Frederick Douglass Literacy Center

  • Artists worked with 172 17-21 year old students of whom 123 were published by our program in print or electronically; students' entering literacy skills ranged from 0 to 5.0. Students had access once a week to the school's computer lab; Motivated students could arrange to spend extra time in the lab with Dr. Madeline Slovenz-Low to write and design their own books, to create individual web sites, to design and write personal journeys from home to school with assistance of electronic designer Ray Shah; to enter their poetry in STREAMS OnLine for comment by teachers, artists and other students. The school made a xerox copier available to teachers and students using the Waterways template who wanted to print limited editions of students' poetry chapbooks created with assistance of Dr. Slovenz-Low.
  • All the students receiving GED had worked with our program; 8 of these students had their own books of poetry published this year; 2 (Patrick Vassell and Kanhai John) also had books published last year
  • Classes at Frederick Douglass Center:
  • Bob Budnick - 15 students, Ellen Lytle (poet) one class poetry chapbook
  • Sal Canale - 20 students, Ellen Lytle (Poet), Matt Jones (folk singer/community activist); one chapbook of student writing compiled/printed by teacher using Waterways template
  • Mary Ann Cornell - 18 students, Molly Barker (visual artist), Ellen Lytle (poet), 1 class poetry chapbook; 11 individual illustrated books
  • Elective classes - 16 students, with Bread & Puppet Theatre and with Great Small Works - 2 separate puppet productions performed for the school; 10 students with teacher Roslyn Kay and Pam White (visual artist) - 2 class illustrated alphabet books; 6 illustrated personal history books; student performances at the local nursing home and elementary school
  • Donna Farnum - 24 students, Desiree Foston (visual artist); 35 illustrated books, 3 expressive writing chapbooks designed by students using Waterways template with assistance from Dr. Slovenz-Low
  • John Georges - 16 students, Ellen Lytle (poet), 1 class poetry chapbook
  • Roslyn Kay - 19 students, Michael Mao Dance, fall term (see elective above
  • Myrtle Liburd - 29 students, Ellen Lytle (Poet), Matt Jones (folk singer), Louis Reyes Rivera (Poet), Molly Barker (visual artist), 14 illustrated books, 9 expressive writing chapbooks designed by students using Waterways template with assistance from Dr. Slovenz-Low
  • Oneita Murray - 22 students, Louis Reyes Rivera (poet) meeting at Sista's Place Coffeehouse
  • S. Dolores Russo -12 GEDs, Ellen Lytle (poet), 1 class poetry chapbook, 15 individual poetry chapbooks,
  • Gail Tuch - 35 students, Ellen Lytle (poet), 1 class poetry chapbook
  • Tyona Washington - 35 students, Louis Reyes Rivera (poet) meeting at Sista's Place Coffeehouse, published in a class anthology.

    • Ten Penny Players