Merna Ann Hecht

Merna Ann Hecht, poet, storyteller, and arts and literacy educator, has partnered with Bread for the Journey of Seattle, Voices in Wartime Education Project, and Institute for Poetic Medicine to bring the power of language through poetry and narrative to immigrant students who have experienced war and conflict. As poet-in-residence at Foster High School, just south of Seattle, Merna has two goals for her students. The first is to provide a meaningful experience of how poetry and narrative writing can give honest expression and voice to their losses, their questions, their struggles and their hopes. The second is to provide opportunities within the larger community for showcasing the poetry of these young people - including community poetry readings, public radio broadcasts, and the publication of an anthology in hard copy. Bread for the Journey of Seattle is proud to have partnered with Merna and two other important organizations by contributing $1000 to fund this remarkable work.

This hands-on, interactive course is taught by poet and educator Merna Hecht.Recommended for third-grade through high-school educators.Cost: Members of TAM, $30; non-members, $36 Pre-registration is required.

Merna Ann Hecht is member #15 of My Voice. Dec. 5, 2008

Sherman students and teachers have worked with professional artists Barbra Kates, Darwin Nordin and Merna Hecht, poet and storyteller, this year as part of a Washington State Arts Consortia Grant.
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Ms.Hecht, worked with teachers and students to integrate the concepts of arts with literacy.

A key component of the grant is to involve the community.

The Sherman Art Extravaganza will be held on June 13 from 6:30-8pm for students and community.The gymnasium and multipurpose room will be turned into an art gallery in which children will take their parents and families on an art walk.All students will have a piece of artwork displayed.Barbra Kates, Darwin Nordin and Merna Hecht will be here also to answer questions about the student work and the Washington Arts Consortia Grant.

Merna Ann Hecht
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Merna is currently the storyteller/writer in residence at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center School with K-12 studentsfor Seattle's Writers in the School program.

Merna Ann Hecht, poet and educator will lead a lively workshop on the connection between visual and verbal literacy.

This hands-on, interactive course is taught by poet and educator Merna Hecht.

Merna Hecht'
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+ Merna Hecht on The Writer's CraftThurs.
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Merna Hecht'

Seattle Poet and 2008 Jack Straw Writer Merna Ann Hecht worked with Foster High School students from around the world to write poems about their experiences, for a project titled Stories of Arrival, produced with support from The Voices Education Project in Seattle; The Institute for Poetic Medicine; Bread for the Journey; The Tukwila School District; the Tukwila Arts Commission; the Washington State Arts Commission; and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Merna Hecht

17904 Westside Highway SWVashon, WA. 98070206/463-5653mernaanna@yahoo.com

Merna Ann Hecht, poet, storyteller, arts and literacy educator, is a program mentor and teaching writer for the Writers in the Schools Program in Seattle.She has been a faculty member at Pacific Oaks College in the Teacher Certification Program where she taught Language and Literacy and Imagination and Cultural Expression in the Classroom.She currently teaches for the Heritage Institute's Educating for Humanity Program, offering courses on bringing social justice teaching to the classroom through storytelling, integrated arts approaches and writing.Merna received a 1999 National Storytelling Network Award for her work as a storyteller and poet with homeless and adjudicated teens.She is also the recipient of several poetry fellowships.Her essays and poetry appear in professional journals and small press magazines.Merna is a strong advocate for innovative, socially conscious education that supports young people in becoming critical thinkers and community minded citizens who can imagine and work toward a more humane world.