Words from the Heart

November is only a short couple of days away and I am anticipating with much joy the challenge of writing poetry every day of the month. Those who know me know who much I love poetry. This challenge allows me, as I said in my profile, to promote "Liberty and Literacy for All!" Won't you help me by donating to the challenge?  A typical donation is $30 (a dollar a poem) but you can give whatever you can - every dollar helps and it won't go to waste!  Go to this link to learn more:   https://cnam.org/civicrm/pcp Here is a little glimpse of what you can expect through November from me.  This one is from the first 30 Days I participate in when I first joined Center for New Americans. AIRMAIL  I whispered -  an ocean away-  to la Luna Bella  hoping that you -  standing on another shore -  would hear the message  only meant  for the ears of  my “querido amigo”  © 2013  Linda M. Rhinehart Neas ...

People often ask why I teach, or write, or minister. The answer is always the same...Love. I teach for the love of sharing knowledge with others. I write for the love of words and how placing them in just the right position can paint a picture in someone's mind. I minister for the love of being of service to others. This past month, I have been participating in the 3 0 Poems in November! Challenge. The poems I have written have been dedicated and inspired by those I teach and for whom the money raised will benefit. I have not reached my goal, yet. I still have hope. The money from 30 Poems goes to the programs and needs of Center for New Americans (CNA) , a non-profit agency with sites in four Western Massachusetts cities. CNA helps immigrants and refugees learn English as well as assists in finding jobs, housing, citizenship and a host of other needs. Center for New Americans runs its daily operations on grants, donations and volunteers. Fundraising is essential...

Well, I almost made my goal of $750...just $185 short. On the other hand, I wrote 37 new poems!  I am now working on selecting the ones I want to publish.   As I go through them, I realize I have a couple of different themes that have run throughout the 30 days.  The most common one is teaching English as a second language and immigrants.  This is followed by love. Then, there are a few that have to do with grandchildren.  Interestingly, I did get on the old soapbox and write a poem that is an open letter to the world about doing what needs to be done and not simply talking about it. Maybe there will be a couple of books in this mix! Above is one of my favorite poems.  Hope you enjoy it as well.  Oh, and while 30 Poems in November is over, as far as the poem-ing goes, donations are still being collected.   If you want to help gift literacy to adults, please visit https://www.razoo.com/story/Linda-M-Rhinehart-Neas Donations a...

Me reading my poem at Smith College - 2013 For the past 3 Novembers, I have been part of the 30 Poems in November fundraiser for The Center of New Americans .  The Center, or as we say, CNA, is an amazing organization that supports immigrants and refugees in finding and obtaining the resources they need to be productive community members and/or citizens, especially literacy. As many of you know, I am a teacher and citizenship assistant at CNA.  I love my work and am dedicated to my students and clients.  Participating in 30 Poems in November is a joy!    I have no problems writing 30 poems during the month.  However, what I do have difficulty with is raising the $500 I have pledged.  I only work part-time, so my finances are limited.  This is where YOU come in. I am humbly asking if my friends and family could donate $5 or $10 to support my pledge.  Some people have asked me why am I doing this again - didn't they pledge la...

  For the third year in a row, I am participating in the 30 Poems in November! challenge held as a fundraiser for the Center for New Americans . A wonderful mix of literacy support, literacy practice and literary joy, 30 Poems bring two of my most favorite things together - writing poetry and being of service to others. I am hoping that my family, friends and readers will consider supporting me in my efforts.  The money raised will go to support the various literacy programs provided by the Center for New Americans (CNA).  The poems I will write - some of them - I hope to include in a new book I am writing on Ireland.  This year, CNA is using Razoo as their fundraising venue. You can either click here or on the link at the top of this page.  All donations are gratefully appreciated - no donation is too small! As a teaser, here is a poem I just wrote - imagine the ones I will write in November! POET'S PASSION The letters are strung toge...

I am so excited to share a recent interview with Julie Cavacco, author of a new children's book, "My Worst Best Friend."  She is a Children's Librarian (12 yrs) and former substitute (15 yrs). Julie has become dedicated to getting the right book into a student's hands. She says, "There is so much self esteem wrapped up into when and how we start reading. I have seen the natural, and not necessarily bad, competition of first graders talking about how they can read Harry Potter. The delayed reader can't join in on that conversation, and eventually, they notice the difference, which effects self esteem and eventually classroom behavior."  Julie's own two kids, now adults, were not early dedicated readers, but, she says, they had the skills. "I've seen them, as teenagers, ignore electronics with all the bells and whistles in favor of a good book. Now, they can join in on conversations, because reading has bolstered their vocabula...

Words Cloud 02/01-08/02 2009 (Photo credit: GRwitters ) Words! - They have the power to do amazing things.   Today is the first day of the month, which means it is the beginning of the Poem-a-Day challenge hosted by Robert Lee Brewer at Poetic Asides .  In addition, it is the first day of the fundraiser for the Center for New Americans - 30 Poems in November .  Therefore, today is the beginning of a month-long celebration of words! What a wonderful combination - poetry to promote literacy - prompts from a great literary magazine - the promise of funding by people who believe in the importance of both literacy and art! One thing that is different this time round, is that instead of Robert Lee Brewer giving the prompts, he has invited the poets who take the challenge to share prompts with each other.  He will post the prompt each day in November.  Today's prompt was from writer, Mariya Koleva .  What a wonderful way to begin this challenge - a gr...

Every so often, I remember how easy it is to give to others.  What reminded me this time, was answering my email.  There, in the middle of requests for my support for this cause or that cause, quick notes from family and friends and work related emails was one of the easiest ways to give that I have ever found. I clicked on the email and it opened to the page I have become so familiar with that I often don't really remember if I have visited it, some days.  The Greater Good Network has several tabs on its Gifts that Give More page . Each tab opens to a new page that offers an opportunity to help one of several different causes.   The simplicity of this site is amazing.  No purchases are necessary.  You don't have to sign in or have a password.  All you do is click on the button, when the window shows it has registered your support, then you go to the next tab, click on it, then, click on the button on that page, until you have support...

Literacy is one of the most powerful tools we humans can access. Yet, for many of our brothers and sisters around the world, those in power deny them literacy. Paulo Freire , the esteemed educator from Brazil, taught that when we teach people to speak/read/write, we give them the tools to "read" their world. Most political scientists will attest to the fact that when a power is planning to overtake a population, one of the first things they do is destroy the native language by making it criminal to speak it. When people are not allowed to speak their own language, they cannot "read" (understand) their world. They become fear-filled, thus easy to manipulate. It gives me great pleasure as a teacher of reading and writing to empower my students to be able to utilize the tools they need to understand the world around them. When people are able to communicate with others with confidence, their lives have richness, a depth that is not present when they are unable to rela...