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winter 2002-2003 HUmaN/TIeS In This Issue 1 2 5 Thousands of Californians turn out Jim Quay on California's Photo retrospective for reading 'The Grapes of Wrath" response to Reading "The Grapes of Wrath" 1 3 7 500 People attend "Grapes of Filmmaker screens documentary Local poets and writers read Wrath" screening in Hanford about migrant worker camps in and hold workshops in Fresno San Diego Less than a year ago, CCH sponsored by the San Rafael Public ZANOCK'S BARRYL Library, a 24-hour readathon at a embarked on California Stories: Fresno Krispy Kreme sponsored by S6IUPES the Fresno County Library, and a Reading The Grapes of Wrath, our conversation with writer T.C. Boyle sponsored by the San Diego Public WMVH unprecedented statewide reading Library. Many libraries held more than and story-sharing program a dozen events. The Sacramento Public Library sponsored 18 pro¬ conducted in partnership with grams, one of the largest in its his¬ tory. Included was a talk by award¬ the California Center for the Book winning author, PBS NewsHour commentator and Sacramento and the California State Library. native Richard Rodriguez that drew THOUSANDS 500 People attend "Grapes of Wrath" OF CALIFORNIANS TURN screening in Hanford OUT FOR READING Film shown in restored "THE GRAPES OF WRATH " movie theater HUNDREDS OF EVENTS When Hanford Librarian Steve TAKE PLACE ACROSS Fjeldsted booked the historic Fox Theater for the library's main THE STATE Grapes of Wrath event, he knew his biggest challenge would be filling the seats. "It was the one thing I When we first explored the idea tance of stories in strengthening A participant in the Grapes of Wrath was worried about," Fjeldsted said. readathon at a Fresno Krispy Kreme. of Reading The Grapes of Wrath, communities," said CCH Executive Photo/Tommy Monreai But when Fjeldsted emerged from we thought that Steinbeck's story Director Jim Quay. "People not behind the curtain of the theater to of the Joad's journey from the Dust only read Steinbeck's book, they 300 people, a presentation by Jan introduce the eclectic program that Bowl to California would be partic¬ also came together to share stories Goggins, an expert on the photog¬ October night, an audience of more ularly relevant to Californians, and discuss issues with their neigh¬ raphy of Dorothea Lange, and an than 500 greeted him. On the bill nearly 50 percent of whom come bors. We were extremely pleased evening with David Masumoto, a was music by local singer/song¬ from someplace else. We had no with the outcome because we writer and farmer (and former CCH writer, Pat "the Hat," a showing of idea, however, what an enormous believe that these kinds of pro¬ board chair), who operates a raisin the John Ford film The Grapes of success the program would be. grams truly make a difference farm in Del Rey, Calif. Wrath, an introduction to the film Thousands of Californians in community life. We were also The San Diego and Contra Costa by Michael Tate of California State responded to CCH's invitation to pleased with the tremendous Libraries also held an astonishing University, Fresno, a talk and slide read John Steinbeck's novel and job done by public libraries in array of events. San Diego had share stories of their California California, as well as the work more than 30 programs, which, continued on page 3 experiences. People packed high- conducted by all our other part¬ in addition to the T.C. Boyle event, profile lectures, performances, art ners. It was a magnificent effort." included a Grapes of Wrath The California Council for the exhibits, films and discussion The scope of the effort was book discussion in Vietnamese. Humanities is a state-based groups. Almost 200 libraries as remarkable. The CCH website, And the Contra Costa Libraries affiliate of the National Endowment well as a host of other community which served as the main repos¬ sponsored 37 events, including organizations held events. itory of information for the pro¬ a teen poetry slam. for the Humanities. Humanities "Reading The Grapes of Wrath gram, listed almost 1,000 separate The sheer variety of the Network \s published quarterly and exceeded all our expectations and events. These included such special mailed to anyone who requests it reinforced our belief in the impor- programs as a teen essay contest continued on page 2 from the San Francisco office. CALIFORNIA STORIES: group The Weavers, mount the stage and tell the reader who preceded her, "You broke my heart with that passage." The passage she was READING "THE GRAPES OF referring to read: "The fertile earth, the straight tree rows, the sturdy trunks, and the ripe fruit. And children dying of pellagra must die because WRATH" GREAT MOMENTS a profit cannot be taken from an orange. And coroners must fill in the FOR STEINBECK AND certificates—died of malnutrition—because the food must rot, must be