Andover Bread Loaf Spring 2016 Newsletter

Andover Bread Loaf A Phillips Academy Outreach Program

Spring Newsletter 2016

From the Director

Transforming a City and the World Andover Bread Loaf transforms students, teachers, schools, and communities by igniting a passion for learning through written self-expression.

“City of Promise: Andover Bread Loaf in Lawrence and Beyond,” a recently completed yearlong study, states that ABL, through writing and self-expression, seeks to empower “young people and adults to become the authors of their lives and, collectively, their communities.” The report (see page 3) also explains that the pedagogies and projects developed in Lawrence have spread to numerous cities, nationally and internationally.

We have living proof of how ABL empowers. Trained as literacy and education leaders, ABL Writing Leaders are taking charge of their own lives and transforming Lawrence.

These outstanding college- and high school–age young people have been awarded fellowships and helped jumpstart a new nonprofit. On a regular basis, they take on the following leadership roles and responsibilities—and more.

> Perform and present at civic and artistic events

> Teach classes (first grade through graduate school)

> Organize programs in schools and community organizations

What’s Inside?

Teacher-Intern Lily Lopez

2

Yearlong Report Completed

3

Impressive Turnout

3

Creating Bridges & Bonds

4

programming

> Create curriculum that develops students’ imaginations

ABL Writing Leaders are drawing in and inspiring youth and adults, engaging with key organizations, and lifting the community of Lawrence in sometimes small, sometimes remarkable ways. Most importantly, they are doing this great work while succeeding academically at a wide array of colleges. Many ABL Writing Leaders are on a career path in teaching or education and plan to return to Lawrence. And that is very good news indeed.

Two South Lawrence East Elementary School second-graders share the joy of writing poetry.

Photos by John Hurley

m to deeper Who I A e. Look id e? s t id u s o in n the on the o e u e s o y u are what yo other e. Who Forget s about the insid re a n c o rful o ’s h t a ne w wonde find wh I someo I dream o m en I D A h ?

I? lf W ate? h t herse I u Who am o o d b r a eo ge or only Do I lov n I chan people ate? Ca tmares? r h g ig e ue? t n in r in t o r dis g con dreams eaven o ppenin h a y o h t m ’s o t , a g e I hm t wh die will n’t reac I just le a o c I d t s r o o h ju ld ne w am. I the wor . Someo d who I e n fi id s t o t u g yo I’m tryin ed by m de is block lf r, 7th gra e s r e Summe inn — m. think I a

Lou Bernieri

Teach

Writing Leader Nathan Baez of Lawrence not only teaches youth, but also has taught college and graduate school students and has worked with Navajo youth and teachers in the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.

> Run open mic sessions > Assist with Family Literacy Night

Inspire

Inspiring Change Through Art

Elevated Thought and ABL Share a Talented Leader

“My experiences as an ABL student since the sixth grade and as a Writing Leader for the past three Through Elevated Thought and ABL, Lily Lopez (pictured at left teaching an Elevated Thought years have definitely helped me at class) has helped motivate and inspire hundreds of students.

ET,” says Amaryllis “Lily” Lopez.

Since December, the Lawrence High School senior has been an intern at Elevated Thought, an “Students have been able to express themselves in big, bold ways, art-based organization that serves, inspires, and develops and they look forward to the after-school program every week. communities through youth empowerment curriculum and city They come in excited to share their work and also get better beautification projects. at it. I see them thinking outside the box, which is not always encouraged at school.

Not only is Lopez a popular, effective, and engaged teacher and leader, she also is learning a lot herself—and having a great time.

“As an intern, I have been absorbing all the information and advice that I can,” says Lopez. “What has surprised me the most is being “ET is mostly for high school students, but a few of its programs around adults who respect my ideas and take them seriously. With have been run in the middle schools,” says Lopez. “The program the support of ET, I’ve been able to take some of my ideas—like I’m in is called Creative.Community.Change. We use different art facilitating my own workshops—and make them tangible.” forms—drawing, painting, murals, photography, and video—and also write poetry to explore societal issues and inspire change.

