NEWS FROM JUST BUFFALO LITERARY CENTER
Market Arcade 617 Main Sreet, Suite 202A Buffalo, New York 14203
Spring
2011
education program update
Writing with Light and Melons
Did you know? Just Buffalo’s education programs have been partnering with teachers and students throughout Western New York for over 25 years
by Sherry Robbins Sitting around Joan Murray’s living room in 1982, planning this new thing called Writers-in-Education, none of us imagined the thousands of young people we would meet through the years. We were only concerned with our first residencies: what to say, when to say it, how to fill 45 minutes, what to do if… Big Night is Just Buffalo Literary Center’s monthly series that puts poetry in conversation with other art forms. Held at the Western New York Book Arts Center, it features younger and mid-career poets from around the country performing alongside local artists, filmmakers, musicians and a professional chef who creates a themed feast for each event. Information about Big Night, and all of the literary events going on around town can be found at www.justbuffalo.org.
Receive your Newsletter through e-mail Printing and mailing costs are ever-increasing and Just Buffalo Literary Center wishes to be always mindful of the environmental impact of printed material. If you prefer to receive this newsletter electronically, please send an e-mail to submissions@justbuffalo.org, with “e-newsletter” in the subject line.
Thank you!
The students taught us, of course, and all these years later they still surprise even the most veteran teaching artists with the power of their words. There are stories of love declared, of abuse exposed, of muteness overcome. Some of the most powerful poems came from those just learning the language. At Grover Cleveland High School and at Buffalo International School #45, I met young people newly landed here from every possible situation. There was the Kurdish teen whose village had been annihilated, the Somali girl who had seen her grandmother killed by a crocodile, the Bosnian boy whose only English word, doubled, was “bang bang,” the Russian girl whose poem to her mother was recited at the Albright-Knox on Mother’s Day. They each used poetry to make their lives and stories vivid, to introduce themselves to their new home
and to each other. Over and over, I saw them helping each other to express themselves in this new language, and to make that language richer with rhythms and images from their own cultures. One girl in particular sticks in my mind. She had spent half of her young life in refugee camps before completing the long journey from Vietnam. She was very small and very shy, but when asked to describe herself in metaphor, her resilient sweetness found just the right words in poetry. “My heart,” she wrote, “is a watermelon/growing in the night.” We really did not have to worry about what to say, all those years ago. A word here, a word there, the time and silence needed to write. Our job was and is not to talk, but to listen. Sherry Robbins is a poet and free-lance writer who has been conducting creative writing workshops throughout New York State and abroad for over thirty years, working with hundreds of students each year. In 2005, Sherry was named the New York State Teaching Artist of the Year by the Association of Teaching Artists. The arts-ineducation consultant for the University of Coimbra in Portugal and for Portugal’s Belgais Center for the Study of Arts, Sherry has two books of poetry, “Snapshots of Paradise” and “Or, the Whale” (BlazeVOX Books, 2010).
Each year, Just Buffalo’s team of teaching artists bring creative writing to more than 2,000 students In 2007, we teamed up with our collaborators, CEPA Gallery, to form Writing with Light—igniting imaginations through writing and photography The New York State Council on the Arts has recognized Writing with Light—for the past two consecutive years—as New York State’s top arts education initiative. To learn more, visit:
www.writingwithlightbuffalo.org
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outspoken activist, award-winning author
Chris Abani
concludes the 2010/11 Babel Speaker Series by Diane O’Connor All authors in the Babel series are outstanding writers who have achieved the highest levels of literary accomplishment. I have long been an avid reader of Maxine Hong Kingston, and was delighted to discover Edwidge Danticat, the two most recent Babel authors. The opportunity to hear upcoming speaker Chris Abani, however, is one that intrigues me far beyond the usual anticipation of a thoughtful evening listening to a well-known author. Here is an opportunity to hear from an author who is both poet and novelist. Nigerian-born Abani has been imprisoned three times, tortured and lived in exile because his work so outraged the government of his homeland. His writing weaves together the horrors of war, violence and political upheaval with threads comprised of language – powerful, compelling passages that do not easily leave the mind. Abani’s appearance at Babel promises to be an absorbing evening, the kind of literary experience that Babel was designed to encourage. It will also be the evening when next year’s Babel lineup is unveiled and the first opportunity to subscribe offered. Don’t miss it.