forced to rot." CALIFORNIANS Then Gilbert proceeded to break our hearts with her reading of chapter 26—Ma Joad in the company store, is The Grapes of Wrath still a powerful book? No one in that auditorium had any doubt. By James Quay In his remarks in Sacramento, Richard Rodriguez identified two major Executive Director veins of California stories: the stories As I write this, the October and November events of California Stories: of immigrants, which tend to be Reading The Grapes of Wrath are underway, and they are generating stories of hardships overcome and more energy and excitement than we could have anticipated just nine dreams sought, and the stories of the months ago. California born, which are often Our public library partners are holding almost 1,000 discussions and stories of loss and disappointment. special events. The Sacramento Public Library alone has scheduled 18 Fie pointed to John Steinbeck as the separate events, and they are by no means the exception. In San example of a California native who Francisco, people filled the main auditorium of the Main Library to hear had imagined and articulated the excerpts of the novel read aloud. All copies of The Grapes of Wrath there story of the immigrant. As I listened have been checked out for weeks. with that Sacramento audience, I In addition, we've received anecdotal reports of bookstores' and wanted to think that a great conversa¬ YMCAs' holding special events, and families' and private book groups' tion was beginning, a conversation reading the book together. A travel bookstore in Berkeley hosted a forum between regions of the state, between native-born Californians and on The Grapes of Wrath. The California State Assembly passed a resolu¬ first-generation immigrants, between ethnic communities of all kinds. tion supporting the project. Members of Congress stood up to read Clearly, this project has struck a chord with Californians in almost every passages into the official record. In Fresno, readers gathered at a Krispy corner of the state. But by the time you read this, Reading The Grapes Kreme and read Steinbeck's classic from beginning to end. An hour-long of Wrath will have come to an end. The question you may be wondering call-in public radio program received testimonial after testimonial from about is, what's next? Flow can we top this program? Steinbeck readers. In the next phase of California Stories, CCH will offer grants to CCFI has been planning this first phase of our California Stories initia¬ organizations to enable them to gather Californians together to tell tive for over a year now, and we're gratified to see it embraced by so and share stories. Reading The Grapes of Wrath has confirmed that many organizations and individual Californians. Now we begin to see our Californians are ready and eager to talk to one another. They simply abstract plans and grant proposals turn into meaningful and memorable need the right occasions, and we intend to supply them with just that. moments. I was privileged to be one of the readers at the San Francisco Public Library event and heard Ronnie Gilbert, a member of the legendary folk Thousands of Californians 1) (continued from page programs characterized the Penguin Books became an early More California stories to come CCH new statewide project as much as their program sponsor, underwriting and Reading The Grapes of Wrath has staff member quantity. In Chico, for example, distributing displays, posters and provided a myriad of opportunities some 80 people wrote their family bookmarks to California book¬ for Californians to both read stories in connection with the pro¬ stores. Penguin also issued the Steinbeck's novel and share stories CCFI is pleased to announce that gram, and many people in Chico first Spanish-language edition of of their California experiences. Our Christine Kennedy has joined the showed up at a local mall to read The Grapes of Wrath to provide next phase of California Stories will San Francisco office as an adminis¬ Steinbeck aloud as part of a literacy greater access to the program provide a number of other opportu¬ trative assistant and executive readathon. for California's growing Latino nities for the telling and sharing of assistant to Executive Director Jim Many groups contribute to effort population. stories. Future efforts include Quay. Kennedy recently moved to In addition to libraries, Reading A number of prominent individu¬ Communities Speak, 10 projects San Francisco from San Diego, The Grapes of Wrath involved a als and organizations supported that use story-based cultural activi¬ where she was an administrative number of other organizations and the program. They included ties to bring people together to assistant at FIMC Architects and institutions, including colleges California's two U.S. senators and address community issues, the Electronic Productions Distribution. and universities, labor groups, 