By Katie Sill | Program Manager
This month, Story Tapestries is in the midst of kicking off our annual campaign, and leading up to Thanksgiving this week and Giving Tuesday next week, we are looking back on 2017 and remembering all of the wonderful programs that we've had the privilege to be involved in. We were reminded of an incredible experience one of our artists, poet Regie Cabico, had with two groups of GED students working with the Latin American Youth Center in Montgomery Couny, MD. Although Regie's program was poetry-based, the focus and purpose behind this particular program was to inspire these groups of students to love learning again. That love of learning is the foundation of all of our programs, including our STEAM programs. Being able to bring this type of learning and growth experience into our communities is why your support is so vital. Donations like yours are helping us expand the ways we can support love of learning beyond the classroom and community center, directly into the hands of students through our Virtual Classroom. We hope you are just as inspired as we were by Regie's story below!
- WHO ARE YOU? Poetry and Truth By artist and workshop leader Regie Cabico:
"My second summer semester at Latin American Youth Center brought 16 young adult teens divided into two groups: The Road Runners and The Money Makers. The students were motivated to listen and to share their work in an intimate sunny conference room. My goal is to have students listen to each other, creating a supportive ensemble.
In the lessons I focused on speaking with imagery. In pairs, students asked WHO ARE YOU? I encouraged students to transform themselves into things in nature and to consider that when we "lie" in poetry- we use these "truths" as metaphors, similes and hyperboles. I was blessed to have the in-class support of Abi and Tina, who are naturally gifted writers themselves. Students got to work with their mentors in a collaborative way.
On our second workshop I had Slam Poet Dwayne B. from Metro Teen AIDS perform work to prepare students for the culminating event. Little "T" said it was a highlight. Seeing a resident from Anacostia speak candidly and with humor, highlighting the neighborhood.
Because the students were so in tune with each other I wanted to culminate with an exercise I rarely get to do because it requires, deep self examination of their life and possessions. The prompt is "If I Should Die Tonight," a powerful way to celebrate life not in the depressed sense. We listed what our valuable personal attributes, talents & tangible objects of value were along with instructions to the people we cherish, who we leave behind. Courtney has always been supportive of the workshop but she pulled herself into a candid powerful poem.
At the culminating event all the students read their work and Courtney started to write a new poem off the cuff. A lot of these students never saw themselves as poets, but in the course of the workshop, they took the assignment and composed raps and stories. They went inward and gradually got up to stand on stage for the first time. The poems are small life celebrations, accelerated at the Busboys & Poets poetry reading. Students were asked to remember significant people in their life. Abi got full praise as a teacher. Faith saying, This was the best educational experience of her life. Courtney, said I was mad cool and funny. Here is a small sampling of their work."
MICHAEL
If I should die tonight
tell Lizzy that I'm worth a graffiti.
If I should die tonight tell mama
I made a promise and I kept it.
If I should die tonight let my brother know
I'm sorry I used his paint ball gun and tell him
I always knew where it was.
If I should die tonight tell my whole family thank you for
adopting me into this wonderful life.
If I should die tonight please tell Bonnie,
I'll always be her Clyde.
If I should die tonight tell my little cousins
that they don't want to be like me, don't want to see
all the things I've seen."
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We're happy to be able to share stories like this that let you know how your dollars have made a difference. Thank you for helping us make programs that support love of learning not only possible, but even more accessible to students like these!
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