Zora Howard: Youth Poet Laureate of New York
by Enmanuel Diaz | originally posted on March 8, 2010
Founded on the belief that teenagers can and must speak for themselves, Urban Word NYC has been at the forefront of the youth spoken word, poetry and hip-hop movements in New York City since 1999. The NYC Voter Poet Slam program was intended to engage and celebrate youth voices. VAC and Urban Word recognize that youth voice and community engagement are vital for increasing voter participation … and empowering young people to effect positive changes in their communities and beyond.
The dictionary defines a poet laureate as “a poet appointed annually as an honorary position, and typically involved in the promotion of poetry.”
Zora Howard, age 17, senior at LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and the Performing Arts, is New York’s first Youth Poet Laureate. She beat teens in high school and college from all five boroughs for the title. The Voter Slam competition was held at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and co-organized by Urban Word NYC and New York City Voter Assistance Commission.
The 2009-2010 Youth Poet Laureate Slam Participants were Christian Eatman from Talent Unlimited High School; Lauren Anderson from The Beacon School; Justin T. Long-Moton of Belmont Preparatory High School; Salma Elmehdawi, a student at Fordham University; Dom O Briggs, a graduate of Transit Tech High School; Thaihera Nurse, a student at Townsend Harris High School; Ishmael Islam of Pratt Institute; Nina Spierer from Barnard College; Jordan Franklin, a student at Brooklyn College; Cynthia “Ceez” Keteku, a graduate of South Bronx High School; Jesica Blandon, a student at Dream Yard Preparatory School, and Zora Howard of LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and the Performing Arts.
“It is an unbelievable honor and I am humbled by it,” said Zora. “I am so excited to see what this will bring!” Zora was recently accepted to Yale University and plans to attend in the fall.
At The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, Zora Howard is a member of the International Study Program [Brasil 2009], the Liberation Program, as well as Writers Collective. Zora’s linguistic skills, her metaphors, alliteration, similes, and plays on words make her a great writer as well as an insane poet. She makes tears trail down faces, laughs lighten up sad faces, and causes people to scream for more. Zora is one of the examples that the youth of New York are not only setting examples all over the nation, but also writing their names in stone in the arts. We are revolutionizing poetry, music and visual art.
Enmanuel Diaz is a member of Writers Collective. He is also a member of the Strive 2 Thrive Cipher chapter of The Brotherhood, and he participated in the International Study Program trip to Brasil [2009].
College Life: Three Ways To Keep The Peace Within
by Jennifer Watkins | originally posted on March 8, 2010
Have you ever said to yourself, “I need some alone time”? We tend, as humans, to engage our focus in aspects of life like school and work. In many cases, when that happens, we begin to lose focus of ourselves. When I first started as a new college student, I began to evolve my life around school. Whether it was doing work or joining an extracurricular activity, I was engaged in it 24/7. It wasn’t until the end of my first semester that I realized that I was overworking myself to the point where I was always sleepy, and I began to prefer keeping to myself. I decided that in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and have a good experience in school, I needed to find time to just relax. So I decided to come up with some steps to help myself and other college students focus in school, and have a good time. By managing your time, finding a support group, and having fun, you will be on your way to a happy and productive college experience.
Manage Your Time
Before starting school, people always told me that I would be surprised about how much time I would actually have on my hands. It came as a complete shock to me when I found out that I would be attending classes every other day, with multiple breaks in between. I noticed myself staying up late at night to study, and going to sleep late. Because I was going to sleep late, I was waking up late and becoming late for my classes. I learned that as a new student, the best thing to do is to use that free time in the day for work. I began to use my free time to do homework and study. I decided to make a schedule where I use my breaks in between classes to do homework and study, and spend an hour or so after school. This became successful for me because I was able to analyze the information that I spent all day learning, and let it marinate, instead of cramming the information in at the last minute before an exam, where it would just go into one ear and out the other.
Find A Support Group
This step is a very important step, especially if you are a person who keeps emotions and feelings to yourself. College life can become very overwhelming. It can push you to a point where you feel ready to give up. Having a support group to back you up when something is wrong, or just having someone there to talk to can relieve a lot of stress for a person. During my first semester, I experienced an ample amount of personal issues that affected my performance in school. It was because of my peers that I was able to continue my semester without having a meltdown. Whether it’s helping you with tutoring or just having someone to talk to, surrounding yourself with group of close people that you are comfortable with goes a long way.
