Michael R. Strickland, a noted author, poet and anthologist for children and young people, will visit West Virginia University and area schools March 7-11 presenting poetry and conducting workshops as a visiting author-in-residence.
A Paul Robeson Fellow of the Institute for Arts and Humanities Education, Strickland was poetry consultant to”Literacy Place”and a trustee of the Maurice R. Robinson Fund, a foundation that awards grants to grassroots projects that directly affect the lives of children.
A resident of Orange, N.J., Strickland earned a bachelor of arts degree from Cornell University and a masters of arts degree from Seton Hall University.
He is currently an assistant professor of literacy education at Jersey City University and a doctorate candidate in English at New York University.
His itinerary follows:
* Tuesday, March 7 Community Presentation (will perform poetry, poetic prose and discuss the development of a book from idea to publication), 7-8 p.m., WVU Towers Residence Halls Gold Room
* Wednesday, March 8 “Fun With Poetry”9-10:20a.m., Woodburn Elementary SchoolNOTE: Later in the day, he will present a professional development workshop at WVU titled”Creating Communities for Multicultural Language and Learning”from 4-6 p.m. in 406 Allen Hall. An autograph session and reception, sponsored by West Virginia Pro-Education, will follow in 601 Allen Hall.
* Thursday, March 9 “Fun with Poetry,”9:10-10:30 a.m., North Elementary School. NOTE : He will also speak to university students on”Poetry in the Literature Based Curriculum”at a WVU Childrens Literature Class from 4-5 p.m.
* Thursday, March 9 Public Poetry Reading, 7-8 p.m., WVU Mountainlairs Monongahela Room.
* Friday, March 10 Strickland will be at Barnes Elementary School all day, conducting classes and visiting with parents and teachers. Parents attending this visit will receive a paperback copy of Stricklands book,”Families: Poems Celebrating the African American Experience,”which he will autograph.
Stricklands visit is sponsored by the College of Human Resources and Education and its Diversity Task Force Subcommittee on Childrens Literature.