PEN USA WEST Freedom to Write Award Winner
Chris Abani Friday, April 15, 8 pm Kleinhans Music Hall 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo
Ms. Catherine L. Olsen Ms. Debora Ott & Mr. Grey Hodges Ms. Mary Beth Parrinello Ms. Michelle Parrish Ms. Elizabeth Pascal & Dr. Robert Knopf Ms. Emily M. Paulson Mr. & Mrs. David M. Pecynski Mr. & Mrs. Richard Penfold Ms. Lorna Peterson Ms. Linda Pfeil-Lauren Mr. Marc Pietrzykowski Planned Parenthood of WNY Mr. Robert D. Pohl Ms. Karen Pomicter Drs. Penelope Prentice & James Grunebaum Ms. Mary K. Quinlivan Ms. Bridget Quinn-Carey & Mr. James W. Carey Ms. Elizabeth Randall Reid Petroleum Corp. Corinne and Victor Rice Rigidized Metals Corporation Mr. Kenneth A. Rogers Mr. Bryan Roland Ms. Alice Rosenthal Ms. Renee Ruffino & Ms. Sherri L. Darrow Ms. Margaret C. Russ-Guenther Dr. Anne Saldanha Mr. Jim Santella
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Saxton Mr. & Mrs. Robert Schmitt Mr. Richard Schroeder, CFP(r) Drs. Susan & Jeffrey Schwartz Ms. Maria Scrivani & Mr. John Lipsitz Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Sedita Ms. Nadia N. Shahram Ms. Marsha E. Shapiro Drs. Caren & Stuart Shapiro Mr. & Mrs. Scott L. Shiffner Ms. Patti Sidebottom/MWS Enterprises Inc. Simple Gifts Fund Mr. & Mrs. Peter Snajczuk Ms. Susan Solomon Special Arts Services – New York State Council on the Arts Ms. Mary Stone Ms. Judith K. Summer Ms. Charlotte Tahk Ms. Anne Taylor Mr. & Mrs. William J. Taylor Mr. & Mrs. John Thomas Ms. Nancy Tobin Ms. Judith Tomassi Ms. Laurie Torrell & Ms. Marvin Henchbarger Ms. Franca Trincia Ms. Verneice Turner University at Buffalo Humanities Institute Ms. Francine Valvo
Mr. Joseph Varga Ms. Margarita M. Vargas Villa Maria College Mr. Timothy Vukelic Mr. James M. Wadsworth Ms. Brigitte Wagner-Ott Mr. & Mrs. Jack Walsh Ms. Virginia R. Walsh Ms. Angeline Webb Mrs. Martha G. Welte Dr. & Mrs. W.R. Whitaker Ms. Ann Williams & Mr. Richard Steinberg Mr. Peter Willows Ms. Karen A. Willyoung Mr. & Mrs. Wayne D. Wisbaum Mr. Edward G. Wright Ms. Theresa Wyatt Ms. Annie Yu Ms. Marilyn D. Zahm Ms. Ryki Zuckerman
IN MEMORY Of
Workplace Giving
Matching Gifts
Kendra Nicole Durand Buffalo State College, School of The Professions Dean’s Office Ms. Linda DelBello Drs. Henry & Bonita Durand Friends of Kendra Durand Mr. & Mrs. John Hoskins Mr. Stephen L. Jacobson Dr. & Mrs. A. Norman Lewin Ms. Jennifer Morrison Mr. Alphonso O’Neil-White, HealthNow New York Inc. Dr. Hal D. Payne Ms. Lorna Peterson Ms. Jill Ann Powell Ms. Rebecca J. Schenk Ms. Michelle S. Softley Mr. Allen Tuskes & Ms. Patricia Grupka University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education Mr. & Mrs. Howard Zemsky
Ms. Kim Chinquee Dr. Mary-Alice Coffroth Ms. Jean Doerr & Mr. Robert Kaplan Dr. Michael P. Farrell Mr. & Mrs. Paul Flynn Ms. Carrie Gardner Ms. Adele Henderson Mr. Gerald C. Mead, Jr. Niagara Frontier State Employees Federated Appeal Dr. Richard K. Ohrbach Dr. Hal D. Payne Dr. & Mrs. Kevin J. Railey Ms. Linda Roehner Mr. Gary Earl Ross Mr. James Robert Simon Dr. Nancy J. Smyth Mr. Marc H. Sorotsky Mr. & Mrs. Sean Sullivan Mr. Charles Syms Mr. Adegboyega S. Thompson United Way of Buffalo & Erie County
National Fuel Gas Company Foundation
Tickets: $10, Students $35, General Admission (discount available with B&ECPL or HSBC card) $100 Patron Reception (includes author reception at 7pm)
Gerald A. Gallagher Mr. Jerry Gallagher
Purchase online www.justbuffalo.org/babel or call 716-832-5400
Charlotte Vogelsang Tuesday Night Book Group
Anne Hammond Mr. & Mrs. Regis Hammond
