Quick Start Grants

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$603
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Wendy L. Hansen
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
October 2016
End Date
May 2017
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Cook
Cook
Project Overview
Quick Start Grants
Project Details
We are seeking funding for a project to begin a Writers' Club for youth.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Janeen Carey: vocalist, retired Hibbing Community College librarian and information media specialist; Kate Fitzgerald: Program Director North Shore Music Association, writer; Adam Guggemos: graphic designer, art events promoter; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Moira Villiard: visual artist; Jeanne Doty: Retired Associate Professor of Music at University of Minnesota-Duluth, pianist; Candace LaCosse: North House Folk School instructor, leatherwork designer and crafter; Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Margaret Holmes: visual artists, poet, and former Children’s Theatre employee; Tammy Mattonen: visual artists, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Quentin Stille: student liaison, College Music Director - KUMD.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Kate Fitzgerald: Program Director North Shore Music Association, writer; Jeanne Doty: Retired Associate Professor of Music at University of Minnesota-Duluth, pianist; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; Candace LaCosse: North House Folk School instructor, leatherwork designer and crafter; Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Margaret Holmes: visual artists, poet, and former Children’s Theatre employee; Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician.
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2015 Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Cultural Heritage

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$603
Other Funds Leveraged
$3,497
Direct expenses
$4,100
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The goal of this pilot project is to provide focused writing and review experiences in a club-like, informal setting that will excite middle school students and build their confidence and skill levels. The measurable outcomes include: Regular attendance at monthly club sessions; 3 to 4 publishable pieces of writing from a portfolio produced and edited by each student; students will improve their skill levels by implementing best practices in writing; a collection of the students work will be published before the end of May and copies distributed to students, faculty, and school and public libraries; A public celebration will occur to honor the writers and disseminate the collection; Students' perceptions of themselves as writers will improve as measured by pre and post surveys. *Attendance and follow-up notes will be recorded for each session by the facilitators. * Student work will be kept in composition books and folders collected by the facilitators after each session. * In November of 2016, students and facilitators will begin the selection and editing process for the 3-4 works to be published. * The Collection of student works will be published in May of 2017. * Students' writing samples will be compared with best practice criteria, pre and post writing club, to measure improvement. * Pre and post surveys of students' perception of themselves as writers will be taken in October, 2016 and May, 2017 and the results analyzed by facilitators, faculty and students. * A public celebration will be organized to honor the writers and their accomplishment in May of 2017.

Measurable Outcome(s)

1. Regular attendance at monthly club sessions: Monthly large-group sessions were held between Oct, 2016 and April, 2017. Small-group sessions were held in December, 2016 and February, 2017 additionally. One-on-one sessions between students and facilitators were held beginning in December, 2016 and continued through the first week in May. These sessions occurred several times per week during the students' advisory (free) periods. 2. 3-4 publishable pieces of writing from a portfolio produced and edited by each student: (See published book, "Meanderings") 3. Students will improve their skill levels by implementing best practices in writing: Students implement best practices during the writing sessions. 4. A collection of the students' works will be published before the end of May: The book was published in mid-May and distributed on May 31. 5. A public celebration will occur to honor the writers: Party held on May 31. 6. Pre and post surveys. 16 students submitted.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Wendy
Last Name
Hansen
Organization Name
Wendy L. Hansen
State
MN
Phone
(218) 370-9290
Email
markwendhansen@gmail.com
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency
Location

424 West Superior Street, Suite 104
Duluth, MN 55802

Phone
Project Manager: Rebecca Graves
218-722-0952
Email the Agency