24 Congressional representatives, California Documentary Project, six Before that, she lived in Seattle, schools, and cultural and civic California Governor Gray Davis and projects that bring people together working as a front office adminis¬ organizations. First Lady Sharon Davis, 25 mayors around film, video and photogra¬ trator for CVS.com. Kennedy's first Among the cultural groups sup¬ of California cities and numerous phy, and the California Story Fund, love is film and video, and she porting the program was L.A. city officials, and well-known mem¬ story-based projects that uncover eventually plans to attend graduate Theatre Works in Los Angeles, bers of the arts and entertainment compelling new stories from school in that field. She has already which organized and produced a community, including Arthur Miller, California's diverse communities. worked on more than 20 film and weeklong run of the Tony Award¬ Rob Reiner, Maria Shriver, Dennis With these projects and others yet video projects, serving in a number winning play The Grapes of Wrath. Flopper and Jackson Browne. to come, the Council will continue of different capacities, including And Stanford University's To help ensure broad participa¬ its groundbreaking work of using director, producer and actor. She Continuing Studies Department tion in the program, CCFI and its cultural programs to inspire holds a B.A. in communications participated in the program by partners developed a number of changes within communities. from Evergreen State College. sponsoring an evening with materials for libraries. These Stay tuned. Sebastiao Salgado, the world- included a four-color poster, graphic renowned photographer who has materials that could be downloaded spent 30 years documenting the from the Council's website, and a dignity and suffering of humanity. Grapes of Wrath discussion guide. 2 stereotypes out there. They know FILMMAKER SCREENS about the accusations that Latinos DOCUMENTARY come here to get on welfare. They're also aware of the determi¬ ABOUT MIGRANT nation their families have to make a | better life for themselves. To some WORKER CAMPS extent when they see Uneasy • Film provokes discussion Neighbors, they see their own lives V / on the screen. And they recognize about treatment of that the affluent people in the film concerned about property values immigrants and sanitation have counterparts in Santa Ana and other places where As part of Reading The Grapes of people are unhappy about the Wrath, award-winning filmmaker presence of migrant workers in and producer Paul Espinosa their midst." screened his documentary Uneasy Everywhere that Espinosa Neighbors at half a dozen libraries showed the film, it provoked dis¬ in Southern California and one high cussion. "Some people were sur¬ school, Santa Ana High School, in prised to find out that migrants Orange County. The film chronicles were living the way they were and the escalating tensions in San wanted to know if it was still going Diego between people living in on. People also raised deeper ques¬ migrant worker camps and nearby tions about the kind of community affluent suburbanites. we want to live in and our responsi¬ At Santa Ana High School, bility to do something about the Espinosa showed the film to a gap between the haves and the group of honor students, many of have nots," he said. whom were newly arrived Latino For Espinosa, it was gratifying immigrants. "We had a stimulating that the film, which he made more discussion about the film and the than 10 years ago, still resonates issue of how newcomers are with truth for so many people. "I treated," Espinosa said. was aware at the time that the film "These kids are aware of the was timeless. It's a small story El Salvadoran Gloria Solis, five months preg¬ about a particular situation, but the nant, peers warily out of her makeshift home in one of the migrant camps in north San dynamics driving it are still alive in Diego County featured in Uneasy Neighbors. many parts of California today." Photo/Don Bartletti 500 people attend screening (continued from page 1) show by Susan Shillinglaw, direc¬ the work almost verbatim, and The 60 or so people who stayed But the event was more than just tor of the Center for Steinbeck watched the 1940 classic Henry for the discussion following the a way for people to reconnect with Studies, and a guest appearance by Fonda film. film had lots of questions and com¬ their past. "The themes touched Dust Bowl poet Wilma Elizabeth Writing about the evening in the ments. One man told the gathering on by The Grapes of Wrath are McDaniel. Dolores Gallegos of the Hanford Sentinel, Stacy Broussard that his grandfather had been in extremely relevant here today," Hanford City Council served as the said:" ... it was a mixed crowd, the migrant camp where John Ford said Fjeldsted. "The valley is still a Spanish language interpreter. ranging from the very young