CUSLAR is offering a 12-week Spring language classes
CUSLAR, a CTA Project Partner, is offering 12-week Spring language classes on the Cornell campus, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Classes are fun, interactive, and taught by fluent speakers. Registration now open.
Classes take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays
February 5, 2013 and ending May 2, 2013
(excluding Spring Break: March 18th-22nd)
Beginning Spanish- 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Intermediate Spanish- 6:10pm to 7:10pm
Advanced Spanish- 7:20 to 8:20pm
Early Registration fee- $375; Regular Registration fee $395
Early Registration deadline- January 29, 2013
For more information or to register email [email protected] or call the CUSLAR office at (607) 255- 7293 www.cuslar.org
Prisoner Express and An Open Window Present Two Exhibitions of Art
The first show will be exhibited in the Alternatives Federal Credit Union, 125 N. Fulton St., Ithaca, from February 1 through March 30, 2013. The second exhibition is the annual Big Red Barn show and can be seen from February 18 through mid-March
An Open Window is a project in the Center For Transformative Action that conducts workshops in various prisons throughout the United States. Prisoner Express, a program of CTAs Durland Alternatives Library, has an educational newsletter for 2000 prisoners throughout the US. This year, the two projects developed an art curriculum for these prisoners. This curriculum is unique in that it develops a dialogue of art with individuals in solitary confinement.
The philosophy of this curriculum, "Drawing From Life," is contrary to most prison art in that it asks the students to develop a visual vocabulary through drawing what one observes rather than working from one's imagination or self-expression. The students are asked to look beyond themselves. The course is challenging for many in that it asks the students to develop a capacity to "listen through the eyes." A good example of this "listening" is a description written by Manuel, who lives in solitary confinement, in response to the assignment asking him to explore the observable patterns of light and shadows in his cell:
"Inside the cell, I could see that the light and dark tones are not flat. I've noticed the light and dark patterns near the windows. The areas around the windows are extremely dark, but the area where the light comes from the window is bright.......The window light reflecting on the concrete bed has a very bright light tone and there is no light in the darkness surrounding this light..."
Manuel continues to describe the different light and shadow patterns for the next five paragraphs of his letter. He then develops a drawing from this exploration of what to the average person is just an empty room.
Another prisoner, Robert, who is also serving a life sentence of solitary confinement, in a California prison, wrote:
"I am always stuck within my four walls and I am trying to learn to express my thoughts and emotions through drawing....I would be grateful if you can help me by sending me your inspiring instruction package on how to draw."
We write back to everyone who mails in the assignments; sending suggestions and copies of art that will inspire them to see beyond their four walls.
While this exhibition is work from both workshops and through the mail, it is based upon the philosophy of the curriculum of "Draw From Life"; a visual understanding in a shared world.
Vitamin L's workshop to the Ithaca City School District provides music for upholding the Dignity for All Students Act
On Jan. 28, Vitamin L, a CTA project partner, sang for 1,000 Ithaca City School District Staff and gave a workshop about using songs to support the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA).This presentation coincided with Vitamin's L's gift to the Ithaca District of 195 copies of the new CD, Sing for Dr. King!, and 14 copies of the songbook. Each music teacher in the district received a CD and songbook, and each elementary classroom, each library, all the middle school social studies teachers, and some of the high school social studies teachers received a copy of the CD. This gift was made possible by support from The Park Foundation, several individuals, and IPEI.
The Vitamin L songs can be used to support lesson plans created by district staff for the M.L.K. Community Build. Instructions on matching Vitamin L songs to specific lesson plans can be found here.
People yearn for authentic experiences from the heart, and this music is from the heart! Listeners will also learn a bit of civil rights history from this CD via 2 songs about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a song about the Freedom Riders. Veteran civil rights leader, Dorothy Cotton, from CTA's Dorothy Cotton Institute joins Vitamin L on the CD for "This Little Light of Mine." This CD is The Vitamin L Project's contribution to the M.L.K. Community Build.
The CD is available locally in a few locations, in Atlanta at the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change, at Vitamin L's website, I Tunes, CD Baby, and Songs for Teaching.com.
Vitamin L's official CD Release Concert Celebration will take place on Monday Feb. 18, Presidents' Day, at 1:00 pm at the Unitarian church. This is also part of the Ithaca Loves Teachers Week promotion. CTA is one of the sponsors of the community concert. There will be door prizes for teachers and complimentary refreshments from Wegmans.
The Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) was put into place in New York State on July 1, 2012. DASA concerns mandates "instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity to include: an awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people, including but not limited to, different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity, and sexes." Vitamin L music has been addressing these issues for over 23 years.
Groundswell Launched its Winter Farm Business Course
The Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming, a program of the EcoVillage Center for Sustainability (a CTA project partner), launched its winter Farm Business Planning Course on January 10 with 20 trainees, all serious beginning farmers. They hail from Ithaca to as far as Kersey, Pennsylvania, and are planning farm enterprises as varied as vegetable CSA, hops, honey, raw milk dairy, and pastured hogs. After introducing themselves with an elevator speech at the first class, they'll finish the 10-week course with a business plan under their belt and new know-how about marketing, finances, legalities, and improving efficiency and profitability. To learn more about Groundswell follow this link.
Mapping the Mentor's Journey:
A Workshop for Farmers and Farm Educators
Sunday, February 10
9 am - 5 pm
EcoVillage at Ithaca
Potluck lunch- bring a dish to pass
Dress for indoor and outdoor activity
$25; scholarships available
- Are you a farmer, farm manager or farm educator with a passion for cultivating new farmers?
- Do you care deeply about building intern and employee relationships that go "beyond teaching" to a place of mutual support and growth?
- Are you ready to take your mentorship skills to the next level to become a truly inspirational on-farm educator?
Join leading nature awareness educators and experienced mentors Tim Drake and Jed Jordan and leadership coach Corinne Eisenman for an exciting and transformative day-long experience on the farm mentor's journey. From hands-on exercises to co-created conversations, and even the occasional download, we'll take a look at farm education through the eyes of a mentor. Farmer folks will leave with new tools and renewed passion for educating aspiring farmers and managing farm staff.
Space is limited. RSVP required. To RSVP, send an email to [email protected] and answer two of these three questions:
- What skills would you like to share with other individuals wanting to start a farm?
- What experiences inspired you to pursue your farming dreams?
- How do you believe you can contribute lasting change to your community as a farmer?
This workshop is a collaborative effort between Primitive Pursuits, which offers skills and experiences that create life-long connections with nature, and Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of farmers through hands-on education and community building.
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