Significant Grant From The Teagle Foundation Propels Books@Work

Significant Grant From The Teagle Foundation Propels Books@Work

We are extraordinarily excited to share the news of our new partnership with The Teagle Foundation, enabling Books@Work to take a giant step toward significantly furthering its reach. Last week, the Foundation announced a $150,000 two-year grant to support and scale our programs and research activities. Established in 1944, The Teagle Foundation works to support and strengthen liberal arts education, as a prerequisite for rewarding work, meaningful citizenship and a fulfilling life. Books@Work forms a part of a new special project entitled, “Liberal Arts Education Beyond the Academy.” This initiative supports programs for individuals in underserved communities who may not have access to higher education but who may derive substantial benefit from exposure to the liberal arts and university communities.

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Can Shakespeare Really Improve the Bottom Line?

Can Shakespeare Really Improve the Bottom Line?

A few years ago, my wife, Ann Kowal Smith, facilitated an education initiative in Northeast Ohio. She shared with me many an idea. One night she came home quite excited. She had observed that everybody focuses on increasing college attainment rates and on reducing high school dropout rates, but nobody thinks about the rest of the adult population – the nearly 60% of American adults who have a high school degree (and even some college) but no BA. They most likely have kids and a job and a full slate of responsibilities. That many of them may find the time and the money to go back to college is a pipe dream. By creatively engaging this group to become life-long learners and critical thinkers who grow personally and professionally, might we have an opportunity to help shape and nurture the learning environment for their children and their communities?

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