to the had filmed scenes for the movie magnet for working-class people It was particularly sweet to be very old. While a few youngsters and that his grandfather had stood who are priced out of other areas showing the 1940 John Ford film, It was particularly within 50 feet of Henry Fonda. in California and come here to said Fjeldsted. The movie had Another participant said that her raise a family. Many are Mexican- sweet to be show¬ never been shown in Hanford grandparents had testified for American families familiar with before nor in any other valley ing the 1940 John Steinbeck in a defamation suit hardships. They immediately make town. "At the time, it was consid¬ brought against him by the State of the connection between the living Ford film, said ered too hot to handle," he said. California. The suit claimed that conditions that Steinbeck portrays Fjeldsted. The movie It was also a bonus to show the Steinbeck had exaggerated the and their own lives." film at the Fox Theater. The beauti¬ had never been conditions in the camps. fully restored theater, which now Before the event, Fjeldsted had The Hanford Library is part of the shown in Hanford exclusively presents country music received several letters from King's County library system in the artists, has the biggest screen in before nor in any people objecting to the library's San Joaquin Valley. Steinbeck visit¬ the valley, but it doesn't show sponsoring a free discussion of ed the migrant tent camps in Kings other Valley town. movies anymore. the Steinbeck book and the film, County three years before he wrote "At the time, it was The evening began with Pat, claiming that the Okie migration The Grapes of Wrath. Many of "the Hat" leading the audience in considered too hot was a myth. Steinbeck's experiences during that a sing-along and ended with a dis¬ "That Friday evening," said time found their way into the letter to handle," he said. cussion of the film more than three Fjeldsted, "we had people who had and spirit of the novel. hours later. In between the audi¬ been in the migrant camps and ence saw historical slides of Kings nodded off toward the end ... many children and grandchildren of County, including one of the 1938 were bright-eyed and caught up migrants and many people who floods when migrants were starv¬ with their elders in the contrast of had lived through the times or ing, heard about incidents in John life in John Steinbeck's time of Dust knew someone who had. It com¬ Steinbeck's life, including the time Bowl Depression and the valley as pletely shot holes in the idea that this he lost a manuscript and re-created they know and live it today." part of our history didn't happen." Fremont Milpitas Patterson ianta Clara Canjpbell Salinas Monterey A drawing by Taylor Batlle, a 13. (left to right) CCFI Associate student at Los Penasquitos Executive Director Ralph Elementary School, inspired Lewin, musicians Joel Raphael by a photograph of Dorothea and Jackson Browne, and Lange. Part of a display of chil¬ actor/director Richard Masur dren's artwork at the Rancho at the Skirball Cultural Center Penasquitos Branch of the following a special perform¬ San Diego Public Library for ance of The Grapes of Wrath Reading The Grapes of Wrath. benefiting CCFI and the Martha Award-winning author and Fleasley Cox Center for Sacramento native Richard Steinbeck Studies at San Rodriguez led off the Jose State University. Sacramento public library Photo/Bernard Fallon Grapes of Wrath program 14 (left to right) Jeffrey Donovan, with a talk about Steinbeck Shirley Knight and Francis as a writer who captured the Guinan performed in the L.A. immigrant story. Photo/Izzy Theatre Works production of Schwartz The Grapes of Wrath at the Devoya Mayo, one of the fea¬ Skirball Cultural Center. The tured poets at Grapes of Write, special presentation, with an afternoon of poetry read¬ Donavan as Tom Joad, Knight ings and writing workshops as Ma Joad and Guinan as sponsored by the Fresno Casy, benefited CCFI and the County Library at Artes Martha Fleasley Cox Center for Americas, the major Latino Steinbeck Studies at San Jose arts center in Fresno. State University. Photo/Bernard Photo/Tommy Monreal. Fallon David Masumoto, a writer, 15. The cast of the special week- raisin farmer and former CCFI long run of The Grapes of board chair, talked about the Wrath poses on the stage of plains and pleasure of farm the Skirball Cultural Center work at the Sacramento Public on the day before the event. Library. Photo/Izzy Schwartz Photo/Bernard Fallon A young participant in one of 16. Studs Terkel signs autographs the Grapes of Wrath events at the Flerbst Theater in San at the Rancho Penasquitos Francisco after appearing in Branch Library in San Diego a special evening of conversa¬ holds up the discussion guide tion with writer Calvin Trillin. CCH developed for the project. The sold-out event was spon¬ Photo/Jack Smith sored by CCFI and the Martha The 24-hour Grapes of Wrath Fleasley Cox Center for readathon at a Krispy Kreme in Steinbeck Studies at San Jose Fresno attracted a number of State University. Photo/Steven Steinbeck fans, including this Piasecki couple. The event was spon¬ 17. (left to right) Filmmaker Paul sored by the Fresno County Espinosa, CCH Senior Public Library. Photo/Tommy Programs Manager Amy Monreal Rouillard, writer T.C. Boyle Author and translator Liching and CCH Executive Director Yu led a Grapes of Wrath Jim Quay at a reception for discussion in Chinese at the Boyle at the San Diego Public Chinatown branch of the San Library. Photo/Jack Smith Francisco Public Library. 