People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos (P&S/GyC) has been awarded $8,500 by the Pryor and Arlene Neuber Charitable Trust for its “Opening Doors at Manos House” Project, an innovative approach to the art form of the short story and to literature engagement.
“This generous grant allows us to provide nearly 80 residents at Manos House opportunities to experience literature in new ways,” P&S/GyC board co-chair Andrea Honore says.
In partnership with collaborating organizations, P&S/GyC equips young adult audiences to continue their education and to be productive, successful, and employable members of their communities.
The Manos House Program has been led successfully for more than ten years by People & Stories Coordinator, Scott D. Feifer, an award winning teacher in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, public school system. Scott has been recognized by both program participants and site staff for his talents as a coordinator.
The “Opening Doors at Manos House” Project will provide 36 hours of literature reading and discussion for 45-80 residents at Manos House. People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos’ methodology is designed to remove obstacles to the reward of reading, especially for adults and young adults who have not experienced the power of literature.
Chris Runkle, Executive Director at Manos House, rated the People & Stories program “exemplary” and remarked that People & Stories has, “opened up an array of ‘doors’ for our clients to explore both presenting and underlying issues that have impacted their lives. Additionally, this program has offered a social outlet that otherwise would be nonexistent to our clients given their situation. It should also be noted that Scott is an extremely talented individual with a gift of captivating and exciting those involved in his programs. We have worked with Scott for quite some time in a variety of group settings and feel strongly that without Scott and his programming some of our difficult and extremely guarded clients would remain tormented and lost within themselves struggling to find the courage to make a change.”
People and Stories/Gente y Cuentos, 295 Eggerts Crossing Road, Lawrenceville 08648. 609-882-4926. Debra Lampert-Rudman, deputy director. peopleandstories.org.