Have Fun!
Most people go to college to further their education. And in most cases, that is exactly what they do. They go to college learn new experiences within the classroom. But a lot of times, students don’t recognize that there are many things to learn about outside of the classroom. I am a big fan of social networking. College is the best place to find people who will become resources to you in the future. By attending campus events, joining clubs, and socializing with your peers, you will be surprised to find out how valuable people can be. So it is very important to engage in different activities at your school.
College life can be a exciting and difficult experience for many. But if you want to enjoy your experience, you need to create an action plan for yourself, and stick to it. Managing your time, having a support group, and having fun are some of the key components in have a successful college experience.
Jennifer Watkins is a freshman at St. John’s University. She is also an alumni member of Cherished Phoenix chapter, The Liberation Program, and she participated in the International Study Program trip to Brasil [2009].
Writers Collective: Love Poems
by Enmanuel Candelario | originally posted on March 8, 2010
February is both Black History Month as well as the month of love. So it was a great time for the Writers Collective to read Nikki Giovanni’s “Love Poems.” Being inspired by Giovanni’s poems, members of Writers Collective wrote poems based on the lines of their favorites from the book.
A popular line that many of the writers connected with was “and i’ve begun/(as a reaction to a feeling)/to balance/the pleasure of loneliness/against the pain/of loving you” from the poem Balances. They spoke to many of the complex relationships that young people face, like loving someone who takes you for granted or disrespects you. The exercise was the perfect occasion for the members of Writers Collective (WC) to explore their expectations for and as girlfriends, boyfriends, and partners, and to lay the foundation for healthy relationships. Some of these poems are about innocent high school crushes, and some give poignant insight into long-term relationships. All of the poems demonstrate WC’s talent at wordsmithing and speaks to their development as reflective, thoughtful, and loving young people.
“Love Poems” by Writers Collective:
a small collection dedicated to all our family and loved ones.
One is to four
As 1 is to love
One is to three
As three is to you
I love you equals being scared
Scared is to hope
That love will never let go
Letting go sometimes is better
Then to hold on is to give up
But moving on leads to learning
And discovering that true love will soon come
Kisbel Garcia
I have seen beauty at its fullest,
I have stood at the face of the omniscient god,
Shaken hands with the devil,
Surrounded by the darkness,
Yet I walk in the light,
I have touched the stars
And I have left footsteps on the moon.
Moon walked over the surface of the sun,
Smiled at the point of death,
Yet it can’t compare
To one look, one glance, one touch.
She washes my pain away,
With small gestures.
Enmanuel Diaz
L.O.V.E. = LOST OF VIRTUE ENDING
Taina Duarte
You are the reason why I save money for 365 days
For something that will make you feel
The same way as I do for only 3 seconds.
You are oxygen to my lungs,
Melody to my ears,
You are also my biggest fear.
Because with one word you can end my universe.
You are radiant light,
That shines up the moon at night.
Lighting my path so I don’t get lost.
You are my reason to laugh, cry, and dance.
You are that tingling sensation
That my soul gets every time
You say,
I love you.
Maxwell Veloz
I like the way you look
I like the way you smile.
We don’t have to talk,
But I’ll listen to you.
I would want you to be my valentine,
But who knows maybe one day it’ll be more.
Tyrone
Enmanuel Candelario is a chapter leader and Writers Collective program facilitator. He is also an alumni member of Lyrical Circle, the original Writers Collective group, who have since performed in venues and colleges across the country, and authored and published Off the Subject, a collection of their poetry.
The Real, Issue One
by Enmanuel Candelario | originally posted on March 8, 2010
To raise awareness about sexual health and responsibility, the Teen Pregnancy Committee of the Liberation Program has decided to create a newsletter every month.
“The Real,” written for young people ages 12-20, is a heartfelt discussion that looks to spark the consciousness of its readers on issues that affect sexual health. It includes real talk about myths, facts, and rights that young people should be aware of, especially if they are sexually active, pregnant or have a child. The members of the Teen Pregnancy Committee are Kailani C., Andeisha C., Eric D., Tanashia F., Zora H., and Adeola O.
Click here to check out the first issue of The Real.
Enmanuel Candelario is a chapter leader and Writers Collective program facilitator. He is also an alumni member of Lyrical Circle, the original Writers Collective group, who have since performed in venues and colleges across the country, and authored and published Off the Subject, a collection of their poetry.
