE REPORTER
From Friday’s Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010
The newborns slept peacefully, cradled in the arms of their mothers, while researchers gently attached 128 electrodes to their tiny heads. Each infant then heard two recordings, one of their mom pronouncing a single syllable and one of a female nurse making the same sound. But the reaction in their brains – as recorded by the electrodes – was completely different, scientists at the University of Montreal discovered.
Continue reading the article here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/infants-give-mother-tongue-new-meaning/article1841469/
Teen Mothers participate in Univ. of Windsor Study
At Literature for Life, we are always interested in articles that support our missions, visions, and values in which we promote the benefits of reading and family literacy. Our approach begins with young mothers who are pregnant and parenting with the core belief that a Mother is her childs first teacher. The following article highlights a study being conducted on Teenage Mothers based on the belief that there is need for teen pregnancy prevention because of the consequences that can affect both mother and child. Literature for Life takes a special interest in preventative measures for the children of these young mothers. Through our one of a kind reading circles we and help young families realize that preparation for a successful future begins with Mom as their child’s primary care giver and it begings with literacy.
Excerpts: Are impulsive teen girls more likely to have a baby?
ZOSIA BIELSKI
From Monday’s (Jan. 3 2011) Globe and Mail
Dr. Carlin Miller, an associate professor in the psychology department and the University of Windsor is conducting a study on teen pregnancy to determine if impulsive girls are at a greater risk of becoming pregnant.
“Girls who become pregnant as teens or in very early adulthood- 20 ir 21- are far more impulsive, ont only in
their own behaviours but also in their parenting styles. And their children have the worst outcomes.”
In the Globe and Mail article, Dr. Miller said, “Prevention is important, because teen pregnancies can lead to poor outcomes for both mother and child.”
“Consequences extend into the long term…moms are less likely to finish high school, more likely to live in poverty, be unemployed and involved in domestically abusive situation. The children of teen moms are more likely to become teen parents themselves.”
To read the full article click here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/family-and-relationships/are-impulsive-teen-girls-more-likely-to-have-a-baby/article1854679/