Transform teens who have family in prison

In this strange new world, with schools closed down, POPS the Club knew we wanted to remain connected to our youth, to continue somehow to provide them support. And so in late March we pivoted from in-school meetings, to Zoom meetings and what we call our Pops Pop-Ups.

We know how hard social distancing is for everyone, but we are vividly aware of how daunting it has been for youth cut off from friends, broader communities, teachers and counselors. For POPS youth it is especially painful as visits with loved ones who are incarcerated have been shut down and as the virus devastates those institituions.

We long to provide as much support as we can, and dozens and dozens of volunteers have stepped up to provide their guidance, their wisdom, their talents, and guidance. And to listen to the wisdom of our youth.

We are grateful for all the love and generosity from POPS Pop-Up guests who range from mindfulness and yoga instructors like Kate Savage and Casey Velasquez to world-renown photographers like Laura Grier and Ciro Coelho; from professional athletes like Jamari Traylor to improv artists like Maya Gwynn; from activists and mental health providers like Maagic Collins to writers and teaching artists like Tyler Wetherall, Robbie Pollack and Lisa Manterfield; from artists like Tom Miller to filmmakers like the young people of Echoes of Incarceration...and so many more. 

And as we mourn so many losses, and as we march in protest for a more just world, and as we wait to see when/if schools will re-open and when POPS we can return, we also celebrate our youth's voices and visions in our 7th Anthology, Dream Catchers, coming from Out of the Woods Press later this fall. 

And we celebrate our opportunity to overcome barriers. Zoom POPS-Ups have allowed our youth from across the country to meet each other in one room, have brought speakers from across the country and across oceans. And so, when we do return to school, we'll add to our programming a POPS Pop-Up meeting each month. That is a silver lining.

We wish you all safety, good health and thank you for continuing to follow our journey.

Links:

• Out of the Woods Press, publishing POPS 7th anthology this fall
• POPS Pop-Up meetings

• POPS 2019 Annual Report (PDF)
  

Each year POPS the Club students and alumni create poetry, stories, essays, painting, photographs and mixed media artwork in their clubs--inspired by our volunteers, our guest speakers, and by their fellow students' work published in our six collections published since our founding.

This year's collection is special for it will be published by Out of the Woods Press. The collection is special in other ways too as it features work by members from 14 schools in four states. As we received submissions, we were astonished--we always are--by the power and wisdom in the work. 

One special submission this year came from a member of the very first POPS club launched on February 13, 2013. For seven years this young man has continued to be part of the ever-growing POPS family, and this year he visited the Venice club to celebrate POPS' birthday with the club members at Venice. When he arrived he said, "I'd like to share my newest poem with you, for Valentine's Day..."

We want to share John Bembry's poem with you, a taste of what's to come in the new anthology, Dream Catchers, to be released in October.

I'm Looking for a New Heart

Mine is damaged beyond repair/It works sometimes or never,

Or when it wants to

It doesn't do well with anger./It will erupt like a volcano burning friendships or itself.

It doesn't show too many emotions./It feels cold in my chest and it tends to make me numb. 

It seems to react to pain more than anything./Having a fun memory can trigger the pain it once felt.

It enjoys darkness and solitude.

I've put a lot of work into it./It was almost completely broken.

Not sure if this is how a heart should feel.

If anyone has a heart and doesn't mind lending it, that would be great./I can't physically take it, of course,

But maybe it can mend mine into what it should be.

It takes so much will power and focus on the future to not let it affect me mentally. 

At least I know my mind is strong.

As for my heart, it's going to take a lifetime of treatment to return it to normal.

If it ever has been.

I just hope to feel true happiness one day.

       Like John's poem, the work our students' produce reflects the power of the bonds they've created, the trust and inspiration created in the clubs. 

[All students and grads] participating in this report and in our publications have provided written permission, either themselves for those over 18 or from their parent or guardian for those under 18, for POPS to use their full names. 

Links:

• POPS the Club You Tube videos - student poets