18. A drawing by Nicole El-Kaouli, Photo/Steven Piasecki a student at Los Penasquitos Two members of the group Elementary School, inspired Word for Word read excerpts by a photograph of Dorothea from The Grapes of Wrath at Lange. Part of a display of chil¬ the San Francisco Public dren's artwork at the Rancho Library. Photo/Steven Piasecki Penasquitos Branch of the The Alameda County San Diego Public Library for Bookmobile advertised the Reading The Grapes of Wrath. Grapes of Wrath program 19. "Paycheck" from the Migrant beginning last summer. Photo Project, an exhibit of photo¬ courtesy of the Alameda graphs by Rick Nahmias held County Library at the Frances Howard Musician Joel Rafael and his Goldwyn Library in Hollywood. band performed at the Skirball Photo courtesy Rick Nahmias. Cultural Center during the 20. Diana Godnez, a student at staged reading of Frank CSU Fresno, participated in Galati's The Grapes of Wrath, Grapes of Write, an afternoon a special presentation in Los of poetry readings and writing Angeles to celebrate Reading workshops at Artes Americas, The Grapes of Wrath. the major Latino arts center in Photo/Bernard Fallon Fresno. Photo/Tommy Monreal. CCFI Executive Director Jim 21. Folksingers Keith McNeil and Quay (left) talks to director his wife. Rusty (not pictured), Richard Masur at a reception entertained audiences at eight at the Skirball Cultural Center Southern California libraries following a special perform¬ with labor music of the 1930s. ance of The Grapes of Wrath. Photo/Jack Smith Photo/Bernard Fallon California Stories; Reading The Grapes A drawing by Jin Su, a student of Wrath is a project of the California at Los Penasquitos Elementary Council for the Humanities in partner¬ School, inspired by a photo¬ ship with the California Center for the graph of Dorothea Lange. Book. It is supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Part of a display of children's Services under the provisions of the artwork at the Rancho Library Services and Technology Act, Penasquitos Branch of the administered in California by the State Librarian. San Diego Public Library for Reading The Grapes of Wrath. 5 Californian musician finds Guthrie and Steinbeck still move audiences Ross Altman was completing into a play for his students to per¬ work on a doctorate in English liter¬ form in staged readings at speech ature when he made one of the festivals in Illinois, He began and biggest decisions of his life: to ended the play with Guthrie's "The trade in a certain future in acade¬ Ballad of Tom Joad" from the mia for the unpredictable life of a "Dust Bowl Ballads" album. folksinger. At the urging of a then- Altman dug out the 20-page girlfriend, he finished the degree script and a light bulb went off. "I and taught college English for a few years before launching his new Steinbeck authority Susan Shillinglaw, director of the Center for career full time. Since then, there's Steinbeck Studies and a professor of English at San Jose State University, been no looking back. was a featured speaker at 15 Reading The Grapes of Wrath events. She "I had been singing all along, talked to Humanities Network recently about her experiences. but what prompted the decision," he says, "was that my level of HN:You had a great turnout at all your programs. What do you think interest in music had shifted from brought people out? being a serious pastime to being an all-consuming passion. And I had There's a real sense of Steinbeck's being an author people want to read started to write songs myself." or reread. People also wanted to have a conversation with other people Altman's passion for music is reading the same book to see what their viewpoints were. One woman whose HN: What is it about Steinbeck that attracts people? grandfather was a realized I could create a perform¬ ance for libraries that combined Dust Bowl refugee Steinbeck engages you on an emotional level and makes you care Steinbeck's words and Guthrie's about what happens to his characters. Take the camp scene when Ma went up to him after music." He called his program The Joad is making soup for the family. A crowd of children gather around the Ballad of Tom Joad: Woody Guthrie a performance and fire, staring at