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June 17, 2004
• The word's on the street The word's on the street author:By Megan Whilden A few weeks ago, a storefront on North Street began sprouting signs announcing the presence of a new drop-in center for kids and teens, one that focuses on the joys and challenges of reading and writing. After holding after-school tutoring sessions at Pittsfield and Lee High Schools and in the Berkshire Athenaeum throughout the spring, the fledging non-profit group Word Street has recently found a rent-free home at 163 North St., next to the Soda Chef, thanks to the generosity of the building's owners, Mrs. Norma Ruffer and her family. Their first official open house was held last weekend and more than 50 people, mostly kids, stopped in to find out more. There were book giveaways to visiting kids, and the third session of Word Street's very popular Screenwriting 101 workshop, taught by Marc Maurino, was held during the afternoon. Deborah and Jeff Herman of Stockbridge stopped by and were amazed by what they found brewing below. "We've been here over a year and haven't found anything like this." It turned out that Jeff is a literary agent, and now they'll be special guests at a workshop later this summer. Word Street began just a few short months ago as the brainchild of high school English teacher Frank Tempone. He had driven all the way up to Toronto to hear his literary idol, best-selling writer Dave Eggers, read from his latest book, "You Shall Know Our Velocity." Instead Eggers read from the work of students at a drop-in literacy and writing center he had recently founded in San Francisco, named 826 Valencia after its street address. Tempone had been active in Berkshires Writers Room, a local non-profit for writers, and had been the host of their monthly Wordplay reading series in North Adams, but was looking for a way to involve youth in the literary arts. Enthralled by what he had heard Eggers read, Tempone returned home and began calling friends, and a new organization was born. The staff at 826 Valencia have been supportive of Tempone's efforts from the start. Julia White, who runs 826 Valencia's National Project, corresponds constantly with him on such nuts-and-bolts issues as, says Tempone, "fundraising, what to do with kids with discipline problems, how much do they control words in independent publications, as well as just general support on rough days." White points out that Tempone has taken the basic idea of 826 Valencia and made it his own: "He's doing some things that are new and interesting: memberships and workshops for adults too. You really have to pay attention to your community and make it right for that. Frank's doing a really great job." Word Street is the first spin-off of 826 Valencia to be fully functional. A Brooklyn branch, called 826NYC, is getting off the ground, but won't start offering programs for youth until the fall. There are other, similar programs being planned in Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Cincinnati, but Word Street is the first one out of the gate and the only one that is not in a major city. Word Street has big plans for this summer. For kids and teens, there are free workshops and classes in everything from writing poetry to survival guides to middle and high school. Tempone, with the help of Word Street's youth advisory board member Rachael Silvano, a 14-year-old Herberg Middle School student and poet, is devising ways to reach out to more students. With a tiny budget and no money for advertising, they are relying on word-of-mouth, flyering and e-mail. Word Street has more than 60 kids and teens on their e-mail list and are looking to add more. "I always give the kids on my e-mail list first dibs on any new workshops or classes," says Tempone. Tempone himself is teaching a summer class on creating 'zines in hopes that Word Street will end up publishing one for Pittsfield teens and youth. Zines are alternative self-published, low-budget, often graphically rich (or strange) magazines, popular with science fiction fans in the 20s and 30s, the beats in the 50s, as well as hippies, punks, grrrl rockers and others. Word Street was recently given a collection of more than 150 different zines to draw inspiration from. They are also planning a weeklong writers camp the week of Aug. 14-20 that will provide young writers with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the creative process. One way Tempone envisions Word Street supporting itself is through paid classes and workshops for adults. This summer a variety are offered, including one on starting a writers group, and a class especially designed to help business people become better writers. The latter one is offered free to employees of Berkshire Bank and Greylock Federal Credit Union: Both institutions have been early supporters of Word Street through financial and in-kind donations. Other adult workshops offered are designed for those who wish to make a career out of writing include a journalism class, one on writing novel synopses for publishers, and another on how to set about acquiring a literary agent. Whether you are young or old, new to the art of setting words to the page, or experienced, take a walk down to Word Street on North Street and see what might be there for you or your family this summer. For more information, visit their Web site at www.wordstreet.org or call 442-2732. Word Street is open Monday through Friday, from 3:30 to 6:30, and by appointment, at 163 North St. in Pittsfield Word Street is looking for tutoring volunteers, members, and donations of books for their library, computers and other items. Word Street Summer 2004 Schedule To register for classes, workshops, or tutoring sessions call 442-2732 or email courses@wordstreet.org . All programs are held at Word Street's new home at 163 North St. in Pittsfield.
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