Anne Cassebaum, Associate Professor - English

English 110NV - Writing about Poverty Overview Our project was to distribute the $1000 grant to agencies serving people on low incomes where students were volunteering. To do this, groups of students wrote proposals arguing for some or all of the $1000 for their agency. The class then voted to determine the amount each agency would get. Students and I liked the project so much that I may do it again using my own money, supplemented with fundraising. Here's why I think it worked: The project fit well with the two foci of the course: writing and poverty. The project allowed student to work together on making and evaluating well supported arguments, both oral and written, in a context that mattered. In writing the proposals, students naturally did more research into their agencies and came to understand their work better. Students learned more about each other and agencies in Burlington. Money has its own heavy sense of reality in our culture, so students found it satisfying to be able to give real money to agencies that needed it and were thrilled to have it. Money was going right where it is needed most. Students understood and appreciated this. Here's how it was distributed: Burlington Housing Authority $200 Loaves and Fishes $450 Boys and Girls Club $ 50 Positive Attitude Youth Center $300 Students' Comments on the Project Agencies' Reactions Mrs. Shaw was very excited to find out and told me that now they [BHA] could buy some more equipment for outside recreation. Right now they only have two dodge balls. -- Kristen Hegel As I walked around the corner, I noticed the poster that we had made from our class presentation framed. Brenda was so excited about that poster and the $450. grant we got, she told everyone… I was proud of the work we had done for Loaves and Fished, and I plan to continue next year. -- Denny Mitchell / Brian Ebert We told PAYC about the Pericles grant and they were shocked; they responded by saying, "God Bless!" Then they told us that the money would go towards the children's summer program-fees for those who otherwise couldn't afford it. -- Ryan Hildebrand et al Learning about Writing It taught me to make an argument more effectively. -- Denny Mitchell There are key factors to writing a letter asking for money. You want to write it on a personal level while grabbing the readers' attention. It needs to be compelling, but at the same time factual and realistic. Most importantly, the reader needs to know how much and where it is going. -- Ellen Manning I learned what type of information to include and how much personal, emotional writing is needed. -- Alison Fiske Although I didn't learn a whole lot about writing from the project, I did learn the importance of an effective letter asking for a grant. Our letter was not as strong as the others and we did not get as much money as I really wanted. I feel that I came up short and let PAYC down because I did not convey how important the needs of the program are. -- Jonathan Bartlett Writing this project made me collect everything I learned over the semester and reflect. -- Colleen Conrad I learned the fact that you have to be really specific with what you're asking and what the outcomes will be. I learned to be confident in my requests and more specific. -- Allie Divasto You have to make your argument compelling enough to convince people. -- Rebecca G. Learning about poverty and community agencies It opened my eyes to see the needs many organizations have whether it be feeding the hungry or having play equipment. -- Rebecca G. I feel this project is great. To be a part of something that is donating $ to better the community is a wonderful and encouraging idea. It allowed me to see the poverty that we had talked about during the year. -- Denny Mitchell At first, I wasn't aware of the problems, but talking and asking about it made me more aware. -- Kristen Hegel I had to learn about Loaves and Fishes on a deeper level than just what they are and why they do it. Ellen Manning It caused me to analyze what they needed and ask questions about my agency. -- Ryan Hildebrand Other effects of the Pericles Project It taught me the value of lobbying for a cause or organization. -- Alyson Boyer I learned a lot about the different organizations that my peers had been volunteering at. It also helped me to see how caring the people in my class are. Everyone was really into this project and it was really cool to see that. The project forced me to really learn more about my agency because I needed to know and understand if they could truly use the money. I think this in turn made me closer to the kids and the staff there. -- Alison Fiske I felt a lot stronger about the Boys and Girls Club¸ and I hope they continue to go strong. -- Brock Miller I went around and took pictures of the run down building Loaves and Fishes currently calls home, the food shelves and the bags that line the hall. I even got Denny vacuuming. -- Alison Boyer My relationship changed toward PAYC due to my research and being informed of the needs of the organization. -- Brian Ebert Very good project, puts some money in the hands of those who need it, by allowing students who have experienced the needs of the agency to choose where the money goes. -- Ryan Hildebrand I learned that I can make a difference and not just talk about making a difference. -- Allison Paksoy

Overview of Project Pericles Periclean Scholars Program   > Class of 2006   > Maturisa Ehinga Video Postcard from Namibia, Africa Photo Galleries from Namibia, Africa Public Service Announcement created for Namibian television Student PSA   > Katrina Taylor   > Ashley Moyer   > Eric Morse Service Sabbaticals   > Susan Patton   > David Morton   > Ray Pruitt   > Christopher Eyl Service Sabbatical FAQ's Periclean Award Course Enhancement Grants   Winter Term   Spring Semester National Project Pericles Home Community Home Home

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