Snow What?
by Valerie Caesar | originally posted on Feb 16, 2010
On Wednesday, February 10, 2010, a blizzard dumped 15 inches of snow on New York City. Approximately 1.1 million school children enjoyed a rare snow day when the Department of Education made an early decision to close New York City public schools and after school programming.
Over in Harlem, staff of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol braved the storm to open our offices. Although very few kids came through, the ones that did enjoyed a cozy afternoon with hot chocolate, fresh baked bread and cookies, and homemade lentil soup, watching the snowflakes fill up our community garden.
Valerie Caesar is a Chapter Leader and the Media Program Coordinator.
Looking Back: ISP Reflections
by LaShae Adams | originally posted on Jan 31, 2010
I’ve had the opportunity to travel on two International Study Program trips with The Brotherhood/Sister Sol. I went to Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic in July 2008 and Brasil in July 2009. The trip to Brasil had a lasting effect on me. While visiting certain parts of Brasil, I saw homeless street children begging for food and money. It brought tears to my eyes and my heart went out to all of them. Being away from home helped me to appreciate the beauty and strength of other cultures, as well as all the things that I have in my life.
While in Brasil, I also had the opportunity to spend a week in a quilombo. A quilombo is an area of land that was founded by Africans who escaped enslavement. Many who live in the quilombos today practice many of the traditions used by people who lived there hundreds of years before. Staying at the quilombo was like meeting a piece of my history and finding a piece of myself I never knew was there. Brasil is one of the countries of my ancestors. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to travel there.
The experiences we shared traveling abroad with the International Study Program are ones that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Below, three former ISP members reflect on what their journey meant to them.
Reflections From Past ISP Members
In all honesty, ISP trips changed my worldview, and helped me to see my role in the international struggle against the oppression of people of color. How can two trips do this? It is because by traveling you begin to witness the oppressions that do not only exist in the U.S. They are based in systems of white supremacy, among other problematic ideologies, and these views are propagated worldwide. This is a depressing realization, and trust that I went through a lot in the process during which I traveled. But in this process I found a love and appreciation of peoples of the African Diaspora and a desire to work toward solving our problems. After traveling to Brasil in 2006 and Ghana in 2007, I realized that there were many different places I could call home, and while none of these homes were exactly like mine, the aura, the foods, the dances and the faces were similar enough to excite a butterfly-like fluttering in my stomach, a hastening in the beating of my heart and unrestrained emotions that always occur when I am on my way home.
I absolutely loved my ISP experience. I cannot ever fully proclaim how much they’ve changed, because attempting to explain emotional responses and month-long experiences that change your life in many unspoken ways is a task that I am not yet equipped to do, and often words are not my forté. Even so, my life and my identity have been greatly affected by my ISP experiences. I am a Haitian Brooklyn girl and always will be. To this foundation, I’ve grown to add organizer, photographer, dancer, and writer, among other things. I was reintroduced to my love of artistic expression through international travel. I was introduced to a world of pan-African appreciation, and a passion for travel, too. I will be traveling back to Bahia as a part of my university’s study abroad program, which I will be doing in January. Ghana birthed my dream of traveling to 50 countries in South America and Africa. Through traveling, I have found an inexplicable calmness, a quest for understanding, and a love of diverse groups of people. These have all influenced not only my future plans but my daily life.
My biggest wish is that more and more people travel with ISP. Live, learn and fall in love in and with another country; it is truly a process of awakening and a chance at building across seas, across differences and against the powers that wish to separate us all. - Marsha Jean-Charles, ISP 2006 [Brasil] & ISP 2007 [Ghana]
Brasil was a beautiful place. It was sad to see the disparities and children my age sleeping on the streets and begging for food. As a homeless teen in America, we have much more help and services, whereas in Brasil the people don’t have the help that we have. This trip to Brasil was a trip that brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. - James McMichaels, ISP 2009 [Brasil]
I really enjoyed the trip to Brasil. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity that should be seen as a great honor to be a part of. - Kailani Capote, ISP 2009 [Brasil]
LaShae Adams is a senior at Richard R. Green High School of Teaching. She is also a member of the Liberation Program and the Media Team. In years past, she attended the International Study Program to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. This year she will be traveling to Ghana.
