Project Duration: 2 years to launch, then unlimited
Start/End Date: When receive funding 

This project aims to develop an Arabic counterpart to former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky’s Favorite Poem project (http://www.favoritepoem.org/) in which Pinsky invited Americans to send him their favorite poem by any author with an explanation of why he or she had chosen it.

Ambassador Cynthia Schneider and Robert Pinsky propose to work with a well known poet from the Arab world, who would solicit “favorite poems” from the Arabic speaking public. The English-Arabic Favorite Poem Project would then publish a book with selections of the English language favorite poems translated into Arabic, and selections of the Arabic language favorite poems translated into English. The book would be marketed/distributed to both Arabic and English audiences. In addition, the Project would develop a dual language website where the poems could be accessed. With additional funding, the Project also could produce a DVD with people reciting and discussing “their” poems in English with Arab subtitles, and in Arabic with English subtitles. Poetry is revered in the Arab world by people of all ages, and Robert Pinsky’s project demonstrated that it is also very significant to Americans. This book and website would give the English speaking world a window into a key component of Arabic culture and what it means today, and would introduce the poetry and the people of America to the Arabic speaking world. As is true of the Favorite Poem Project, the dual language English-Arabic project would include materials for teachers. 
 
Partnering Organization(s) : Robert Pinsky (Boston University), Georgetown University, Favorite Poem Project 

Cynthia P. Schneider
Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy, Georgetown University , cpschneider@restructassoc.com, 301 -706-9260.
Director, Cultural Diplomacy Initiative, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), co-Director MOST (Muslims on screen and Television, www.mostresource.org). 
 
Website for Favorite Poem Project (http://www.favoritepoem.org/)   would serve as model for the dual language English-Arabic Favorite Poem project.   Robert Pinsky, one of America’s most eminent and most innovative poets, served as Poet laureate from 1997-2000. In 1997, Pinsky started “The Favorite Poem Program.” Now compiled on an internet database, the program initially invited 100 average Americans to read their favorite poetry and have it recorded for the official archives of the Library of Congress. The program was a huge success, receiving over 18,000 submissions and attracting people from all walks of life. Pinsky has published six books of poetry, including a critically acclaimed translation of Dante’s Inferno(2000). He teaches in the creative writing program at Boston University and continues to write and publish poetry and literary criticism. 

Project Mission: To introduce the poetry of the English language to Arab speakers, and the poetry of Arabic to English speakers, and, by so doing to introduce the peoples to each other.

Project Objective(s): The book and website would introduce to the English speaking public the poetry of the Arab world, as well as the voices of the people who love it, and it would similarly open up poetry in English as well as what it means to people from all walks of life to the Arab world. The DVD would present the poetry and its public from different cultures and languages to each other. It could be marketed to television stations in the U.S. and in the Middle East. 
 
Target group(s): The English speaking world and the Arabic speaking world
Geographical scope(s) of project : The English speaking world and the Arabic speaking world
Countries involved: USA and any willing Arabic speaking partners

One page summary: Attached 

US involvement/contribution within the project: Both of the project leaders Robert Pinsky and Cynthia Schneider are American, and their universities, Georgetown University and Boston University would be involved. 

Achievements/progress to date: Proposal and budget created

Contact person for the project : CynthiaP.Schneider cpschneider@restructassoc.com., 301 706 9260