Agency Details:

Description:
We are a statewide organization that trains published, accomplished, poets to teach poetry to grades K-12. We usually teach a series of five to eight sessions, each of which includes a writing experience and usually a time to share. Workshops use famous poems and student poems as example. Students learn literary terms and forms and experience the magic of using their imaginations to create beautiful work of their own.

Our small office staff (three part-timers) and two volunteer executive directors, operate as a tight knit team. We coordinate an annual conference and an anthology of the year's best student work and facilitate the classroom teaching of our approximately 115 paid field poets. We are the largest writers-in-residence program in the country.

History:
We are celebrating our 45th anniversary. We started in 1964 at San Francisco State University. We later became an independent 501(c)3. Our office is in San Francisco and a large portion of our program is in the bay area but we function from Humboldt to San Diego. Each year our trained poet teachers teach over 27,000 students across the state. Most of our poets have MFA's, MA's and/or teaching certificates. All are accomplished poets. Our office staff is congenial and hardworking.

Contact people:

Cathy Barber, Chief Executive Officer, (phone), (email) Tina Pasquinzo, Office Manager, (phone), (email) Susan Sibbet, Chief Executive Officer, (phone), (email)

Address:

1333 Balboa Street, Suite 3 San Francisco, CA 94118 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.cpits.org

Directions:

We are one block west from Park Presidio, about three blocks north of Golden Gate Park, and two blocks south of Geary.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Market,   Walk distance (in minutes): 60   Nearest Bus Stop: 31 Balboa, 0 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	No others
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	16
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	No
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	No
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	No

Last updated on February 1, 2009