Program Partners/ In-kind support Betty’s Restaurant Hallwalls International Institute of Buffalo Talking Leaves Books Survey Service, Inc. WBFO 88.7
This is a partial listing of donations received through March 8, 2011. Please consider including Just Buffalo in your long term plans through your will or other planned gift.
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Thank You to our Donors Ms. Cindy Abbott-Letro and Mr. Francis Letro Drs. Amy & Julio Alvarez Ms. Karima Amin Ms. Sharon Amos and Mr. Archie Amos Anonymous (18 donors) Ms. Concetta Arena Ms. Stephanie Artis Mr. Arjang A. Assad Arts in Education Institute of WNY Mr. John Bace & Ms. Melissa Balbach Mr. & Mrs. Richard Baer Ms. Ansie Baird The Cameron & Jane Baird Foundation Ms. Joan S. Baizer Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Balbach Ms. Nancy Barnes Ms. Maureen Bartley Mr. Paul A. Battaglia Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Bauer Ms. Melissa Baumgart Ms. Lynne Berg Ms. Shirley G. Berglund Ms. Victoria Besseghini Ms. Bertha Boston Ms. Bonnie Botsford Mr. & Mrs. Barry Boyer Mr. & Mrs. Harvey J. Breverman Ms. Kastle Brill Ms. Susan Bring-Tobe & Mr. Richard Tobe Drs. Mary & David Brummer Bryant & Stratton College Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Buffalo Board of Education Buffalo Seminary Buffalo State College Buffalo Teacher Resource Center Drs. Arlene & Ronald Burrows Ms. Renee Bush Ms. Sue Cardoso Children’s Foundation of Erie County City Honors Foundation Ms. Mary Louise Clark Ms. Lynn Clarke Mr. Donald H. Cloudsley Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Cole Ms. Marguerite Collesano Compass House Compeer Greater Buffalo Ms. Anne Conable & Mr. Peter Umbras Conable Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Carl A. Contino Dr. Sandra P. Cookson The Peter C. Cornell Trust Mr. Richard Cowan & Mrs. Linda Pessar Cowan Ms. Susan E. Cozzi Mr. & Mrs. PJ Creaven James H. Cummings Foundation, Inc. Ms. Trudy Cusella Trey Dedecker & Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker Dr. & Mrs. George DeTitta Ms. Deborah DiMatteo Ms. Jean Doerr & Mr. Robert Kaplan Ms. JoAnn Doerr Mr. Andrew W. Dorn, Jr. Ms. Miriam Dow and Mr. Peter Dow
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Drajem Mr. John R. Drexelius, Jr. Ms. Cary Edgar Mr. Arthur Efron & Ms. Ruth Kirstein Ms. Nitza Ellis Ms. Diane Elze embraceWNY Ms. Ann Enger Ms. Lisa Eppolito & Kenton Brown Erie County Cultural Funding Ms. Judith Fales Ms. Mary E. Farallo Mr. Patrick Farrar & Ms. Beth Richter Mr. Francis J. Felser Robert J. & Martha B. Fierle Foundation Fisher Family Fund Dr. B. G. Flickinger Mr. & Mrs. Paul Flynn Mr. Thomas Fontana Ms. Susan M. Fox-Priebe Friends of Just Buffalo The Fund for the Arts: Baird Foundation Louis P. Ciminelli Family Foundation Davis Family Foundation The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Josephine Goodyear Foundation The Patrick P. Lee Foundation M&T Bank The John R. Oishei Foundation The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation Western New York Foundation The Fund for Poetry Mr. Paul M. Gannon Dr. & Mrs. Robert P. Gatewood, Jr. Gay & Lesbian Youth Services Dr. & Mrs. Louis Goldberg Ms. Catherine Goldman Mr. & Mrs. Howard Gondree Dr. William Graebner & Ms. Dianne Bennett Mr. & Mrs. James Gribbins Ms. Geri Grossman & Ms. Jimmie Gilliam Mr. Jason Grunebaum Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Gryta Ms. Francie Hace Ms. Katka M. Hammond & Dr. Max Wickert Mr. Kaplan Harris Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Hart Mr. Edwin P. Hart Mr. & Mrs. Ian Hatton The Carlos & Elizabeth Heath Foundation Dr. Behjat Henderson Ms. Mary P. Hennessy Ms. Lauren Hess Mr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Hewner Himalayan Institute of Buffalo Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey A. Hirshberg Mr. & Mrs. William Hites Hodgson Russ LLP Ms. Hadley Horrigan HSBC Bank USA, N.A. Mr. & Mrs. Peter Hunt Mrs. W.A. Hunt Ms. Linda Hunt & Mr. Alan Ditor Drs. Bruce Jackson & Diane Christian
Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Jacobs, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Janiga Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Johnson Ms. Barbara Jurasek Ms. Joanne Kahn Drs. Olga Karman & Owen Bossman Ms. Janet Kaye & Mr. Dan Kushel Ms. Ellen Keable Mr. & Mrs. John Kearns Mr. & Mrs. David Kelly Mr. & Mrs. Will Keresztes Ms. M. Lucy Kogler Mr. William C. Kothe Mr. & Mrs. Jon Kraus The Kresge Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Kresse Mr. John Kryder Ms. Norma Jean Lamb & Ms. R. Irene Dwigans Mr. & Mrs. Don E. Lawrence Mr. & Mrs. Hal Leader Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lee Ms. Jennifer Lester Dr. & Mrs. Joel Levin Dr. & Mrs. George Levine Ms. Theodora Lewandowski The Library Foundation of Buffalo & Erie County Ms. Lorna Lippes Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lipsitz Ms. Elizabeth Lonergan Mr. Patrick Long & Ms. Sandra Block, MD Mr. & Mrs. Leo A. Loubere Ms. Christine Lovett-Schaus Ms. Sandra Ludwig The M&T Charitable Foundation Mr. James Magavern Dr. Irving Massey Ms. Gillian M. McCain Ms. Sandra C. McCarthy Mr. John McClester Elsie P. & Lucius B. McCowan Private Charitable Foundation Ms. Kathy McFarland Ms. Mary McGorray Mr. Paul F. McGrath Mrs. Sandra McPherson-Carrubba Medaille College, Speak Your Mind & Shape Your World Ms. Marilyn Mendelson Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Miller Ms. Anna L. Moskal The Mulroy Family Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Native American Community Services New York Council for the Humanities New York State Council on the Arts Ms. Phyllis J. Newman Mr. & Mrs. Sanford Nobel Mr. & Mrs. Robert Nolfi Ms. Susan Nusbaum & Mr. Ron Van Blargan Ms. Nancy Nuzzo Mr. & Mrs. John Oddo Mr. & Mrs. Donald A. Ogilvie The John R. Oishei Foundation Mr. Kevin & Mrs. Janet O’Leary Ms. Judith G. Olin
executive director’s message
Looking Forward with Optimism by Laurie Dean Torrell Just Buffalo Literary Center recently completed its 35th year. This is no small feat for any organization and it’s amazing to reflect on how the organization has grown from a small poetry reading series into one of the foremost literary centers in the country and a major catalyst for community-based literary programming in this region. From Big Night to Babel, we have endeavored to bring cutting-edge poets and internationally acclaimed authors to Buffalo. Writers in Education, now greatly expanded through the creation of a unique joint education program with CEPA Gallery called Writing With Light, continues to ignite students’ imaginations, giving them confidence in their own voices, words and aspirations. Additionally, we maintain a steadfast commitment to our local community of writers by providing marketing visibility for the full range of readings and related literary events being presented throughout the area through Literary Buffalo.
JUST BUFFALO LITERARY CENTER Newsletter Spring 2011 Board of Directors Kevin O’Leary, President Mary Farallo, Vice President Paul A. Battaglia, Treasurer Janet Kaye, Secretary Sharon R. Amos Kastle Brill Miriam C. Dow Geri Grossman Thomas F. Hewner Jeffrey Hirshberg Patrick J. Long Elizabeth Pascal Bryan P. Roland Franca Trincia Timothy J. Vukelic Staff Executive Director Laurie Dean Torrell Artistic Director Michael Kelleher
Each year brings fresh challenges and this year is no different. The threats are perhaps greater than we have faced in some time, with severe cutbacks to the state and county funding that has played an important role in our growth. We are, however, nothing if not tenacious and committed. Just Buffalo Literary Center has a strong track record of successfully securing competitive federal, state, and private grants to bring dynamic programs to Western New York and we will continue to do so. But most important is the remarkable loyalty and generosity of our many individual supporters. Your support – as board leaders, members, subscribers and donors - has always been the decisive factor, and will continue to be. We’ve grown and prospered because of you . . . Thank you. With your continued support, we look forward with optimism.
Education Director Barbara Cole Finance Director Kristen Pope Development Director Diane O’Connor Grants Writer Kathleen Kearnan Executive Assistant Lynda Kaszubski Administrative Assistant Hallie Winter Marketing and Publicity Coordinator Robin Brox Editor, Diane O’Connor Just Buffalo Literary Center is a registered 501-c-3 non-profit organization, and your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For copies of our financial information, or for information on any of our programs, contact us at 716-832-5400 or via e-mail at info@justbuffalo.org Membership, donations and event tickets may also be purchased online using our secure server at www.justbuffalo.org Just Buffalo Literary Center 617 Main Street, Suite 202A Buffalo, NY 14203 716-832-5400 or info@justbuffalo.org Website: www.justbuffalo.org Creating and strengthening communities through the literary arts.
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STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2010
ANNUAL REPORT
…a summary of our audited financial statements / Please contact our offices should you wish to receive the complete report. STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2010
UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS $151,381 Support $200,475 Earned Revenue $332,707 Net assets released from restrictions TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS $332,707 Support ($332,707) Net assets released from restrictions $684,563 TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE EXPENSES Fundraising $520,572 Program Services 63,600 General and Administrative 31,011 Fundraising General and Administrative $615,183 TOTAL EXPENSES 69,380 INCREASE IN NET ASSETS Arts Education Programs 134,606 Net assets at beginning of year $203,986 Net assets at end of year
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2010
SUPPORT AND REVENUE UNRESTRICTED Support Earned Revenue Net assets released from restrictions TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED Support Net assets released from restrictions TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE EXPENSES Program Services General and Administrative Fundraising TOTAL EXPENSES INCREASE IN NET ASSETS Net assets at beginning of year Net assets at end of year
$151,381 200,475 332,707
5 Editor’s Note: Since first being enacted by Congress in 2006, the IRA Charitable Rollover has allowed individuals to collectively donate millions of dollars to non-profit organizations such as Just Buffalo Literary Center.