the food, and you can almost feel their hunger. He also and The Grapes of Wrath. gives you a sense of the texture of family life. You see Ma Joad teaching gave him a copy of When libraries began to contact Rose of Sharon how to be a "Joad"—"Our people don't do that," she tells her grandfather's him and he explained what he was her. Also, I think the book speaks to conditions today. California is still doing, they signed him up. Before unpublished autobi¬ wrestling with many problems-migrant workers, housing, people being long, he had 30 bookings, all in marginalized. It brings up issues we still need to think about. ography. "She told October. The hardest part, he said, was memorizing the 20-page script. me he had written it HN: What surprised you about your audiences? In his performances, Altman so his children and acted out each scene of the play, They gave me so much contact with history. For example, I met a grandchildren would opening and closing the scenes woman in her 80s who had worked at every one of the government with a Guthrie song. He performed know where they camps in the 1930s. And I met another woman who as a young girl in the in towns and cities all over 1930s had taken the last wagon from Texas to Colorado. People talked came from." California—from San Diego to about the texture of their lives, like the kinds of things they had to eat and Sunnyvale and from Salinas to the kinds of suffering they endured. Needles. matched by an equal passion for After each performance, he HN: What programs impressed you the most? social justice. "I've written songs invariably met people with family dealing with labor issues, the envi¬ stories of coming to California dur¬ Many of the events were amazing to me. I loved the public reading in ronment, gay rights, a whole range ing the Dust Bowl. One woman San Francisco. I had brought papers to grade but I was so moved by why of things" he says. "I try to com¬ whose grandfather was a Dust people had chosen a specific passage to read that I never did any grad¬ bine music and social activism, the Bowl refugee went up to him after ing. What people brought to the text made it a new text. Like Ronnie way folk music did so well in the a performance and gave him a Gilbert saying before she read her passage that to her Ma Joad was the 1950s and during Woody Guthrie's copy of her grandfather's unpub¬ hero of the book. I heard her say that, and I thought, "Yes, that's right. generation," he says. "But I don't lished autobiography. "She told me And it wasn't that I hadn't thought that before, but it really struck me this write preachy songs. I try to find a he had written it so his children time." And it was wonderful to hear Steinbeck's words read aloud, partic¬ good story to tell." and grandchildren would know ularly since reading aloud has become such a lost art. Altman has been singing Woody where they came from." In Sunnyvale, they had a reading and discussion group in Chinese and Guthrie songs ever since he can Altman visited towns he had 40 people came. And at the Livermore Library, a librarian told me that she remember. Thus it wasn't surpris¬ never been to before and met peo¬ had gone to the local farmers' market with a sign she had made that pic¬ ing when CCH invited him to partic¬ ple he would have never met. tured a car, a wagon, a plane and a boat with the heading "How did you ipate in California Stories: Reading Everywhere, people responded come to California?" Many people went up and told her their stories. The Grapes of Wrath as a folksinger. enthusiastically to his performances, "I thought I would go to a few particularly to the music. "When HN; What did you take away from the experience? libraries and perform Guthrie's people hear Guthrie's songs, I see a 'Dust Bowl Ballads' about the Okie shock of recognition on their CCH's idea about the importance of stories made me think about teach¬ migration," he says. faces," he says."It's as if the songs ing in a whole new way. I'm currently teaching a freshman English semi¬ But Altman ended up doing were being sung for the first time, nar course, and I decided to structure it around stories of growing up in something much more ambitious— and I realize what astonishing California and the idea of place in literature. I had my students research a something that allowed him to works of art they are, that they still place that meant something to them and then write about it. I have a kid combine the two strands of his pro¬ can move people to tears and make in my class who is a baseball player, and he is writing a paper about the fessional life. them laugh." municipal stadium in San Jose. It's something he cares about. As a college professor, Altman had adapted The Grapes of Wrath continued on page 7 6 Fresno Grapes of Write Local poets, writers and storytellers read, perform and lead workshops By Juan Felipe Herrera reading participants. It also was a woman