Archive for August, 2011

Upcoming Event on September 15 2011 — Elizabeth Killam Rodgers and Constance Killam Distinguished Lecture by celebrated Canadian economist Thomas J. Courchene

Friday, August 26th, 2011

The 9th annual Elizabeth Killam Rodgers and Constance Killam distinguished public lecture, entitled “Rekindling the American Dream”,  will be presented on Thursday September 15, 2011 at 5:30pm by celebrated Canadian economist Thomas J. Courchene and is scheduled to take place in the Cadieux Auditorium at the Lester B. Pearson Building (Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada) at 125 Sussex Drive in Ottawa.

 Tom Courchene is the Jarislowsky-Deutsch Professor of Economics and Financial Policy at Queen’s University and a member of the School of Policy Studies, the Department of Economics, and the Faculty of Law.  He is also Senior Scholar, Institute for Research on Public Policy.  His research interests include financial deregulation, the political economy of Canadian federalism and comparative federal systems, climate change, and the knowledge-based economy.  

Canadian economist Thomas J. Courchene will deliver the  Elizabeth Killam Rodgers and Constance Killam distinguished public lecture, entitled "Rekindling the American Dream".

Canadian economist Thomas J. Courchene will deliver the Elizabeth Killam Rodgers and Constance Killam distinguished public lecture, entitled "Rekindling the American Dream".

Professor Courchene is the author or editor of some 60 books and over 250 academic articles on a wide range of Canadian public policy issues, including Social Policy in the 1990s: Agenda for Reform, Equalization Payments: Past, Present and Future, and A State of Minds: Toward a Human Capital Future for Canadians.  A collection of his recent articles appears as Rearrangements.  His book, Social Canada in the Millennium, was awarded the Doug Purvis Prize for the best Canadian economic policy contribution (1994) and his book, with Colin Telmer, From Heartland to North American Region State: The Social, Fiscal and Federal Evolution of Ontario (1998), won the inaugural Donner Prize for the best book on Canadian public policy.  He is a recipient of the Molson Prize for lifetime achievement in the Social Sciences and Humanities (1999) and an Officer of the Order of Canada.  The lecture is coincident with Fulbright Canada’s annual orientation for Killam undergraduate exchange students, Fulbright American student grantees in Canada, and American Fulbright scholars in Canada.

Kingston WritersFest welcomes all book lovers

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Kingston WritersFest returns on September 22 to 25, 2011—with a spectacular lineup of today’s prize–winning authors and the exciting new voices of tomorrow. This year features South African–born Nobel Laureate J.M. Coetzee in conversation with the brilliant American novelist, screenwriter, and translator, Paul Auster.

Paul Auster

Paul Auster

Supported by the Embassy of the United States at this year’s festival, Mr. Auster has won the Independent Spirit Award for the Best First Screenplay (for Smoke), and has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is the recipient of numerous international awards including 1989 Prix France Culture de Littérature Étrangère for The New York Trilogy, the Prix Médicis Étranger for Leviathan, and the Prince of Asturius Award for Literature.

His astonishing oeuvre comprises 16 novels, including The New York Trilogy, The Book of Illusions, and Invisible; five screenplays, including Smoke and Blue in the Face; the memoirs The Invention of Solitude, The Art of Hunger, and Hand to Mouth; numerous essays and works of criticism, and three books of poetry. In addition, he has appeared in and directed films, collaborated with visual artists and musicians, written song lyrics, and has lent his resonant voice to many audio recordings, most notably NPR’s “National Story Project.”

Paul Auster's most recent novel Sunset Park

Paul Auster's most recent novel Sunset Park

Sunset Park is Mr. Auster’s most recent novel.

Learn more about Paul Auster and check out the festival’s Events listing for the full lineup of authors.

ANNOUNCING THE VERY FIRST NATIONWIDE MONOLOGUES COMPETITION

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

THE  HIJABI MONOLOGUES STORY CONTEST

We often share our own stories in the way we give gifts. In sharing stories, we share pieces of ourselves. Someone initiates. Someone reciprocates. Sometimes, we regret what we’ve given; other times, we receive far greater than what we give.

In July 2006, Dan Morrison, Zeenat Rahman and Sahar Ullah founded the Hijabi Monologues. Since then, the HM has been a growing organic project with fresh stories shared by others touched by truth-telling; organized and performed for thousands across the U.S. and abroad including the Kennedy Center and Off-Broadway; and covered by various media outlets including The Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Miami Herald, America.gov and WAMU Latitudes.

After a wonderful five years, the Hijabi Monologues team is excited to announce the very first nationwide monologues competition. The team is accepting stories from and for all ages: adults, teenagers and children. Grandmothers, mothers and daughters.

Snapshot from Wellesley College,  22 April 2011

Snapshot from Wellesley College, 22 April 2011

ENTRY IS FREE 

When you submit your story, you will be asked to provide:
1. Confirmation that the monologue submitted is completely original to you. You are the present and exclusive and sole owner of all right, title, and interest in and to the story.
2. Confirmation that the monologue has not been published, used in an anthology, or winner of any other contests.
3. Confirmation that the monologue is a true story.
ENTRY GUIDELINES

1. One (1) entry per person (one monologue).
2. Scripts in Microsoft Word (.doc) are requested.
3. The monologue should be double-spaced and no longer than 800 words or 6 minutes.
4. Contact information (name, E-mail address, etc.) on the cover page only.
5. Please put the title of your monologue at the top of each page.
6. Please paginate your script at the bottom of each page: 1 of 5, 2 of 5 etc
7. Submit your monologue by emailing hm.storycontest@gmail.com with the subject “Story Contest Submission 2011.”

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday, September 2, 2011, 11:59 EST

 There will be three grand prize winners.  Winning writers will be announced on the Hijabi Monologues-Official Facebook fan page  on Friday, September 9, 2011,  they will be given the opportunity to work closely with an official HM performer–including May Alhassen and Kamilah Pickett–in directing a performance of their stories, and finally Hijabi Monologues will upload the resulting performances on YouTube and the Hijabi Monologues-Official Facebook fan page.
For information on the contest judges, and guidelines and tips visit the Hijabi Monologues Facebook page

Hitting on a Hijabi

Hitting on a Hijabi

Read an earlier blog entry Interview with Hijabi Monologues’ Sahar Ullah