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SMCCCD Board of Trustees
Richard Holober,
President
Karen Schwarz, Vice President Clerk
Patricia Miljanich, Trustee
Dave Mandelkern,
Trustee
Helen Hausman, Trustee
Richael Young,
Student Trustee, 2007-2008
Ron Galatolo, Chancellor-Superintendent
WOW! Speakers & Workshop Presenters - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007
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WOW! CoordinatorGeorgia Gero,
Connie Beringer, Dean, Language Arts
Donna Bestock, Dean of Creative Arts/Social Sciences
Marijane Datson, WOW! Conference Program Director
Kathleen de Azevedo Feinblum, Professor of English
Kathy Fitzpatrick, Staff Assistant Language Arts
Georgia Gero, WOW! Conference Coordinator
Katharine Harer, Professor of English
Shelly Hausman, Public Information Officer
Sandra Irber, Director, College Development, Marketing & PR
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Kathie Semenza Lena Susbilla
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According to the finding from a large scale survey, Reading at Risk*, conducted at the request of the National Endowment for the Arts, “It is time to inspire a nationwide renaissance of literary reading and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of all citizens.”
“Literature reading is fading as a meaningful activity, especially among younger people. If one believes that active and engaged readers lead richer intellectual lives than non-readers and that a well-read citizenry is essential to a vibrant democracy, the decline of literary reading calls for serious action.”
- general, will continue to worsen."
“Reading at Risk” presents a distressing but objective overview of national trends. The accelerating declines in literary reading among all demographic groups of American Adults indicate an imminent cultural crisis. The trends among younger readers warrant special concern, suggesting that – unless some effective solution is found – literary culture, and literacy in
WOW! 2008
reaches out to the Bay Area community
WOW! 2008 is the 6th annual conference celebrating International
Women’s Day. WOW! has demonstrated that participants come from
a wide area –from the nine Bay Area counties and beyond – bringing
together a remarkable range of ages from 11 to 90-something.
More then 300 readers and writers typically attend the conference.
WOW!
celebrates and honors women’s achievements.
We not only engage authors whose credits are WOW! when we read
them, but also present Skyline College’s outstanding faculty members
– as writers, panel moderators, hosts, curator, and artists.
The conference also highlights Skyline’s creative writing students;
as the Talisman Magazine.
WOW! encourages women readers and writers in many ways.
Who Reads Literature?
Gives students an opportunity to hear “real writers” in a friendly, highly energized setting and to take writing workshops from professionals. In 2005, 100 Skyline students attended the conference, 50 of them on scholarships.
Provides information to faculty so that they can plan in advance of the conference to order books and include authors in their curriculum, thus enabling students to hear writers whom they have read and discussed in their classes.
Promotes the Talisman Literary Magazine, which has published and given awards to student writing and artwork for 36 years. Our creative writing program is vital to a large number of students.
Creates significant volunteer roles for students that bring them together with women writers and community leaders. In 2005, we expanded our outreach to students with Kababayan students presenting a workshop specifically designed for youth. Over 50 students volunteered the day of the conference in a variety of roles.
Reaches out to high school students who have increasingly shown an interest in the conference. In 2004 & again in 2005, we offered a mother-daughter special price. conducted.
Increases awareness of Skyline College’s Women in Transition Program (WIT) that for over 30 years has helped women return to college or gain the confidence to begin higher education for the first time.
Factors in Literature Participation
With nearly one-half
of Americans participating, literary reading is clearly one of
the nation’s favorite pastimes.
Those with high levels of education are much more likely to read literature than those with lower levels of educational attainment. Reading and listening to literature are consistently higher for women, urban residents, and, generally people with higher family incomes. Non-Hispanic white Americans have the highest participation rates of any ethnic or racial group in almost all literature-related activities, except for the high participation rate of African Americans listening to poetry and doing creative writing..
Literary activities are most popular in the West.
Personal Creative Writing
As is the case with all facets of literary reading and
writing, women are more likely than men to pursue creative
writing. Similarly, creative writing is most popular among
those with high education levels and among residents of the
western region of the country. However, an analysis of
creative writers shows some differences between the demographic
characteristics of creative writers and literary readers.
Interestingly, creative writing does not increase consistently
by income levels. Low-and middle-income people are about
as likely to write creative works as those with high incomes.
Other comparisons of the data show that African Americans are as
likely as white Americans to do creative writing. In
addition, creative writing is most common among those under 25.
*National Endowment for the Arts Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America Research Division Report #46 June 2004
Questions? Contact Georgia Gero, WOW! Coordinator and Eng/Lit 166 Instructor at gerocheng@smccd.edu
*Web Designer: BeyondExcellence! Consultants
