Generous sponsors help Langston Hughes symposium offer low rates

LAWRENCE -- Grants totaling about $150,000 from several generous donors have made it possible for the University of Kansas Continuing Education office to offer a conference to honor American writer Langston Hughes on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 to 10 for the exceptionally low rate of $75.

Titled "Langston Hughes: Let America Be America Again," the Feb. 7 to 10 event features more than 75 speakers, including a Jan. 31 pre-symposium program by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker and a Feb. 7 program by acclaimed actor Danny Glover. Walker's and Glover's events will be free to the public with vouchers at the Lied Center. The events honor the African-American poet who was born Feb. 1, 1902, an lived in Lawrence as a boy. He died in 1967.

"Although we had hoped to raise enough funds to offer the entire conference at no cost, the funding we are receiving makes the conference more affordable," said Maryemma Graham, symposium director and KU English professor. The symposium organizers and KU Endowment staff continue to seek contributions to the Langston Hughes Symposium Fund.

Conference planners estimate that events drawing more than 75 speakers from the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia would cost about $200,000 and require a $250 registration fee.

Before Jan. 18, registration for the KU symposium will be $75. After Jan. 18, registration will be $100. The fee provides admission to all sessions with two luncheons and vouchers for the Walker and Glover programs. In addition, several scholarships have been provided through gifts to the Langston Hughes Symposium Fund at the KU Endowment Association. About 500 people are expected to attend, and about half of those will receive scholarships.

The City of Lawrence, Capitol Federal Savings, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City area law firm Shook, Hardy and Bacon, Alfred A. Knopf publishers, KU's Hall Center for the Humanities and several KU offices are helping make this a celebration true to the spirit of Langston Hughes, Graham said.

"We are deeply grateful to the offices on campus and businesses, both in Kansas and beyond, that have supported our efforts to make this a conference of the people," Graham said. "Their generosity is making it possible for us to offer a few events free to the public and to provide scholarships for symposium events to people who might not be financially able to attend.

"Langston Hughes was known as a poet of the people, and we wanted to offer this conference in that spirit," Graham continued. "Hughes wrote to, for and about people who worked hard, made little money and were often beat down.

"In his time, he was ignored by the literary establishment or considered simplistic and unsophisticated. Today much of that has changed. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate and benefit from what he taught us."

In addition to inviting more than 75 artists, entertainers, scholars and community activists to join in the celebration of Hughes' birthday, the KU symposium:
 • is offering a special workshop for teachers;
 • is working with the Lawrence school district to bring five symposium poets into local schools on Feb. 7; and
 • is initiating a national poetry project supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The symposium is part of several centennial celebrations planned in Lawrence to recognize Hughes' contributions to American literature.

Registration information is available online at http://www.kuce.org/hughes or by calling KU Continuing Education, (785) 864-5823 or toll free (877) 404-5823.

The growing list of sponsors and contributors includes:

From KU: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; the Hall Center for the Humanities; the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics; the Student Senate; the Chancellor's and Provost's offices; offices for African and African-American studies; centers for East Asian studies and for Russian and East European studies; departments of American studies, East Asian languages and English; Equal Opportunity Office; KU Bookstores; Continuing Education; the Multicultural Resource Center; Multicultural Affairs office; Spencer Museum of Art; Spencer Research Library; and Student Union Activities.

From beyond Lawrence: Alfred A. Knopf/Vintage Books, American Jazz Museum, Barnes and Noble, Capitol Federal Savings, Langston Hughes Society, SBC Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Kansas City law firm Shook, Hardy and Bacon.

From within Lawrence: City of Lawrence; Advanco Inc.; Alvamar Inc.; Borders; Charlton Manley Inc.; Coldwell Banker/McGrew Real Estate; Community Mercantile; Douglas County Bank; Free State Brewing Co.; Ed Grier; John and Nancy Hiebert; Kansas Key Press; Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau; Lawrence Public Library; KANU-FM 91.5; Karl and Mildred McKenzie; Midwest Graphics; Midwest Transportation Services; Peoples Bank; The Raven Bookstore; Janet Rose; St. Luke AME Church; Stephens Real Estate Inc.; and USD 497-Lawrence Public Schools.

Arrangements for the appearance of Danny Glover were made through Greater Talent Network, Inc., New York, N.Y.