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G2S Project Code: 2016-OH-77622
State: Ohio
Fiscal Year: 2016
Grantee
WILLOUGHBY-EASTLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Lori Caszatt
Director Phone: 440-269-3957
Director Email: lori.caszatt@welibrary.info
General Information
Title: If These Streets Could Talk
State Project Code: V-8-16
Start Date: 12/01/2016
End Date: 06/30/2017
Abstract: The Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library (WEPL) partnered with the Eastlake Police Department, Eastlake Middle School and Outspoken Literacy Consultants to develop a poetry program that brought at-risk students and police officers together through creative writing. A total of 3 Eastlake Police officers and 18 students met with Outspoken Literacy Consultants separately on two occasions where they wrote on the topics of ‘My Best Day’ and‘My Worst Day’. The last meeting took place at Eastlake Middle School where the police officers and students combined their work to create ‘Poems for Two Voices’. The students and the police officers took turns standing up together to read their poetry aloud to the class, teachers, school principal and Eastlake Police Chief.
State Goal: Community: The library as a community anchor
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$3,571.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,571.00
Intent(s)
Improve users' ability to converse in community conversations around topics of concern.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Community Concerns
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Police and Student Poetry Program
Narrative: The Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library partnered with the Eastlake Police Department, Eastlake Middle School and Outspoken Literacy Consultants to develop a poetry program that brought at-risk students and police officers together through creative writing.
Intent: Improve users' ability to converse in community conversations around topics of concern.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 120
Number of sessions in program: 7
Average number in attendance per session: 20
Number of times program administered: 1


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Suburban
For what age groups: 13-17 years
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Black
Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: Yes
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Eastlake Middle School
Address: 35972 Lakeshore Blvd.
City: Eastlake
State: OH
Zip: 44095
Name: Eastlake Police Dept.
Address: 35150 Lakeshore Blvd.
City: Eastlake
State: OH
Zip: 44095
Name: WILLOUGHBY-EASTLAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 263 E. 305 STREET
City: WILLOWICK
State: OH
Zip: 44095
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
At the start of the project, 4 of the students and police officers thought of themselves as writers and at the end of the project, 8 respondents believed they were writers, a 50% increase. Additional questions on the tests included writing about the past and how it may change the way participants respond to a situation in the future and if listening to poetry would help participants better understand another viewpoint. Both had positive outcomes with 7 respondents feeling those statements were true in the pre-test and 12 respondents in the post-test, a 58% increase. Please see the attached documents for full results.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
These findings are import to the success of “If These Streets Could Talk’ because they show the impact the project had on the future relationships between the students and police officers. Many of the students were overheard talking about how ‘cool’ and ‘funny’ the police officers were. One student said he felt like the police officers were ‘real people’.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The biggest lesson learned is that more time is needed to conduct the writing workshops. The poetry the students created was incredible but at times, felt rushed due to the time constraints. If this project is done again, extra writing time will be built in.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: at risk teens;