CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Sept. 5, 2019) — Thomas More University’s Creative Writing Vision and the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition will sponsor a teacher workshop titled “Enriching Multiple Content Areas Through Local Appalachian Arts and Cultural Resources” on Wednesday, Sept. 18, on TMU’s campus. The event will be held from 3:30 – 8 p.m. 

Workshop attendees will engage directly with local musicians, storytellers, authors, historians, and organizational leaders to explore Appalachia’s diverse racial and cultural identities, along with the migration stories and narrative folk traditions shaping Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky history. Appalachian teaching artists will showcase performances, exploring creative ways to invigorate content areas with expressive arts and humanities resources. Special emphasis will be placed on local Urban/Appalachian culture as a foundation for inspiring student motivation for reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Innovative critical thinking activities and community- and research-based projects feature themes of shifting “home” boundaries, intergenerational values, and community problem-solving/healing. The session features a strong value for diversity and inclusion, and it is specifically designed to promote collaboration among educators, teaching artists, and community leaders in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. While the workshop targets middle and high school grade-level applications, primary teachers who wish to attend will receive relevant, example-based guidance and modifications to fit their audiences. All attendees will receive a certificate of completion provided by TMU.

“We are energetically working to connect young people with the expressive arts as well as a more complex sense of cultural heritage,” said Sherry Cook Stanforth, TMU English professor and director of Creative Writing Vision. “Our goal with this program is to offer innovative performances and resources to enliven educational standards for teachers and inspire unique connections among various institutional leaders. All are welcome in this high-energy, interactive circle!” 

Attendees will have the opportunity to create and reflect in a discussion-based setting with the following Appalachian teaching artists and community leaders: 

• TMU Artist-in-Residence and regional Weatherford Award winner Pauletta Hansel
• TMU Artist-in-Residence and regional Weatherford Award winner Dick Hague
• Bear Foot (Appalachian music, dance, and cultural activities with Russ and Barb Childers)
• Tellico – a three-generation Appalachian family band 
• Author-musician, TMU Professor and Creative Writing Vision Director Sherry Cook Stanforth
• Folklorist and storyteller Omope Carter Daboiku

Registration is required. An advanced registration fee of $45 is offered until Sept. 16. To register, visit tmuky.us/furthermore to make a payment by credit card, or pay by check to “Thomas More University” and mail to 333 Thomas More Parkway, Crestview Hills, KY 41017, c/o Sherry Cook Stanforth/English/Creative Writing Vision. Day-of registration at TMU will be $55.

For more info, direct questions to [email protected].

Thomas More University is the Catholic liberal arts university of the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky. At TMU, we challenge students of all faiths to examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others. Through our integrated and traditional undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, we are inspiring innovation for a better tomorrow. Learn more at thomasmore.edu.

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