@Salon aims to recreate literary tradition with modern culture and issues

Ladan Osman

@Salon will feature renowned local and regional artists, beginning at noon Saturday, March 21, at the McLean County Arts Center in downtown Bloomington.

The event, sponsored by the Illinois State University Creative Writing Program and the Department of English, is free and open to the public.

“A theater of conversation and exchange akin to the literary salons of the 17th and 18th centuries, @Salon welcomes artists and arts enthusiasts from area colleges and universities, the larger Bloomington-Normal community and beyond,” said Associate Professor of English Duriel Estelle Harris, the founder and curator of the event.

The day will feature readings by Chicago-based poets Ladan Osman and Matthew Shenoda. Osman is the author of the Sillerman prize-winning Kitchen-Dweller’s Testimony. Shenoda is the author of Tahrir Suite and past winner of the American Book Award. Musical selections will include performances by local female-fronted indie/pop five-piece band Alex and the XO’s as well as Chicago-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Alicia Walter.

Matthew Shenoda

@Salon will include presentations by three students of Illinois State’s Creative Writing Program—works-in-progress by authors Bryan Reid and Eric Pitman and a sound art showcase curated by Jonah Mixon-Webster.

“This is a wonderful way for artists to get real feedback on their work from the public and those outside their inner circle,” said Harris. “It affords the artist an active role in the dialogue.”

Works by featured artists will be available for purchase at the event. Light refreshments will be served.

@Salon is co-sponsored by the McLean County Arts Center, Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora and the Illinois State University Ethnic Studies, International Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies Programs and the LGBT/Queer Studies and Services Institute.

For more information about @Salon, contact Harris at (309) 438-1401 or (309) 438-1401 or dharri2@ilstu.edu.

National School Choice Week: No Social Barriers

Bloomington Alderman Karen Schmidt celebrates National School Choice Week at God's Deliverance Outreach Ministry with Pastor Rochelle Patterson.

A record number of US governors, mayors, and county leaders took part in the reportedly largest-ever series of education-related events in U.S. history by issuing official proclamations recognizing Jan. 25-31 as School Choice Week in their states and localities.

These 158 proclamations were issued by 64 Democratic and 43 Republican mayors, including Bloomington's Tari Renner. Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort. National School Choice Week 2015 will be America's largest-ever celebration of opportunity in education. Featuring more than 11,000 independently organized events across all 50 states, the Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for children.

National School Choice Week is independent, nonpolitical, and nonpartisan, and embraces all types of educational choice – from traditional public schools to public charter schools, magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling.

"Families all across the country are celebrating the freedom to choose the right schools for their children this week. As people nationwide gather to support opportunity in education, it's clear that elected officials are standing up and taking note," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "There's no political or geographic barrier to supporting educational options for parents and kids, which is why we see Democrats and Republicans from every region of the country recognizing School Choice Week."

According to a 2011 Education Next poll, 50 percent or more of African-Americans either “completely” or “somewhat” favored vouchers for students to attend private schools, versus just 23 percent or fewer who oppose the idea. When presented with tax credits for individual and corporate donations for private school scholarships, “somewhat” or “complete” support hits 57 percent.

A Black Alliance for Educational Options report surveyed 1,700 black voters in Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi in March 2013. In each state, 85 percent to 89 percent of those surveyed wanted as many educational choices as possible. More than half of those surveyed in each state—55 percent to 57 percent—said they would send their child to an alternative to their assigned school, if given the choice.

The group Hispanics for School Choice (HFSC) meanwhile advocates "for the removal of any restrictions on the parental right to choose" between public, charter, virtual, or home schooling.

"We are excited to start working on our advocacy goals for the upcoming year, all of which will break down barriers that are preventing too many children from reaching their full potential," Said Jason S. Crye, executive director of HFSC.

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