said, "She's telling my the world stopped, a photographer On Saturday, October 19, some moment for acknowledging the story, too." for the bilingual Latino periodical 152 visitors, students and family accomplishments of valley writers The workshops involved Hmong Vida del Valle snapped the shutter members visited Artes Americas, such as Mike Medrano, who recent¬ story-cloths, meditation and for a feature a week later, and a the major Latino arts center in ly won the CSU Fresno Andres writing, journaling and active larger universe hovered over Artes Fresno and the Central Valley to Montoya Creative Writing Award, exchanges of ideas, and fresh word Americas and the Central Valley. witness Grapes of Write, an after¬ and Devoya Mayo, one of Fresno's experiments. Emmanuel Laurel, Steinbeck, new breath, migrant tri¬ noon of poetry readings and writ¬ pioneers in the fusion of hip-hop another student, said, "This was als and stories, on cloth, paper, ing workshops sponsored by the the first time I tasted writing and across tables, across hearts and Fresno County Public Library as my own experience at the same open plates of creative spirit. part of California Stories: Reading time." He may have been referring The Grapes of Wrath. Lydia Kuhn, to Margarita Luna Robies' work¬ CCH Board member Juan Felipe librarian and coordinator of the shop, during which participants Herrera has written more than a project, shaped the unique event. actually enjoyed grapes, then wrote dozen books of poetry, narrative "There were so many writers and about their own sensory landscapes and children's prose. He teaches workshops, I was inspired to write and the interconnectedness of their culture studies, creative writing my own poetry," said Tanya families to the land and environ¬ and teatro in the Department of Pacheco, an 18-year-old student ment of the valley. Chicano and Latin American from CSU Fresno. Featured on the Connie Hales, co-coordinator of Studies at CSU Fresno. program were established poets the new M.F.A. creative writing pro¬ Connie Hales, Margarita Luna gram at CSU Fresno, discussed Robles and this writer as well as Steinbeck's work, her own craft and storytellers Mai and Lee Yang. spoken word readings for multicul¬ her new book. Separate Escapes. Emerging writers Mike Medrano, tural audiences. One of her poems, "The Coldness Devoya Mayo and Everardo Grapes of Write also opened a of the World," echoed through the Pedraza also read their work. door for heartfelt story relation¬ room: The event wove a zarape of ships. When Mai Yang, whose fami¬ My mother kneels to inspect rose leaves Steinbeck’s narrative of immigrant ly emigrated from Laos to Fresno, Low on the bushes that separate experience, downtrodden family spoke of the hardships her family Our lives from the street. She is fearless... and parched earth with the new tal¬ had endured, one Mexicana The people wrote down her ents of local writers and first-time words, they thought for a moment. Californian musician Motheread changes hands (continued from page 6) Popular family literacy program to Altman also performs his of describing his approach to Steinbeck/Guthrie program for music. It's a line he freely admits he continue under United Way groups of high school students and stole from the writer H.L. Mencken: a modified version for elementary- "I sing to comfort the afflicted and The United Way of Greater Los a sense of sadness that we end our school children. At the outset, he afflict the comfortable," he says. Angeles has been named the new ties with such a successful family wasn't sure how kids would It's a definition that seems to suit affiliate of Motheread/Fatheread, reading program." respond. "I thought that their musi¬ him well. L.A., the highly regarded family lit¬ Debra Colman, who has been the cal tastes would be so far removed eracy program that CCH brought to CCH coordinator for Motheread for from mine that it would be hard to Los Angeles folksinger Ross the Los Angeles area 10 years ago. the past six years, will continue in make a connection," he said. Altman can be reached at grey- The program, which has won her position at the United Way. "Instead, they immediately and [email protected]. Buddha numerous awards, including the "Motheread is just a terrific pro¬ intuitively understand Guthrie's Records released "Dust Bowl National Endowment for the gram," said Colman. "It changes sense of alienation, his role as an Ballads" on CD in 2000. It contains Humanities Medal, served more people in so many ways—the way outsider looking in, his displaced Guthrie's original liner notes. than 3,500 families in Los Angeles they feel about books, the way they refugee status, and his refusal to last year. parent their child, the way children give up in the face of enormous CCH decided to relinquish its look at books, the way they feel adversity. I decided that Guthrie affiliate role last October in order