“Our core belief is that literature belongs to all people and our programs bring literature into the light, into the community. When people share their own stories, as related to great literature presented in our read aloud format, we have witnessed lives literally transformed by the ensuing guided discussions,” People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos Executive Director Cheyenne Wolf shared recently. “Our program methodology effectively removes obstacles to the rewards of reading, especially for adults and young adults who identify as not having the skill, confidence, or motivation to read independently,”
People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos’ programs provide increased community engagement and opportunities for broader conversations around literature, civic duty, and social justice, Wolf added. “In fact, we receive many more requests for programs than we are able to provide each year. It is only through the generosity of funders and community support that we can hope to close this gap and continue to expand our programs providing higher self-esteem, improved literacy, greater critical thinking, and civic engagement for all. It has been said we are ‘healing what needs to be healed’.”
People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos (P&S/GyC), is celebrating 50 years of transforming lives through literature this year and was recently recognized by both New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker commemorating this milestone and the organization’s important work.
A CRITICAL BRIDGE PROVIDING DIGNITY, HOPE, & SKILLS TO MOVE FORWARD
The successful, and time-tested, methodology, which is largely unchanged since its inception by former Princeton resident Sarah Hirschman, provides oral readings and rigorous discussions of enduring short stories, inviting participants to find fresh understandings of themselves, of others, and of the world.
Programs, offered in English and Spanish, invite participants to connect their own varied life experiences to the universal themes found in great literature. Participants include men and women who are incarcerated or engaged in re-entry to society, residents in halfway houses and homeless shelters, recent immigrants, and low-income seniors in residential settings. By and large, the individuals served are reading at or below a 5th grade level, have not completed high-school, or are economically disadvantaged or marginalized in some way. These programs are offered primarily in-person at partner sites, or occasionally Virtually, at no cost to participants solely through the generosity of supporters and sponsors.
People and Stories/Gente y Cuentos is located at 295 Eggerts Crossing Road, Lawrenceville, NJ and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. by appointment. Most programs are held at partner sites and other locations, as well as virtually.
For more information, call 609-882-4926 or visit www.peopleandstories.org. View People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos’ new inspirational video, “Nosotros la Gente/We the People,” at this link.
