Hamilton awarded National Endowment for the Arts grant;
MUH’s Sepela and Dienno to lead local initiative

June 23, 2009

The Big Read is coming to Hamilton, and it’s all about grapes … The Grapes of Wrath, that is.

As announced June 23 by the National Endowment for the Arts, Hamilton was chosen from among thousands of entries to receive a grant totaling more than $17,000 to host a Big Read program that will include movies, book discussions, professional storytellers, expert lectures, and a dance appropriately called “The Dust Ball.” All events will be open to the public. The Big Read will take place in January/February 2010 at various locations around Hamilton.

The Grapes of Wrath, a classic novel by John Steinbeck, was chosen because, as project co-director Sue Sepela said, “We thought the book theme of migration would resonate with many people in Hamilton, including those of Appalachian or Latino heritage.”

“And the book setting of the Great Depression will resonate with everyone, now!” added project co-director Chele Dienno.

Sepela, assistant director, Office of Learning Assistance, and Dienno, MUH Marketing Director, will lead the program assisted by any campus volunteers who wish to participate.

Other partners in the program include the Lane Library, Garfield Middle School, Hamilton High School, the Fitton Center/Butler Tech program called Options Academy – The Arts, and several other informal reading groups.

The purpose of the Big Read is three-fold: 1) get an entire community to read the same book; 2) bring great literature back to the center of American community culture, and 3) encourage lapsed, as well as reluctant, readers to get back into reading, explained Amy Lamborg, MUH Grant Development Coordinator who prepared and submitted the winning application.

To get involved, or obtain more information, contact Sepela at 785-3027, sepelase@muohio.edu.