Write Out Loud Receives Big Read Grant
Write Out Loud has announced receiving a grant of $20,000 to host the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read in San Diego. Write Out Loud is one of 62 nonprofit organizations in the US selected to receive an NEA Big Read grant to support a community reading program. Programming for the 2024-2025 grant cycle is centered around the theme Where We Live.
Using a book selection as inspiration, organizations chose one or more aspects of this theme as it relates to their own communities. With the theme of Where We Live, the NEA Big Read has gone back to its roots. The NEA Big Read library includes a selection of 50 titles culled from years past that showcase a wide range of genres, perspectives, and geographic regions. Write Out Loud has chosen to focus on “The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir” by Thi Bui and, for younger readers, “MexiKid” by Pedro Martín. Both selections are graphic novel memoirs.
Write Out Loud Artistic Director, Veronica Murphy shared “Both stories are memoirs exploring what an immigrant experience looks like in America – and how we define home. “The Best We Could Do” shares the lasting effects of one family’s escape from war-torn Vietnam in the 1970s to a new life in America. “Mexikid”examines a Mexican American boy’s family and their adventure-filled road trip to bring their abuelito back from Mexico. The NEA Big Read grant, along with other funders, allows us to put these books into the hands of young people and then challenges them to create a personal expression, inspired by the story.”
“The NEA Big Read brings the transformative experience of reading to an entire community,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “This year’s grantees, including Write Out Loud, are taking themes off the page and using creative programming to navigate difficult topics, explore new perspectives, and strengthen bonds between neighbors.”
“Using the captivating power of literature, NEA Big Read events unleash the creative spirit that resides within all of us,” said Torrie Allen, president and CEO of Arts Midwest. “We’re thrilled to support the work of grantees across the nation, including Write Out Loud, as they inspire conversations and artistic expressions through shared reading experiences.”
The NEA Big Read will impact 3,000-plus San Diegans. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience. Activities will begin in the fall and culminate with a host of community wide events in April 2025, including writing and graphic novel workshops, book discussions, film screenings, writing contests, visual art displays and student awards presentation of THE NEA BIG READ – Read Imagine Create, www.writeoutloudsd.com
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