The Will To Survive: A Review of “Precious”
by Nijah Valencia Keye | originally posted on Jan 31, 2010
Many have heard about the movie “Precious” based on the book Push by Sapphire. This past November, members of Sister Sol’s Soul & L.I.F.E. and Soul Apoyo chapters took a trip to see “Precious.” Before going to see the film, we read the book Push. The film is an uplifting, breathtaking movie about the need to overcome one’s obstacles. It is about a Harlem teenager named Clareece Precious Jones, who is the victim of incest. Precious is impregnated by her own father twice, and as if being raped by her own father was not bad enough, Precious also suffered physical and emotional abuse from her mother, played by famous comedian Mo’Nique. Precious, who can neither read nor write, and is constantly teased because she is fat, must find a way to break through.
When Precious is kicked out of school for being pregnant, she entered Each One Teach One, an alternative school. There, she learned to read and began to use writing as an outlet for her emotions, with the help of an inspirational teacher named Ms. Blue. Later in the film, Precious finds out that she was infected with the HIV virus by her father. Upon finding this out, Precious believes no one has ever loved her, or ever will love her. Through the support of her new friends at the Each One Teach One alternative school, Precious soon learns that her life is full of love: her teachers and friends at Each One Teach One love her, and most especially, her new baby boy loves her, and as his mother, she must return his love in the best way she can.
Precious confronts very serious issues that affect many people in urban communities. Teen pregnancy is one such issue. According to the CDC, the rate of teen pregnancies in urban areas is rising. When teens become pregnant, they might react in a couple of different ways: either they don’t take it seriously enough, or automatically they think that their life is over. Well, not Precious. Even though Precious went through so much, she kept pushing forward and did what she needed to do to get her baby back, and so that her and her children can live a better life. This goes to show you that with hard work and the strength to carry on, anything is possible. Precious wasn’t raised in the best home environment and because she didn’t have the best, I believe she wanted her children to have the life she always wanted. I honestly believe that Precious’ true inspiration was her own mother. If it had not been for her mother’s neglect, she might not have been so strong-willed.
Nijah Keye is a junior at Mott Hall High School. She is also a member of Soul Apoyo and the Liberation Program. She will be studying abroad in Ghana with its International Study Program in summer 2010.
Looking Forward: ISP 2010: Ghana
by Anthony Keller | originally posted on Jan 31, 2010
In the summer of 2010, the International Study Program of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol will travel to Ghana, in West Africa. During the month-long study there, students will share in a variety of physical experiences in order to better understand the history and culture of Ghana. Often what we learn about history in school is unbiased and not the truth. So the information we will learn will give us a true understanding of a place that is often stereotyped. Ghana is filled with diverse culture, much of which is not shown or taught in schools. Ghana is also the place where one of the largest markets of enslaved Africans existed. This chance to study overseas will give us an opportunity to experience firsthand what most people can’t - what it’s like to live in another country. The wisdom gained can be used in life. In school the knowledge learned can be used to provide context and deepen our historical understanding. The experience can be shared to widen others’ knowledge.
To be accepted to the International Study Program, all potential applicants must write a 300-word essay. They should also include what their talents are that would help on the trip, their goals and what they plan to learn, as well as reasons they would like to attend. After the group is decided from the applications, they begin taking one class per week for the 6 months leading up to the trip, starting in January and ending in June. The classes cover information about the country’s history to current events that could affect our stay. They will learn the native languages and what they will be doing while in Ghana. During this time, the attendants must apply for and receive their passports and other requirements such as shots before the trip. Although the trip is fully paid for by The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, students must fundraise during the planning months to offset the cost of food, lodging, transportation and other costs.
When they return from the trip, students are required to write a report on their experience during the month-long trip. This includes what they liked and disliked, their observations, as well as what they learned. After written, they present it as an oral presentation for the Summer Liberation School participants. Overall, the International Study Program is an experience is unlike any other. From the places visited to the daily workshops, you are given not just a better appreciation of what’s available to you in America, but it can also broaden your view on the world.
Anthony Keller is a sophomore at Bread and Roses High School. He is also a member of Liberation Program and the Media Team. He will be studying abroad in Ghana with its International Study Program in summer 2010.
Health Insurance Is A Human Right
by Marsha Jean-Charles | originally posted on Jan 31, 2010
Many of my closest friends and neighbors do not have health care insurance. They, like I at times, have suffered varying levels of pain when managing an illness without sufficient treatment. With my mother’s employment, I have been fortunate to have health care insurance for much of my life. Because of this I have gotten medicine, tests and other treatment that I have desperately needed to deal with my asthma and get accurate assessments after two cancer scares.