about themselves. When families speaks to pimply faced teens as to concentrate its resources on its become involved in Motheread, surely as he does to grizzled old multiyear California Stories initia¬ they walk away feeling empowered." folks." tive. The United Way officially Motheread works with a network With kids, Altman opens his show assumed its association with of more than 30 nonprofit groups in with the words Guthrie used to Motheread on January 1, 2003, and Los Angeles. Each group has at define himself as an artist: "I hate a was selected after a lengthy search least one trained Motheread person song that makes you think that you process involving both CCH and on staff who conducts Motheread are not any good. I hate a song that Motheread's national office. programs in Los Angeles County. makes you think that you are just "We're very pleased to have For more information about born to lose, bound to lose, such a worthy organization assume Motheread, contact the United because you are either too young responsibility for Motheread," said Way of Greater Los Angeles at or too old, or too fat or too slim, or CCH Executive Director Jim Quay. 213/630-2100. too ugly or too this or too that ... "We're proud to have been one of I'm out to fight those kinds of the first state humanities councils songs to my very last breath of air to become a state affiliate of and my last drop of blood." Motheread and proud of our stew¬ Altman has his own unique way ardship of the program, so it is with CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR THE H U M A N I T I E S Who We Are Staff San Francisco Office KIM ROMANO The imission of the California Council for the Development Coordinator JIM QUAY Humanities is to enrich California's cultural life and Executive Director CARLOSTORRES Operations Coordinator to strengthen communities through public use of RALPH LEWIN Associate Executive Director Los Angeles Office the humanities. JULIE LEVAK FELICIA KELLEY Director of External Affairs Senior Programs Manager The Council is an independent, not-for-profit ALDEN MUDGE CALEB KIM state affiliate of the National Endowment for Director of Organizational Effectiveness Operations Assistant San Diego Office the Humanities supported through a public-private SARAH ASHCROFT Programs Manager AMY ROUILLARD partnership that includes funds from the National Senior Programs Manager KAREN CAUTON Director of Operations Endowment for the Humanities, private founda¬ © 2003 The California Council for the LISA ERIKSEN Humanities tions and corporations. The Council also receives Museum Program Coordinator essential support from individuals. MAURA HURLEY Public Information Officer To learn more about the Council and how CHRISTINE KENNEDY Executive/Administrative Assistant you can participate in its programs, please visit us LUCY LE NGUYEN online at www.californiastories.org. Coordinator of Organizational Effectiveness CCH Board Members WILLIAM DEVERELL MARY CURTIN LUCY KILLEA BRUCE SIEVERS Chair Community Relations Consultant President and Chief Executive Officer Visiting Scholar and Lecturer Associate Professor of History Riverside International Community Foundation Stanford University California Institute of Technology San Diego Pasadena LLOYD B. DENNIS CHARLENE WEAR SIMMONS Public Affairs and STEVEN KOBLIK Public Policy Researcher and Advisor CLAIRE PEEPS Public Relations Consultant President Sacramento Vice Chair Los Angeles Huntington Library Executive Director San Marino MARY L.WALSHOK Durfee Foundation DOUGLAS GREENBERG Associate Vice Chancellor of Extended Santa Monica President and Chief Executive Officer HEIDI T. KUHN Studies and Public Services Survivors of Shoah President University of California, San Diego NINA BLANCHARD Visual History Foundation Roots of Peace Businesswoman Los Angeles San Rafael PAULA WOODS Studio City Author and Editor RAM6n GUTIERREZ RUBEN MARTINEZ Los Angeles SCOTT BOTTLES Professor of Ethnic Studies Poet, Journalist and Performer Banker and Historian University of California Los Angeles DONALDYOUNG Los Angeles San Diego Director of Broadcast Programming STEVE MONTIEL National Asian American RAFAELA CASTRO JUAN FELIPE HERRERA Director Telecommunications Association Research Librarian Professor of Chicano and Institute for Justice and Journalism San Francisco University of California, Davis Latin American Studies Annenberg School of Communication California State University University of Southern California Fresno Los Angeles network INSIDE A look back at Reading "The Grapes of Wrath" HUmaN/TIeS winter 2002-2003 www.californiastories.org 312 Sutter Street, Suite 601 921 25th Street San Francisco, CA 94108 San Diego, CA 92102 415/391.1474 619/232.4020 INSIDE How Californians 315 W. Ninth Street, Suite 702 responded to our statewide Los Angeles, CA 90015 213/623.5993 "Grapes of Wrath" project CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES