FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2002
Julie Levak, Director of External Affairs, California Council for the Humanities
(415) 391-1474
jlevak@calhum.org
SAN FRANCISCO — June 7, 2002 -- The California Council for the Humanities today announced that 142 California libraries will participate in its unprecedented statewide reading and story sharing program this October. Called California Stories: Reading "The Grapes of Wrath," the program aims to strengthen communities by bringing Californians together to read John Steinbeck's classic novel, share their own stories, and discuss parallels between the book and the contemporary California experience. Californians are encouraged to read the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel this summer in preparation for various fall events and discussion groups at libraries, community centers and other venues around the state.
"From the beginning, the governor and I have made it our mission to turn California into a land of readers," First Lady Sharon Davis said. "We hope that this unique program will not only bring communities together, but also inspire more Californians to make independent reading an everyday habit."
Additional supporters include Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, California Governor Secretary for Education Kerry Mazzoni, John Steinbeck's son (Thomas Steinbeck), entertainment and media figures (Rob Reiner, Maria Shriver and Rita Wilson), members of the literary community (including California authors Herbert Gold, Robert Hass and Anchee Min) and organizations such as the California Federation of Teachers, the National Steinbeck Center, the Northern California Independent Booksellers and the Southern California Booksellers.
"The California Stories project is a win-win for our state," said Kerry Mazzoni, California Governor Secretary for Education. "I enthusiastically support this innovative program's commitment to reading, celebrating diversity and learning about our collective past and present."
First-ever statewide program
"While there have been several one city, one book programs, nothing of this scale or ambition has been attempted before," said Jim Quay, Executive Director of the Council. "This program is the first ever to be statewide, to involve a book specifically relevant to California and to encourage participants to share their own stories."
"The Golden State is uniquely diverse. Half of us were born elsewhere, and that hasn't changed in 150 years," continued Quay. "Each Californian has a story to tell, but we have few opportunities to come together and find out about each other. This program gives Californians from every walk of life a chance to read and discuss the book together, consider the place of their own story in the story of California and discover the books relevance to current California issues."
Fall events to take place across the state
Thanks to significant funding from the California State Library, the Council is providing participating libraries with resources to establish reading, film and speaker programs in the fall that also include discussion groups. An online tool box which includes a discussion guide, bibliography and filmography is available to anyone interested, and numerous other groups across the state plan to engage the public.
A first-ever Spanish-language edition
To provide greater access to Californias growing Hispanic population, Penguin Books (a key supporter of the project) is publishing the first Spanish-language edition of "The Grapes of Wrath" for the U.S. market. "Las Uvas de la Ira" will be released in early July.
First phase of multi-year initiative
California Stories: Reading "The Grapes of Wrath" is the first part of California Stories, the Council's multi-year initiative to discover community and individual stories that will collectively tell the story of today's California. California Stories includes a major grants program and documentary fund designed to support projects that use stories to address contemporary issues and reveal aspects of the California experience.
About the California Council for the Humanities
The mission of the California Council for the Humanities is to enrich California's cultural life and strengthen communities through public use of the humanities. A state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Council has supported and created programs that bring Californians together around their history and culture for more than 25 years.
About Reading "The Grapes of Wrath"
The California Stories: Reading "The Grapes of Wrath" project is supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. For more information, visit the Council's website at www.calhum.org or contact the Council's administrative office at (415) 391-1474.
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