In my world as a 21 year-old Black woman from Brooklyn, health care insurance seems to be the marker of a healthier and more secure lifestyle. The fact that 30% of people my age and their family members do not have health insurance is frightening. Furthermore, the reality is that a large portion of this group has either never had health insurance, or have gotten kicked off their families’ insurance once they have turned nineteen. This implies that they will begin their adult life not having the capacity to truly take care of themselves as they work hard and try to attain their dreams. These same people are from marginalized communities and are of the population already at high risk for heart disease and other illnesses. This is a daily problem many people in my family deal with. This reality is scary and disheartening. How are we to succeed and attain this country’s promises if we are too sick to do so?
Change in the health care system has been long overdue. I am not sure if the necessary change will be fulfilled with this new legislation, but I remain hopeful. Healthy living is a human right; health insurance and access to proper treatment and facilities are means toward more Americans receiving that right.
Marsha Jean-Charles is a sophomore at Wesleyan University. She is also an alumni member of the Liberation Program, and has participated in the International Study Program trips to Ghana [2007] and Brazil [2006].
Human Trafficking
by Moussa Sidibe | originally posted on Jan 31, 2010
I had no choice.
I didn’t want to do it.
I didn’t want to do it.
But I had no choice.
That’s it, I thought.
I’ve changed,
I’m a different person.
Human trafficking is the practice of people being tricked or forced into prostitution with little to no pay. Human trafficking is a big international problem, happening in countries around the world, including Bolivia, Cambodia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Kuwait, North Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Venezuela, and the United States. It has many features of slavery which is mostly illegal in countries, but nothing is being done. Things such as prostitution, forced labor, and selling children are done. It is terrible and it’s even more shocking that it hasn’t been stopped.
You might be surprised by the last country I mentioned, but it’s true. Many people in this country, especially women, are affected by trafficking, and it’s amazing that many people don’t know that it is happening. Every morning, a large number of women across the United States wake up knowing that she will be forced into sex. You may think to yourself “These women are stupid. Why don’t they just resist, or tell the cops, or something.” It’s harder than you think. One reason why it’s hard for them to resist, or run away and report it, is because they are dependent on and often under the control of someone else, and are often drugged. They never know the person they’re having sex with. It’s always an anonymous customer. Afterward, they rarely see the person again. The victims never know the name of the person they’re having sex with, or any other information. The person just pays to have sex with them and they will never see them again.
Before last month, I never knew anything about human trafficking. I never even knew that the term existed. When I first heard it, I thought it had to do with cars. On November 10, 2009, I, along with the members of the Strive to Thrive chapter at Mott Hall High School, visited the Journey exhibit with our chapter leader Enmanuel Candelario. The Journey exhibit was on display for just five days, from November 10th through November 15th in New York City, in Washington Square Park. It was created by Emma Thompson, an Academy Award-winning British actress. As a community activist, she decided to focus her awareness campaign on human trafficking, because she wanted people to know about it and how wrong it is. In an interview about the exhibit, she made a good point that stood out to me. She said human trafficking is a much easier crime to commit than dealing with drugs or weapons: “You can make $150,000 from one girl in a year, because moving people around the place is easier than moving guns around.” It’s true and makes the situation even more difficult to change and the criminals harder to catch.
Visiting the Journey exhibit was an amazing and disturbing experience. It made you feel like you were in that person’s shoes. It was told like a story. First, you walk in and see images from the person’s childhood. There are words on top of a keyhole and when you look through the keyhole, you can see dolls describing the words. Then, you enter a room where there was a very dirty bed with condoms all around the place. There were pills, lipsticks, and other dirty things. There was also this room that had a very bad smell. The smell was the mixture of vomit, semen, and other types of things. It impacted me in a big way because it was shocking and interesting at the same time. I had never heard of trafficking before, and now I understand so much.
An organization involved in fighting against human trafficking is Covenant House, which is a large private funded childcare agency in the United States providing shelter and services to homeless and runaway youth. Another organization is Safe Horizon, which assists survivors of human trafficking with shelter, access to public benefits, and many other things. City Bar Justice created a project to assist women and children of abusive parents and victims of human trafficking. Find out more about what these organizations are doing to fight against trafficking by visiting http://www.humantrafficking.org.
Moussa Sidibe is a sophomore at Bread and Roses High School. He is also a member of The Strive 2 Thrive Cipher, Liberation Program, and the Media Team.
Bro/Sis Photo@Random
