Homewood Museum partners with Balto. City public schools

On June 19 Homewood Museum opened its doors to social studies teachers from the Baltimore City Public School System as part of Baltimore: Portal to the American Identity, a workshop series designed to enhance the partnership between the school system and the city's museums and historic sites. Funded by a Faculty Humanities Workshop grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and designated a We the People project, the collaboration combines content knowledge of American history and Baltimore's role in shaping America's history, knowledge of Baltimore's museum resources and historic sites, and expertise in teacher professional development. Six full-day sessions will be held during the summer.

At the workshop, led by curator Catherine Rogers Arthur and program coordinator Judith Proffitt, participants were taught how to use Homewood's artifacts and collections to create meaningful, integrative and challenging lesson plans that connect the museum's specific resources and school-age educational programs to history concepts from the required state curriculum.

 

Kimmel Cancer Center launches program for leukemia survivors

As part of its annual program honoring cancer survivors, the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center last week announced the launch of a program to address the long-term needs of cancer patients. The Michael J. Garil Leukemia Survivors Program, established with a gift from Ethel and Bernard Garil, supports research designed to better understand the long-term effects of therapy and to offer follow-up services such as screening and prevention strategies for children and adults with leukemia.

"Many cancer survivors simply don't know what they were treated for as children, how they were treated or what their potential health risks are," said Robert Arceci, King Fahd Professor of Pediatric Oncology at the Kimmel Cancer Center. "Knowledge can have an immense impact on their quality of life and their relationship with the health care professionals who must evaluate their needs."

Because patients with leukemia must receive aggressive treatment to survive this disease, they are at risk for complications and adverse late effects of treatment, or even a secondary cancer, long after their leukemia has been cured. Although these late complications are well known to cancer providers, patients often are not educated about these risks so that a survivorship plan can be developed to screen these patients over time, anticipate health problems and treat them early.

 

Peabody Library exhibition celebrates Bronte's 'Jane Eyre'

Just opened at the George Peabody Library, the exhibition Eyre Apparent celebrates the work of Charlotte Bronte (1816-55) and the enduring popularity of her most famous novel, Jane Eyre. A favorite with Victorian readers (and of Queen Victoria herself), Jane Eyre became a staple of the school curriculum and remains a cornerstone of the English literary canon today.

The exhibition follows the novel from the mid-19th century to the present, from the printed word to the household word in the contexts of bookshop, library, stage, screen, classroom and playroom. From series books to comic books, dolls to playing cards, the objects displayed reveal how shifting cultural contexts have shaped the book's meaning, and how Jane Eyre continues to influence our imaginations.

The materials are from the teaching collections of Rare Book School, an independent nonprofit educational institute supporting the study of the history of books, printing and related subjects.

The exhibition will run through Oct. 31. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

 

Afghanistan photo exhibit opens at Enoch Pratt Free Library

JHPIEGO is sponsoring a summerlong photo exhibit, Portrait of a People: An Intimate Look at Life in Afghanistan, at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St., through Aug. 31. The photos, taken by Nasratullah "Nasrat" Ansari, an Afghanistan-based physician with JHPIEGO, chronicle the daily lives of the people of Afghanistan's northern region.

Ansari has played a key role in helping to strengthen the country's dire health care situation, particularly in maternal and newborn health, following years of conflict and isolation. He received his medical degree from Balkh University, Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, where he has been a faculty member since 1997. His association with JHPIEGO dates to 2003 in emergency obstetric care.

When he was growing up, Ansari loved taking photos with his Zenith camera, developing them himself. However, under the Taliban regime, photography was banned — the word itself was removed from the dictionary — and Ansari had to give up his pursuit. He is now, he says, making up for lost time. "With my art," he said, "I want to share with people — through the heart instead of face to face — how I see the world through the camera lens: my anxiety about war, my sadness about poverty, my pleasure in love and affection, and my vision of peace and happiness."

 

Blue Jay catcher Rob Sanzillo drafted by St. Louis Cardinals

Rob Sanzillo, a 2007 graduate and a standout on the Blue Jay baseball team, was recently selected by the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals in the first-year player draft. One of three catchers drafted by the Cardinals, Sanzillo was taken in the 46th round. He reported to the Cardinals' training facility in Florida on June 10 and will be assigned to one of the team's minor league affiliates in the near future.

 

What Is Engineering? course offered for high-school students

For high-school students interested in exploring the world of engineering, the Whiting School is offering a summer course called What is Engineering? from July 9 to Aug. 3. Students will have the opportunity to earn three transferable college credits from JHU while studying engineering concepts and taking part in simulations, lab experiments and field trips, meeting professional engineers and completing team projects. There are currently openings at the Howard County location in Elkridge and the Montgomery County location in Rockville. Prerequisites are algebra with trigonometry and a lab science.

Tuition is $1,700; limited financial aid is available. For more information and an application, go to: engineering-innovation.jhu.edu or contact Lindsay Carroll at 410-516-4473 or lindsay.carroll@jhu.edu.

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