VOLUME II Fundraiser in Support of Finding Your Voice New Canadian Creative Writing Program

Please support this fundraising event, VOLUME II, initiated by English 3120, the Practicum in Literacy, Language, and Literature course currently offered in the Department of English at the University of Winnipeg. The course is facilitated by Debbie Schnitzer, past Director of the Global College Institute for Literacy and Transformative Learning. The event will raise funds in support of Finding Your Voice (FYV) and the publication of its second volume of writing by New Canadians.

Started in 2007, FYV is a creative writing program for New Canadians facilitated by Janine LeGal in partnership with the Millennium Library and Global College Institutes for Literacy and Transformative Learning, and Literacy, Diversity, and Identity. FYV, consists of both adult and youth programs, develops writing and English-language skills through story making and conversation circles.

In 2011, FYV published The Past is Another Country, an anthology of 12 stories by New Canadians. The collection, which also includes English as Additional Language resources, has been distributed freely. It represents the experiences of writers from China, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Korea, Macedonia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Taiwan, and Uzbekistan.

Upcoming VOLUME II Fundraising Events:

Bookie Cookie Sale

Wednesday, February 8 from 1:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Riddell Hall, The University of Winnipeg

Read-a-Thon
Friday, March 9th at 4:00 pm to Saturday, March 10 at 4:00 pm
Bulman Centre, The University of Winnipeg
Open to all readers.

VOLUME II Concert with Fred Penner, Bog River, and Friends – First Ever Book Social
Saturday, March 10th at 4:00 p.m.
Bulman Centre, The University of Winnipeg
$10 and/pay as you can. Children are free.

If you wish to do a reading for the Read-a-thon, contact Jackie Gudz at 612-0201 or select a spot directly by following these simple directions for our Gmail site.

• Go to google.com. 
• Enter volume.voice.2@gmail.com. Our password is findingvoice.
  
• Click on Documents in the upper left hand corner and the Read-a-thon title will appear.
  
• Open the spread sheet and simply select a free spot(s) and enter your name. Your choice will be saved automatically.
  
• Log out.
  
• Find as many people to sponsor your reading as you can.

All proceeds go towards Volume 2 and the FYV program.

To view the poster, please click here.

2011 Events

From Outrage to Action: Human Rights Workshop Series

Free Admission, Space is limited so register early by contacting Lee at lee_chitty@hotmail.com or 960-6286

WHEN: Wednesday, November 9th - Wednesday November 30th, 2011

WHERE: 3M63 (3rd Floor, Manitoba Hall, Room 63), The University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave

Creative Campaigning

 Direct Action on Human Rights

WHEN: Wednesday, November 9th, 7:00-9:00 pm

Arab Spring

 Revolution & Rights

WHEN: Wednesday, November 16, 7:00-9:00 pm

Writing Wrongs

 Letter Writing 101

WHEN: Wednesday, November 23, 7:00-9:00 pm

Women & Girls are Not Disposable

 Promoting Sexual & Reproductive Rights

WHEN: Wednesday, November 30, 7:00-9:00 pm

• view poster

---

Love Makes Life Grow

A fundraiser for the famine in East Africa and the Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners

WHEN: September 10th, 2011
WHERE: The University of Winnipeg, Bulman Centre, 515 Portage Ave.

Co-sponsored by Janine LeGal, community activist and founder of the Finding Your Voice program, and the Global College’s Institute for Literacy and Transformative Learning, Love Makes Life Grow is a fundraiser for both  the famine in East  Africa and the Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Prisoners.

A special thanks to: Jennifer Clary-Lemon, who helped with all the important things along the way, and Debbie Schnitzer for her vision and kind push for a better world. Ali Saeed for being a support and an inspiration to so many. Louise Simbandumwe for being a friend and a tireless human rights advocate. Dan Frechette for remaining true to his art and sharing it with us. Connan Friesen for pursuing his dream and bringing one of his first to us that night. Rodrigo Munoz for being a class act and bringing rhythm and joy through his music.

Silent Auction Donors and all around great people and organizations: Weyni Abraha, Fetheya Abdela, Steve Black, Nancy Gill, Aileen, Diane and Kevin Longfield, Chandra Mayor, Chris Von Schindler, Herat Food (Brian Tavares).

Volunteerw making it all happen: Shakila Atayee, Soraya Atayee, Paul Friesen, Bemnet Hailegiorgis, Young Joo Kim, Nathaniel Chimasia Ondiaka, David Pankratz, Laura Pearson, Jan Schmidt, Carlin Vesely, and so many others - your kindness and love bring much needed light into this world.

2010 Events

Finding Your Voice

Creative Writing Workshops for new Canadians

 

WHEN: September 17th to October 22nd, 2010

WHERE: The Millennium Library, Winnipeg

After the six-week creative writing workshop series, stories were published in the book titled, The Past is Another Country. You can borrow the book from the Winnipeg Library here.

View the poster

Read the press releases:

• New Winnipeg Writer discovers more than deal at yard sales, CBC. (June 27, 2011)

• Fresh perspectives of the city through newcomers' eyes, Winnipeg Free Press. (June 27, 2011)

•  New Winnipegger on being Canadian, 'eh'?, CBC. (July 2, 2011)

•  Multi-lingual new Canadian feels at home in Winnipeg, CBC. (July 1, 2011)

 

2009 Events

Spotlight on Experiential Learning
An all-day workshop, primarily for staff and faculty, which will:

• Explore shared interests, practices and visions in relation to experiential learning within the university and in relation to university-community partnerships.
• Discuss the possible roles of the new Experiential Learning Coordinator position in furthering experiential learning at The University of Winnipeg.

Friday April 24, 2009

Location: The University of Winnipeg

Organizer: ELIN (Experiential Learning Initiatives Network)

For more information on this event and ELIN, please contact: Debbie Schnitzer

Experiential Learning is an umbrella term that describes a variety of educational opportunities: co-ops, internships, clinicals, service learning, practicum placements, student teaching, fieldwork and prior learning.

In the Spring of 2008, a group of The University of Winnipeg students, staff, and faculty gathered together to form Experiential Learning Initiative Network (ELIN) to support and extend the vision and practice of experiential learning within the university community.

The April 24th Workshop goals are imagined in terms of dynamic and exciting exchange of experiences, tools and resources, enlivened by next-step thinking that will secure common interests in experiential learning and its diverse forms of engagement.

Members of the ELIN working group hosting this event include: Vern Barrett, Service Learning Coordinator, Faculty of Education; Jennifer Clary-Lemon, Professor - Rhetoric Writing & Communications; Fiona Green, Chair - Women's & Gender Studies; Jamie Nelson, SUNSET Coordinator; Barbara Read, Coordinator of PLAR and Adult Learner Services; Debbie Schnitzer, Professor - English and Director - Institute of Literacy & Transfornative Learning; Barbara Wilton, VP-Advocate - The University of Winnipeg Student Association.

---

Writing and Reading Women's Lives: Life Writing Workshop

Course No. RHET-3999
Instructor:  Dr. J. Clary-Lemon

This three-week summer institute course examines the reception and production of women’s life writing.

As a supplement to learning about women’s life writing, students will be involved in and expected to attend the Carol Shields Symposium on Women’s Writing (the weekend of May 8, 9, and 10) as part of the credit for the course.

Students will be reading key autographical texts by Canadian women writers, theoretical texts on the function and genre of autobiographical discourse, as well as learning the craft of autobiography, which will culminate in a course portfolio of personal writing and response.

This course offers an examination of life-writing as genre, offering you the opportunity to read, reflect, theorize, and produce writing that engages women’s experience.

As a partner to the Carol Shield’s Symposium, it will give students a chance to interact with authors that they have read, engage in conversations with other women about life writing, and present their own work at a scholarly conference if they so choose.

For more information please contact Professor Debbie Schnitzer at d.schnitzer@uwinnipeg.ca or 204.786.9281

Click here for more information on the Carol Shields Symposium on Women's Writing