Programs
The core programs of the Givens Foundation for African American Literature include…
SPIRITED MINDS AND STRONG SOULS SINGING
The Givens Foundation's education program, Spirited Minds and Strong Souls Singing, delivers black artists and writers into Twin Cities Metro classrooms to use African American literature as a vehicle for cultivating literary minds and enriching the quality of education for students. The program focuses on the development of reading, language, and critical thinking skills, providing constructive and creative methods for self-expression, and increasing accesses to African American literary resources. Spirited Minds and Strong Souls Singing, works in Twin Cities classrooms and community center through literary arts education residencies, workshops, and student events. Each year, Givens Literary Artists provided more than 500 hours of literary arts programming using poetry, fiction, storytelling, spoken word, creative nonfiction, play writing, and journalism to bring classic and contemporary African American literature and writers to life for student participants.
THE GIVENS NOMMO AFRICAN AMERICAN AUTHOR SERIES
NOMMO is a Dogon word meaning the "magic power of the word." The Givens Foundation's NOMMO African American Author Series celebrates the magic power of the word through conversations with nationally recognized authors that exemplify excellence in African American literature. This annual series is moderated by writer and University of Minnesota Associate Professor Alexs Pate, author of Amistad, Losing Absolom, and West of Rehoboth. The series advances public understanding and appreciation of the authors and literary works that articulate the unique history, identity, and cultural themes found within the African American experience. NOMMO Series events place African American authors and literary artists in conversation with community through staged dialogues, small group gatherings, and high-profile media interviews. Author presentations may also be supplemented by small group gatherings with students, local book clubs, academic and community leaders, as well as high-profile media interviews, and event recordings and rebroadcasts on Twin Cities Public Television. Authors participating in the NOMMO Series have included, Randall Robinson, Bertice Barry, Lerone Bennett, Jr., Dr. Trisha Rose, Charisse Jones, Dr. Kumea Shorter-Gooden, Dr. Angela Davis, Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Judge Glenda Hatchett, Nikki Giovanni, Randall Kenan, Lucille Clifton, Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, John Edgar Wideman, Ntozake Shange, Ishmael Reed and Quincy Troupe. Each year, 600 people attend and more than 30,000 people view Twin Cities Public Television broadcasts of NOMMO Series events.
THE GIVENS BLACK WRITERS COLLABORATIVE RETREAT PROGRAM
The Givens Black Writers Collaborative Retreat Program launches with a four-day retreat for 10 Minnesota-based African American writers from diverse genres (including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, and spoken word). The purpose of the retreat is to provide African American writers with mentoring and peer support for the writing life, the honing of literary craft, and the production of new works. Secondary objectives for the retreat include the seeding of literary collaboration and community as well as the intentional creation of the kind of sacred space within which art is born. Two established writers, one national and one state-based, serve as mentoring writers at the retreat. Mentoring Writers lead workshops and meet one-on-one with participants to review and discuss their literary works in progress. After the retreat, participants continue to gather to craft their works and receive feedback from the State Mentoring Writer and their peers. Finally, participants showcase their works crafted (in whole or in part) at the retreat in a staged performance at a Twin Cities theater.