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On February 8, Literacy
Partners, New York’s only nationally
accredited adult literacy program, held the second luncheon
in their
annual Food for Thought series. The intimate event
featured a
presentation by Wally Lamb, bestselling author of
The Hour I First Believed and
two Oprah’s
Book Club picks,
She’s Come Undone,
and I Know This Much Is True. Literacy
Partners Honorary Chair Jacqueline Weld Drake hosted
the insightful and often poignant Q&A.
During their conversation, Lamb
discussed the impact that
running a writing workshop at the York Correctional Institution,
Connecticut's only maximum-security prison for women,
has had on his life. Lamb even shared a short excerpt of
one of his student’s stories. He and Weld Drake also
addressed
the recent shooting in Tucson, Arizona – a topic close to Lamb,
as his most recent novel, The Hour I First Believed,
includes
a fictionalized account of the Columbine High School
shootings.
Weld Drake also spoke with Lamb
about his writing process,
how he handled overnight fame, and his reaction to an
unexpected
phone call from Oprah Winfrey. Lamb recalled his
conversation
with Winfrey about the impact reading had on her life.
“In 1992, she called and thanked
me for writing She’s Come Undone,
“Lamb explained. “Oprah told me that reading basically saved
her life
during a rough childhood.” Five years later, Winfrey called again,
requesting to feature his novel in her then newly formed
“Oprah’s Book Club” segment. In 1998, Lamb’s book
I Know This Much Is True was his second book featured on the show.
During his interview with Drake,
Lamb noted,
“When the universe gives you a gift, you want to give
something back. That’s why when a group like Literacy
Partners calls,
I’m here; to try and even things up for the people who
haven’t had
the same chances I have.”
Literacy Partners Honorary Chair
Jacqueline Weld Drake
is chairing the luncheons, all of which are being held at
the
legendary New York restaurant Le Cirque.
Luncheon Committee members in
attendance included
Alexandra Anderson, Martha Bograd, Patricia Beard Braga,
Ellie Cullman, Barrett Frelinghuysen, Jacqueline M. Garrett,
Sharon King Hoge, Lois Nasser, Marjorie Reed, Susan W.
Rotenstreich, Betty Sargent, Molly Schaefer, Anne Sitrick,
Joan S. Steinberg, and Stephanie Stokes.
The event was also attended by
Literacy Partners Chairman
Mark Jackson, Executive Director Susan McLean,
and
Board Members Peter Brown, Sharon King Hoge,
and
Katharine Raymond. Notable New Yorkers
Alicia Jahn,
Catherine Cahill, Cristina Grassi, and Coco Kopelman
were also present at the luncheon.
The next Literacy Partners
Food for Thought author event
will take place on April 6, 2011, featuring Tracey
Jackson,
screenwriter for films such as Confessions of a
Shopaholic –
and now author of the forthcoming Between a Rock and a Hot Place:
Why Fifty Is Not the New Thirty.
For ticket
information, please visit
www.literacypartners.org
or call 646-237-0105.
About
Literacy Partners: For over 35 years, Literacy Partners has
helped thousands of New Yorkers learn the basic reading,
writing and math skills needed to succeed in day-to-day
living. Through successful collaborations with major
corporations, community partners and benefactors, Literacy
Partners offers small, welcoming classes taught by
enthusiastic, highly trained volunteer tutors. Literacy
Partners is the only nationally accredited adult literacy
program serving New York City. For more information, visit
www.literacypartners.org
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