Lopez has received several college acceptances; she plans to major in English and get involved with alternative education.

“I really want to continue the work that ABL and ET have started,” she says. a poem

dedicate

d to my

Oasis creative

oasis, Ele

vated Th ought A voice that wo n’t be silenced or censo red twisted or bent but amp lified an d encou That’s all raged I’ve ever Tucked wanted in betw een a hu stling cit under b y ricks of history I came a cross an oasis and fou nd just th A safe p at lace to fr ee my m C o ind n Let the w vert ink into pow ords tak e e r c ontrol o These m f once b ediums lank pag became es of pa a soapb I found per refuge in ox for m She bec y th th e o s u e g s a h p m ts ra e the ho y painte Taught me to m d walls me to lo y creativ ok my in Cause th e home justices e only w lessness in the ey ay you c e and de an tolera Deny th mand ch te the in em of th ange tolerant eir hate ful, viole is to edu Show th nt, and c a em wha te them ignoran t a real m t culture ulticultu Give voic s ral socie e to the ty is voiceles Bring ba and con s c k p ower to tinue sh the peo aring th ple e knowle dge we Tucked pick up in betw een a hu on the w stling cit ay under b y ricks of history I came a cross su No long but a tan ch an oa er just a gible pla sis n u nrealisti ce where c dream my word in my m s are allo ind wed to b e heard, hopeful, and aliv —Amary e llis Lope z

This painting of Lily Lopez with Martin Luther King Jr. and Lawrence’s iconic Ayer clock tower in the background was created by David Christopher Isle, Elevated Thought’s artist manager and associate art director. Isle was inspired by Lopez’s poem “Oasis.”

A yearlong comprehensive study, titled “City of Promise: Andover Bread Loaf in Lawrence and Beyond,” concluded that ABL is a literacy initiative that uses an educational model unique in its depth and breadth of community involvement. The study provides evidence that ABL prepares and motivates children, adolescents, and adults to write and speak in public and in school settings where their writing and creative expression is recognized and valued as an important factor in the development of critical thinking and civic engagement. With literacy at its core, ABL is the catalyst for empowering young people and adults who become “the authors of their own lives and, collectively, of their communities,” states the report.

Grounded in the city of Lawrence, ABL has ties and partnerships with individual teachers, students, schools, and community organizations. These networks are inter­ connected and mutually reinforcing, reaching several hundred youth and adults every year. Data from a range of participants reveal a growing sense of cultural identity and community pride.

ABL’s methods enable people to find their voice, to know their words can be powerful and their individuality respected.

The assessment was conducted by Eva Gold, PhD, of Pathway Strategies, and Elaine Simon, PhD, codirector of Urban Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

Small School, Big Turnout!

Sussanne Petrakis, head of the PTA at Community Day Charter School (K–8) in Lawrence, offered this feedback to ABL Director Lou Bernieri on the Family Literacy Night held in December: “Thank you so much for tonight. Our families had such a wonderful time! I was pleasantly surprised with the turnout. I honestly did not expect 140 people to attend. This was one of the best events that we’ve ever had at the school. We are truly grateful to you and Andover Bread Loaf!”

Create

Positive Outcomes of ABL Documented

I Wish I wish I cou ld fly for I ca n’t walk to I wish my h school. ouse was p u rple becau I wish I cou se that is m ld run fast y favorite co so I can win I wish I had lor. ra ces. a pet bunn y because they are so soft.

