Missoula Writing Collaborative

In March of 2007 Megan McNamer and Sheryl Noethe traveled to Hawaii at the invitation of the Pacific Writers' Connection, an organization seeking to establish a new writers-in-the-schools program in Honolulu.  During our visit we met with teachers and administrators, including  Laara Albrett, Principal of Halau Lokahi Public Charter School and teachers Malama Solstad and Adeline Keama    (shown here, with Sheryl Noethe).  

Return visits to Missoula were made in the fall of 2007 and the winter of 2008.  Writer Stri Longanecker observed classes at a number of Missoula schools, in preparation for her work teaching creative writing at Likelike Elementary School in Honolulu, and teachers Adeline Keamu and June Nagasawa from Halau Lokahi visited Missoula schools, Potomac School, Arlee School, and Two Eagle River School.  The MWC evaluated the progress of the Honolulu program in April 2008. These exchanges have been a great way for the Missoula Writing Collaborative to assess our own progress, see other approaches, offer advice, and clarify our goals.  We are grateful to Takiora Ingram(below) of  the Pacific Writers' Connection for arranging this collaboration, and we thank the Charles Engelhard Foundation for making it possible.