MAY29TH • 1:00PM - 3:00PM
STUDENT POETRY BASH
AT THE POETRY FOUNDATION 6 1
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Welcome to the Literature for All of Us “Between the Mic & the Mouth” at the Poetry Foundation! We are thrilled to be in such a beautiful space to share the poetry of students from Second Chance Alternative High School and Simpson Alternative High School, both in Chicago, IL. These students have participated in our book group program for the last year and have worked for the last few weeks on learning the techniques of poetry performance and practicing some of their own. This afternoon you’ll have the opportunity to see some of them read the poems they have written throughout the year. They are joyful, heartbreaking, funny, creative, and, most of all, honest. We hope you enjoy reading and hearing their original work.
We’d like to thank the following people: Program Director Steve Young and the Poetry Foundation, for helping us set up and hosting this special event. Principal Marisa Velasquez and Jaclyn Smith, for coordinating this trip and keeping the program at Simpson strong. Principal Brigitte Swenson and the staff of Second Chance, for your endless support of book group, our leaders, and, of course, the students. Linda Stevenson and Meave Foley, our stellar book group volunteers at Second Chance. Liz McCabe, for your generous assistance. Wordplay, Mariah, and Adverb, our fabulous guest artists who showed us what spoken word performance is all about. Jerusalem Singleton, our fantastic Literature for All of Us alumnus and M.C. for the bash. Soweto Bosia, for volunteering your time to design our beautiful flyer and program. The entire staff of Literature for All of Us, for making everything we do possible. The students at Second Chance and Simpson, for sharing your words and thoughts with us - on paper during the year and, today, on the stage. The Literature for All of Us Book Group Leaders
Welcome, from M.C. Jerusalem Singleton Poetry Readings, from Second Chance and Simpson students OPEN MIC Intermission Performance, by Jerusalem Singleton More poetry, from Second Chance and Simpson Students OPEN MIC CLOSING
SHANNI JOHNSON is a senior at Second Chance. She enjoys watching movies and reading, and likes writing because it relieves stress. CARRITA SUTTON is a senior at Second Chance. She enjoys music, poetry, doing nails and hair, and likes writing because it expresses who she is. ASHAUNTI YOUNG is a sophomore at Second Chance. She enjoys dancing, basketball, and volleyball, and likes writing because I get to express how I feel. VERONIQUE WALLACE is a senior at Second Chance. She enjoys playing piano, reading good books, and likes writing because it’s a great way to express to herself. CIARA McCAIN is a junior at Second Chance. She enjoys dancing and reading, and likes writing because it helps express “who I am, and how I feel about others.” KIARA ALLEN is a junior at Second Chance. She enjoys math & writing and shopping, and likes writing because it helps release her opinions, emotions, & feelings. VASHON JOHNSON is a sophomore at Second Chance. He enjoys book group and likes writing because it helps you think.
PAUL ELAN is a sophomore at Second Chance. He enjoys football and math. CANARD MCCAIN is a sophomore at Second Chance. He enjoys going out and riding around and likes writing because it is a good way to express yourself. SHAWN REED is a junior at Second Chance. He enjoys basketball and writing. TOMMIE MYERS is a senior at Second Chance. He enjoys baseball and football and likes writing because it makes him calm. ISHUJON CLEMENS is a junior at Second Chance. He enjoys basketball, reading, and rapping, and likes writing because it’s cool. JOSH MILLER is a junior at Second Chance. He enjoys football. LUIS LAGUNAS is a senior at Second Chance. He enjoys playing volleyball and swimming and likes writing because it’s easier to express himself. DeANDRE MIMS is a junior at Second Chance. He enjoys writing raps and basketball and likes writing because it releases stress. DARIUS JOHNSON is a sophomore at Second Chance. He enjoys
math and reading and likes writing because that’s what he does. JUAN BAUTISTA is a senior at Second Chance. He enjoys soccer and drawing and likes writing because it’s a way to express oneself. RAYSHON HANNAH is a Junior at Second Chance. He enjoys basketball and math and likes writing because it help him think more. VICCASARA KATIE is a senior at Second Chance High school. She enjoys math and eating and likes writing because she expresses herself. GISELLE GARCIA is a sophmore at Second Chance High school. She enjoys geometry and eating and likes writing because it lets her free. KEYARA BOWENS is a senior at Second Chance High school. She enjoys writing and talking about everything and likes writing because she can express herself. JENECIE DYER is a junior at Second Chance High school. She enjoys volley ball and math and likes writing because that’s her way of expressing herself. RAKEISHA HARRIS is a junior at Second Chance High school. She
enjoys drawing and basketball and likes writing because she is able to express her feelings. DAMARIZ DELGADO is a senior at Second Chance High school. She enjoys playing volleyball and writing poems about life and likes writing because it’s a help on stress. DELLA FRAZIER is soon to be a Senior at Second Chance High school. She enjoys music and video games and likes writing because it’s the way to express thoughts, feelings, and stories on paper. JASMINE BARR is a sophomore at Second Chance High school. She enjoys staying outside and writing and she likes writing because it helps her. REGENE DAVIS is a sophomore at Second Chance. She enjoys writing and rapping and she likes writing because it helps her let out her emotions. SHANTERIA WARE is a Senior at second chance high school. She enjoys reading and helping kids and she likes writing because it gives her a way to express herself. ASHLEY TAMERA BINION is a Junior at Second Chance. She enjoys math and reading, and likes writing because it is calming.
COURTENEY MARTIN is a Junior at Peace and Ed. She enjoys reading and sleep, and likes writing because “it helps me vent.”
GENESIS CARTER is a Sophomore at Second Chance. She enjoyrs doing hare and rapping, and likes writing because “I express myself.”
JERMANEE LEACH is a Junior at Peace and Education. She enjoys dancing and running track, and likes writing because “it is easier than just saying out loud.”
MEOSHA JOHNSON is a Junior at Second Chance High School. She enjoys doing hair and playing piano, and likes writing because it calms her down and soothes her mind.
NORQUIDA ROBINSON is a Junior at Second Chance. She enjoys being a mother and singing, and likes writing because she expresses her emotions.
"Poetry is eternal graffiti written in the heart of everyone." -Lawrence Ferlinghetti