Because Youth Have Something to Say to Us and This World!
Youth Writing Workshops!
Say these words out loud to yourself, "I AM A POET!"
Youth:
These free workshops are for all youth ages 13-18 who are interested in writing or art in some way. For beginners or long-time poetry lovers.
Read about the following teacher-artists below. They will each be teaching about a topic or approach to writing that they use in their poetry-writing or art-making practice.
Teachers:
Please consider giving extra credit for students who sign up! We can offer verification of attendance.
Jarvis Subia
Workshop on Friday, 1/22/2021, 5-6:30 pm PST on Zoom:
"How It Feels To Be Free"
In this music and poetry centered workshop we will learn about renowned jazz vocalist Nina Simone and consider her vision of freedom. Through group discussion, learning resources, and writing prompts we will explore a space of our own without restriction.
Biography: Born and raised in the San José, CA, Jarvis’ work delves into his relationship with his communities, sexuality, masculinity, national/global politics, lineage, race, gardening, mental health, personal growth, love, love, and love.
Jarvis is a 2019 Poetry Foundation Incubator fellow, the 2019 Silicon Valley Creates and Content Magazines Emerging Artist Award recipient, San José Poetry Slam’s 2018 Grand Slam Champion and has competed in over a dozen national/regional poetry slams. Jarvis is currently a freelance teaching artist in the Bay Area.
Lorenz Dumuk & Mighty Mike McGee
Bring a Friend to this Workshop on Friday, 1/29/2021 5-6:30 pm PST on Zoom:
"Monsters and Emotions"
Expand and explore one’s self while engaging what one knows about monsters. One will step out of their own shoes to focus their creativity, thinking like a monster. Be prepared to draw, be silly, be dramatic, and be a monster.
Biographies:
(left) When writing in the middle of the night, Lorenz Mazon Dumuk is probably petting the wall to make sure it is okay and that he is okay. Failing to be a professional meadow frolicker, hamster wrangler, or a thumb war champion, poetry told him he might as well fail being a poet. After getting his poetic license revoked many times, Lorenz figures he would write poetry illegally. He calls what he writes dandelions, but anyone can smell what it really is.
(right) Mighty Mike McGee likes hosting shows and making people laugh. He/They also enjoys making poems that make people think and/or cry, and making dinner for friends and family. McGee has many niblings and siblings and a cat named Xena who is a worrier princess.
Tshaka Menelik Imhotep Campbell
Friday, 2/5/2021 on Zoom 3PM PST/ 6PM EST
"Reanimated Imagination"
We unfortunately have been restricted to our homes or to smaller areas for the last 10+ months and do not have the benefits of many sights of day to day excursions to stimulate our imagination. As such, we are left to re-invent how we can feed out imagination from home. We will have fun digging into breathing life into our poetry/subjects and stretching our creativity while building new ways to look at the world around us.
Tshaka Campbell (he/him) is originally from London England, and has been performing poetry internationally for over 15 years. He has authored 3 books of poetry, been a grand slam champion in multiple cities and loves words. He is a father and husband and asks the world to “Listen Different.”
K-Ming Chang
Saturday, 2/6/2021, 5-6:30 PM PST on Zoom
"Future Tense"
"'Future Tense' is a writing workshop on harnessing your voice to explore identity and tell personal and collective stories. We will read poems by Safia Elhillo, Franny Choi, and Fatimah Asghar in order to imagine new possibilities of belonging and existing. This workshop will provide a space to practice writing as a form of self expression and as a way to imagine social change, and create a generative and safe place to exercise our voices.
K-Ming Chang / 張欣明 is a Kundiman fellow, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, and a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree. She is the author of the debut novel BESTIARY (One World/Random House), which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice. Her short story collection, RESIDENT ALIENS, is forthcoming from One World. She is currently the Micro editor at The Offing magazine.
Jessica Gutierrez, Martha St. Zine
Saturday, 2/20/2021 on Zoom, 5-6:30 pm PST
"DIY Zines!"
In this workshop, we will make our own handmade zines. Bring any art making materials available to you! Fill the zine with poetry, drawings, or whatever else you’d like!
Biography: Jessica Gutierrez is an artist/designer and educator based in San José. She has a passion for arts education, community engagement, wellness, social justice, and the intersections between these.