Princeton Public Library
Community Resource File
People and Stories/Gente y Cuentos (CRF ID #877)
ALTERNATE NAME
People and Stories
ADDRESS
140 East Hanover Street,
Trenton, NJ 08608
PHONE
609-393-3230
FAX
609-989-8696
EMAIL
peoplepa@starlinx.com
URL
http://www.peopleandstories.org
ADMINISTRATOR
Patricia Andres, Executive Director
DESCRIPTION
A program designed to remove obstacles to the rewards of reading for adults and young adults who have not experienced the power of literature. A story is read aloud so that all members of the group, regardless of reading levels, experience literature which they may not be able to access independently. The oral approach creates a shared experience for the group and the relaxed atmosphere encourages dialogue. After the reading, trained coordinators ask questions to lead participants to close examination of the texts in the light of their life experiences. Dialogues move between analysis of the stories and a sharing of experiences. New and basic readers can begin to view the literary works as a tool for perception of wider choices in life. The bibliography includes a wide range of authors from diverse cultures and participation encourages a widening of horizons and a deeper understanding of both literature and life.
SERVICES
Problem-solving skills: as women in transitional housing encounter conflicts and resolutions represented in short stories, they begin to perceive personal choices in life and new problem-solving directions
Recovery Outcomes: As people in drug rehabilitation programs gain insight into the drama of the story, they are better able to work on their recovery
Intellectural self-confidence: As participants gain access to literature and develop the ability to interpret a complex text, they acquire a new self-confidence which helps them to become better students in a high school equivalency program
Parenting Skills: As parents take part in a stories-focused discussion group, they are better able to understand what their children are doing in school and to enable them to pursue higher education
Tolerance of others: as participants in a multicultural or intergenerational group listen to different interpretations of a story, they become more tolerant of other groups and generations
PROGRAMS
Programs change frequently: the following are current as of July, 2006. Call for further information
Bo Robinson Education and Training Center, Enterprise Ave., Trenton: male inmates in a minimum-security facility
Latinas Unidas, East Hanover Street, Trenton
New Jersey State Prison, Cass Street, Trenton
Trenton Rescue Mission TEACH: Men recovering from substance abuse in early release-from-prison program
Operation Fatherhood
Mercer Street Friends
Mercer County Youth Detention Center
El Centro de Recursos
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Spanish
MEETING PLACE
Princeton Public Library
For most current information, call 609-393-3230
MEETING TIME
Changes regularly; for most current information, call 609-393-3230
MEMBERSHIP
People are encouraged to sign up for an 8-week program rather than to drop in for one session
FEES/DUES
none
SUBJECT
EDUCATION - ADULT
ESL
LITERATURE AND WRITING
DATE MODIFIED
07-19-06