The Living Web
In the fall of 2002, James Cervantes, English faculty at Mesa Community College, used a Learning Grant from MCLI to anchor a new literary festival, "The Living Web." An outgrowth of his successful web page that features the "Salt River Review," the literary festival was intended to bring the web participants to life in an intensive two-day session of readings and performances.
The project received support from three different sources. The multiple funding allowed the inclusion of a dozen poets and musicians from across the country. The size of the event is significant because it allows many voices to play in counter point with each other. Students can learn from multiple perspectives, something that is often lost in single speakers or limited venues.
Cervantes used multiple funding sources, including an Innovative Projects grant from Mesa Community College and a grant from the American Library Association's "Live at the Library" program. By combining these resources, he could explore new and unique formats for a literary event. "The Living Web" was a blend of poets, musicians, and especially poets that perform music. Included was Phoenix College's Jed Allen, a poet and professional musician who combines both experiences into single performances. A special "Poetry and Blues" night featuring Ann Cummings, Jim Simmerman, poet/ musician Jed Allen, and bassist John Willis was held at Undici Undici in Mesa. Native American author, poet, musician, and performer Joy Harjo read from her work and played saxophone with her group to close the event.
The success of last year's event has inspired another event planned for the fall of 2003.
The "Mesa Literary Festival" is including noted writers such as poet Tess Gallagher and novelist Kathleen Alcala. The "Word and the Blues" will return as well. New this year are mystery writers and free informal workshops aimed at students and writers in the community. Using the Learning Grants as seed money helped this project grow into its current vibrant proportions.
College-Wide Process Supports the Learning Grant Applicants
Learning Grant applicants at Paradise Valley Community College get college support before the application is sent.
Paradise Valley Community College has begun a unique program to support Learning Grant applicants -- Dean of Learning Bob Bendotti and the Faculty Developers have begun a pre-application support process. Prior to submission, applicants at Paradise Valley have the projects reviewed by a team that helps align the projects to college initiatives.
This process has some obvious advantages for the college and the applicants. Having this alignment to departmental and college initiatives is also a plus for evaluators who often have to surmise how a project will be of service to a department or a college. Application reviewers know that grants from Paradise Valley are done in coordination with the entire college. So questions about value to an institution have already been addressed. The end result is a substantially improved application that reviewers know enjoys the support of the college.
Learning Grant Awards for 2003-2004
The 2003-2004 Learning Grant awards have been made. For the 2003-2004 application cycle, we received 81 applications from nine colleges requesting almost $503,000. With the $185,000 available for Learning Grants, we are pleased to announce that, based on the advice we solicit and receive from reviewers, 38 projects were funded. We thus were able to support 47 percent of the projects with full or partial funding. All nine colleges that submitted applications received awards for the enhancement of teaching and learning in the District.
To see a list of awardees, go to the Learning Grants website
The electronic application and submission process worked very well this year. The few glitches experienced were easily addressed. The grants page will continue to be upgraded to make the process as user friendly as possible. We are confident that the process is the most efficient way to apply for and submit Learning Grants.
We wish to thank everyone who participated in the 2003-2004 grants process: applicants, readers, college administrators and staff.
 Bob Galloway, mcli and Jeffrey Pommerville, Ph.D., mcli
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