—Joseph, 2nd grade

Open M

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n’t g You do nce… yourself occurre re a r y r e ir… it’s a v in the a In fact, awness r h nness… ? c e u p s a room uch o To feel m o s h alent in it t f w o t t e n ou To be m the am skin, back by n p your e u k a g t in n e p e e b re ur body ps c u ever te on yo se bum ia o d o Have yo a g r t o u t arts ing abo ation st I’m talk illumin t o hty, ic r p and mig t c As the a in t is d ething eive som rc e p o t rt You sta munity a of com r u a t a Th n itions, ce sensatio ompos c , s e eepest ambian c d e ie e h p t , h t s in p h ra le wit Poems, t tangib onates n almos oice res v io s r s e l, a h u s with p o The vibrate your s uiver in t f q a o e s ro h e h t c t , ly pa f his Sudden found s e top o ost pro from th k ed with c a b in the m ave form ncing h u o u b o y s r s mo ion The tre onnect these c lse, u ll a p r e u iz o n y o recog t u start t e utmos And yo d with th e , c s t la is , . t s r om word these a y classro tivating e than an y the cap t s th grad m e 2 o n 1 fr o , more yleen hing h a d c J e in — fl rn a n u g, ve le I think I’ nforgivin n and u o ti c e fl re

Jennie Cline Remembered The Andover Bread Loaf family was saddened to learn of the passing of Jennie Cline in early February. An ABL advocate and friend, Jennie was our newsletter designer for 10 years.

She was imaginative, insightful, and talented, and we relied on her skills and judgment in every publication.

Jennie and her husband, PA Faculty Emeritus Andy Cline, moved to Southwest Harbor, Maine, in 2010.

ABL Advisory Board

Support

Michael T. Cahill ’84, Chair New York, N.Y. Timothy P.F. Davenport ’80, P’17, ’18 New Canaan, Conn.

José A. Dobles ’98 Brooklyn, N.Y. Ricardo Dobles ’85 Holden, Mass.

Richard B. Gorham ’86 Andover, Mass.

Cynthia L. Greene ’87 Newton, Mass.

Donald M. Kendall ’85 Weston, Conn.

Tucker Levy ’88 Charlestown, Mass.

Abby J. Shuman ’84 Cambridge, Mass.

Jineyda Tapia Lawrence, Mass.

Gabriela Poma Traynor ’88 Cambridge, Mass.

Scobie D. Ward ’84 Hong Kong Sturgis P. Woodberry ’84 Darien, Conn.

Young Students and Mentors Gather Weekly

New PA Course Creates Bridges, Bonds Writing and Teaching to Change the World is a new Phillips Academy senior elective co-taught

by Lou Bernieri, longtime PA English instructor and ABL director, and Monique Cueto-Potts, PA Office of Community Engagement director. The following is an excerpt from a story in Andover, PA’s alumni magazine.

There’s snow on the ground and the temperature hovers in the 20s, but the atmosphere inside Room 109 couldn’t be warmer this January afternoon. Sunshine streams through the windows lighting up the 25 elementary school students sitting snugly in a circle, clasping clipboards, and at alternating decibels, sharing their thoughts.

“I feel frozen and joyful.”

“I feel amazed.”

“I feel wind in my face.”

“I hear at night some grasshoppers and my baby sister sing a song.”

With each statement, a fluttering of congratulatory finger snapping ricochets around the room—an act that makes the students smile, for the gesture feels more genuine than standard applause and pleasingly illicit.

The students in Room 109 so cheerfully writing, sharing, and snapping are secondgraders at South Lawrence East. Each week, Phillips Academy students in Writing and Teaching to Change the World visit the

elementary school as writing mentors to approximately 150 children.

The goal of the course—a collaboration among several PA departments, Lawrence Public Schools, and other Lawrence community organizations—is to build an educational bridge between these two communities. PA students hone their own writing skills and learn about ABL teaching methods, educational theory, and practice.

They then share their knowledge with the second-graders in Lawrence.

For many students, Writing and Teaching to Change the World has been an exciting departure from more traditional classes.

“I’ve learned the importance of sharing work, getting feedback from peers, and embracing my own raw written work, knowing that there is always room for improvement,” says PA senior Lily Augus.

“This course,” says Bernieri, “enables both the Phillips and Lawrence kids to see that deep down they are not much different from one another.”

Andover Bread Loaf Phillips Academy 180 Main Street Andover, Mass. 01810-4161 978-884-8452 lbernieri@andover.edu www.andover.edu/breadloaf

Support Andover Bread Loaf!

Help us make a difference in the lives of ABL students and teachers who participate in ABL activities.

Please visit www.andover.edu/ablgiving to make your gift today.

—Alessandra Bianchi