PWPA’s 2nd Meeting — February 25, 2011

PHENND/PWPA CONFERENCE: Writing in Service, Writing for Service

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: Rolling

LOCATION: La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA

CONFERENCE DATE: Friday, February 25, 2011

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Steve Parks, Syracuse University

CALL FOR PAPERS: We are looking for individuals who plan on attending the PHENND/PWPA CONFERENCE: “Writing in Service, Writing for Service,” to be held Friday, February 25, 2011 to research, design, and lead paper presentations and workshops. This gathering will be attended by 100-150 students, campus staff, faculty, and community organization staff active in community service, service-learning, writing programs, and campus-community partnership work. While primarily targeting individuals who are part of the 35+ colleges and universities involved in the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) and the Philadelphia Writing Program Administrators (PWPA), this event is also open nationally to practitioners of campus-community partnership and writing programs. Over the course of one day, between 3 and 5 elective choices will be offered during each of three sessions. Therefore, we are looking for a total of roughly 10-15 workshops and/or paper presentations.

Please note, despite the title of the conference, we believe in a broad interpretation of the word “literacy.” Please do not limit yourself to only proposals that deal with reading and writing. Proposals about other forms of literacy such as media literacy, numeracy, financial literacy, community literacy and other spheres of knowledge are welcome.

Focus areas for workshops and papers can include:

•Discussion of literacy as a social construct and how campuses as well as campus community partnerships can address the issue more intentionally

•Reviews, how-tos, and/or critiques of existing campus-community partnerships focused on literacy

•Lessons drawn from analyzing something at the intersection of literacy and of campus-community partnership such as community service, service-learning, and community-based research

•Understanding of race, class, and gender dynamics present in campus-community partnership work including best practices on how to assist students, faculty, community members, and institutions in dealing with these issues, particularly as they relate to K-16 partnerships and/or partnerships with adults in literacy programs

•Presentation of relevant community-based programs with suggestions for how higher eds might become involved

• Best practices for using service-learning courses to strengthen students’ writing and/or using writing-based reflection tools in service-learning courses more generally and also as a strategy for faculty development (such as journals, autobiographies, and blogs/wikis).

A NOTE ABOUT PLANNING: Due to space and participant number considerations, AT MOST ONLY a total of five small workshops (25 people each) could be offered during a block. Please aim to submit a session for approximately 25 people. Regarding A/V: Let us know what you require and we will do our best to accommodate you.

A NOTE ABOUT REGISTRATION: Please also note that doing a workshop does not qualify an individual for free attendance at the conference. Given the small nature of the conference, registration fees are important to cover the costs of speakers, food, supplies, and planning. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

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