Portage Count Student Poetry Book Fundraiser
Posted January 27, 2006, Stevens Point Journal Organizers hope student poetry project inspires love of language By Lisa Nellessen-Lara
Journal staff For those who pour their hearts into their efforts, the crafting of the written word is truly an art form.
A well-placed adjective, a play on words, brings to life feelings buried just below the surface and not apparent to the eye.
"Poetry is condensing those thoughts and feelings and your passions," said Bill Schierl, president of the Portage County Arts Alliance. "Words are simply the canvas and the paint, just like the notes on the page are to the musician."
The connection between the two -- the English language and artistic expression -- made a partnership among the Arts Alliance, Portage County Literacy Council, Worzalla Publishing and the Stevens Point Journal an ideal match. The organizations have joined to create what they hope will be the first annual collection of student poetry.
"Oftentimes, writing skills and putting thoughts to words is a lost art," Schierl said. "It's a skill, it's something you can work on and get better. To make those words have meaning for multiple people, that's the challenge."
It's a challenge that will pay off for students in the long run, the groups agree.
"We specialize in children's books, and we see the creativity involved in the book world," said Cheri Karch, corporate relations director for Worzalla. "We don't want to see the love of books fall to the wayside."
Worzalla is donating the printing of what Karch calls "Volume 1 of a fantastic community project."
It is projects such as the poetry book and Reading First that help to get children's attention, which is too often diverted by other forms of media -- iPods, Xbox, Instant Messaging -- back on track, Karch said.
In the end, the entire community benefits.
"The Portage County Literacy Council addresses community adult English literacy problems, one person at a time," said Tom Parker, executive director of the Literacy Council. "If we can promote writing and reading awareness communitywide and recognize the young writers with the poetry book, we offer one more positive experience.
While teachers throughout Portage County have been asked to work with their students on poetry pieces, organizers also hope parents will get involved at home.
The group hopes to include about 600 works in the professionally bound soft cover book, which will be published by Worzalla Publishing. Select pieces also will be featured in the Journal throughout Arts Week, April 14-23, as well as including all poems in an online special section at www.stevenspointjournal.com.
While students' reading, writing and creative skills will be enhanced through the project, the community also stands to gain.
"It will provide others a snapshot of how community students feel, what they see, what is important to them," Parker said. "The adults in their lives will want to read what they say."
The books will be available for purchase throughout the county, with proceeds going toward the Newspaper in Education program, as well as the Arts Alliance and Literacy Council.
The true goal, however, is to inspire students' interest in reading, writing and the arts.
"We believe this project fits so well, as a group, to engage students' thoughts, " Schierl said. "So often we grow up and we lose that fresh look -- those thoughts and feelings that are so raw when society hasn't put us in boxes yet. This book will offer a refreshing view of the world through eyes that have endless hope and possibility."
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