USING AN IRA AS A VEHICLE FOR CHARITABLE GIVING by Paul A. Battaglia
An Individual Retirement Account can requirement. Under current law, however, be a valuable tool to accomplish one’s this opportunity is only available for 332,707 objectives to benefit charity, both at distributions made in 2011. It should be (332,707) death and in some circumstances, during noted that distributions that are excluded $684,563 one’s lifetime. from income under this provision are not taken into account in determining Literary Programs ean IRA will pass to the Account $520,572 v At death, the donor’s deduction from charitable i t $63,600 ra designated beneficiaries. owner’s deductions. The tax benefit to the t is g $31,011 n n i i The Account will be included in the donor is the exclusion of the distribution s $615,183 m s ai d r m decedent’s estate for purposes of from income, and thus, from “adjusted A ra nd d g u n determining whether estate tax is due. gross income”. This may be very helpful $69,380 F ro la P a In addition, in the case of a traditional in some cases, since adjusted gross r n ne $134,606 tio the beneficiaries will have income IRA, income is the starting point for many e a G s $203,986 uc tax consequence as distributions are calculations such as the threshold for m d E ra In those circumstances where Total Revenue – $684,563 s g received. the deduction of medical expenses t o Total Expenses – $615,183 Ar Pr estate tax and income tax are due, both (7.5 percent of adjusted gross income) y arthe combined tax payable can consume a and miscellaneous expenses (2 percent r te Li significant portion of the Account assets. of adjusted gross income). Thus, by Fundraising A person in these circumstances who is reducing adjusted gross income, this $31,011 – 5% charitably inclined would be well advised technique may increase the amount of to use an IRA as the means to satisfy his such expenses which may be deducted. General andFoundations or her charitable intentions, since the gift Administrative Foundations to charity will qualify for an estate tax The foregoing discussion is a broad $63,600 – 10% $126,177 – 19% Earned Income charitable deduction and the charity will overview of the topics. One should s $200,475 – 29% Federal, State and Local Grants receive the IRA distributions income tax consult with nt his or her tax advisors Literary Programs a r free. to determine the application of $367,488 – 60% lG s a n these concepts to o one’s ns personal c io o i t t L Insofar as lifetime giving is d circumstances. daconcerned, na n n o Arts Education Individual and Corporate Donations Federal, State a person having attained u the age of e a D Fo Programs tea board member of Just Buffalo and Local Grants Serving as 70 1/2 may direct a distribution of astat a r S $153,084 – 25% $300,958 – 44% Literary much as $100,000 from his or her po Center for more than 16 years, Paul al,IRA r r o A.CBattaglia is a partner at the law firm of to charity without causing thedeamount Individual and e d Earned Income Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP. He has F n of the distribution to be included in his Corporate Donations l a engaged in tax practice for more than 30 $56,953 – 8% or her income. Moreover, the amount of ua id years and lectures frequently on tax law. the distribution will count for purposes iv e d n I of determining whether the donor has om c satisfied the IRA minimum distribution In
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LITERARY Program Facts
200,000
Community members were reached with literary articles, publications and news
10,690
Adults and students attended Babel, and other literary readings and events
2,800
People were reached with our weekly Literary Buffalo E-Newsletter
1,025
Participated in Spotlight on Youth Open Mics and Interdisciplinary Performances
340
Writers and artists participated in literary programs and events
In addition to thrilling the local community, the Babel literary lecture series drew audience members from nine states and Canada. More than 10,000 program participants and visitors came through our doors at The Western New York Book Arts Center.