Lone Star College-Houston North is the recipient of the 2021-2022 National Education Association (NEA) Big Read Grant.
The NEA, in partnership with Arts Midwest, awarded 61 grants totaling $1,070,000 to support NEA Big Read projects in 2021-2022. These grants, managed by Arts Midwest, will support dynamic community reading programs designed to encourage conversation and discovery, all inspired by a book from the NEA Big Read library.
“The Big Read initiative brings together two important concepts for LSC-Houston North, literacy and community” said Dr. Quentin A. Wright, LSC-Houston North president. “We have long recognized that our service area college attainment goals will not be reached without a concerted, collaborative effort to increase literacy levels.”
NEA Big Read grantees are located in 28 states, with 43% of the organizations located in communities with populations under 50,000. Each organization is receiving a matching grant ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 with LSC-Houston North being fully funded receiving $20,000. The book of focus will be Sandra Cisneros’ “The House on Mango Street”. LSC-Houston North will host the author Monday, Nov. 8.
“For 15 years the NEA Big Read has supported opportunities for communities to come together around a book, creating a shared experience that encourages openness and conversations around issues central to our lives,” said Ann Eilers, acting chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts. “We congratulate all of the new NEA Big Read grantees and look forward to seeing the range of meaningful activities they create for their communities.”
LSC-Houston North will host several events coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month. This will include a kick-off event book discussion and a block party Sept. 18 with LSC-Houston North partnering with the Houston Public Library and the Alley Theatre.
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 93,000+ students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. Lone Star College consists of seven colleges, eight centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.