Welcome to Fedcap's
Words About Work!® 2010
Words about Work!
National Poetry Contest Winners Announced!
Fedcap is excited to announce the winners of its Words about Work! writing contest focusing on overcoming barriers and disabilities in the workplace. The grand prize winners are Heather Lee Dyer, a mother of two and Lupus survivor, who works for the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections and lives outside of Boise, ID and Adam Sullivan, a ten year old fifth grader from Harrison, NJ. Each winner has had significant experience with how a disability can affect employment, and in turn, other aspects of life.
Words about Work! is a national poetry contest that was open to adults and children and sponsored by Fedcap – a nonprofit dedicated to providing vocational training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers. Contestants were asked to submit poems or essays on what work means to them and how they have overcome barriers to work. Entries were judged by an independent panel of poets and writers from the Yale Club Poetry Group. The winners, runners up, and honorable mentions were honored at a poetry slam held at New York's Bowery Poetry Club on April 25, 2010. Photos from the event can be found on Fedcap's Facebook and Flickr pages.
Fedcap’s Words about Work! Runners up:
• Shani Caldwell-Schwab, Montclair, NJ
• Constance M. Gemson, New York, NY
• Ruth W. Krinsky, New York, NY
Fedcap’s Words about Work! Children’s Honorable Mention:
• Kevon Jefferson, Brooklyn, NY
• Kareece Le Brun, Brooklyn, NY
• Ruhejami Mustari, Brooklyn, NY
Fedcap’s Words about Work! Adult Honorable Mention:
• Ellen B. Denton, North Hills, CA
• Christina Dunams, Woodside, NY
• Amber Herrick, Portland, OR
• Yvonne M. Jones, Philadelphia, PA
• Mary Koan, New York, NY
• Genevieve Olivia Joyner, Nashville, TN
• Pamela D. Swann, New York, NY
• Roberta Swann, New York, NY
• E. Gayle Tauger, Staten Island, NY
• Debra J. White, Tempe, AZ
Presented in conjunction with New York City’s Poem in Your Pocket Day – please bring a poem to read about overcoming obstacles to work!
Words about Work! is a writing competition that celebrates the meaning and value of work in our society. Poets were invited to submit their poems about overcoming obstacles to work to Fedcap where they were judged by members of the Yale Poetry Club. Currently, a record number of Americans are unemployed and looking for jobs. Many job seekers face challenges and barriers. Words about Work! is a way to personalize these challenges and celebrate challenges overcome.
Fedcap
Founded in 1935, Fedcap is a national leader in providing comprehensive vocational services and employment for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Fedcap helps America work. Through training, job placement, and socially responsible outsourcingTM services to business and government, Fedcap has helped thousands of people transform their lives and successfully enter the workforce.
Fedcap graduates obtain jobs at private companies or with Fedcap. The majority of the jobs we are able to offer are made possible through the New York State Preferred Source Program and the federal AbilityOne Program. Fedcap also operates a licensed home health care agency and Chelton Loft, a clubhouse for people with severe and persistent mental illness. For more information, or to make a donation, call 212-727-4200 or visit www.fedcap.org
