Dream Keepers Blog

Last Monday we listened to protest music and wrote our own versions of protest poems. Two of the teens finished poems to share with you. Both poets write from another point of view. The first poet takes on the challenge of revealing one's true self. The second poet takes on the traditional values for women. After you read these poems, think about this: what do you want to protest? Write it down. Take A Look by Aliza Mendoza, age 16 Who am I? When you look at me what do you see? Shy and quiet girl. Would you believe me when I say It's just a show. Should I tell you my story to make you understand. Should I shed this pretense and show you who I really am. Should I let the tears fall to show how much it hurts. Should I pull up my shirt for the scars to appear. Should I cut myself just to prove I'm still here. Look at me now. Who am I? Let me know, so I can prove you wrong. It's not me you see but someone else, totally different. Can I touch your arm and you can feel my ski...

Every week we welcome new Dream Keepers. Our group has grown enough that we've split into two groups—a high school group that meets from 4-5 and a middle school group that meets from 5-6. These two I AM poems come from two of the younger members of our groups. Both children invented words to talk about themselves. My favorites: talk-full and feelative!  Enjoy! I AM by Tytiana Maire Cloyd, age 9 I am wise on the outside. I am dark chocolate. I am skinny like a pencil. I am long curly hair. I am heart-full. I am talk-full. I am grateful. I am delightful. I am an aunt. I am a cousin. I am a sister. I am a niece. I am Tytiana. I AM by Perry Green, age 11 I am caramel-skinned. I am short. I am brown-eyed. I am big-footed. I am very smart. I am personal. I am feelative. I am curious. I am an uncle. I am a nephew. I am a son. I am a cousin. I am Perry.

Last winter, the Dream Keepers wrote letters to President Bush—many of them inspired by Pink's song, Dear Mr. President . This November, the teens wrote letters to President-elect Obama. I have sent them to the president-elect via his new  CHANGE  Web site. Read about the issues that concern our teens. Then, write your own letter and submit it to the president-elect. Dear Mr. President, Congratulations on being the first African American to be elected Head of State. Hello, my name is Deanna Branch. I am 19 years old, and I live with my mom and two younger sisters. I am currently employed, and my mom is in nursing school. So I am the only one with a steady income. We are living from paycheck to paycheck and are struggling to pay the light bill. I even had to dip into my college fund to buy groceries. Even though we have fallen on hard times, I will not lose hope. I will continue on to finish college, because I believe in my future. I will work hard and pray because I believe in God ...

When we met Monday night, the young people were giddy with excitement about the upcoming election. They were also worried. Would Obama be elected only to be assassinated? Could change really happen? I am looking forward to hearing what the young people have to say next Monday, now that history has been made. I plan to share with them the following quotes, sent to me by friends. A statement that shows how far we've come:  The first 26 Presidents could have OWNED the 44th.  And a poem of hope: Rosa sat so Martin could march. Martin marched so Barack could run. Barack ran so our children can fly. And now onto this week's poems.  I AM by Lorzerrick Sheridan-King I am cool. I am hot chocolate. I am think. I am peaceful. I am playful. I am entertaining. I am good. I am good-hearted. I am talented. I am a child of God. I am a boy that has more than ten brothers. I AM by Isaiah Dixon, age 11 I am bald-headed  tall for my age     chocolate caramel  brown-eyed. I am loving  obedient ...

Tonight six Dream Keepers met at Atkinson Library to begin working on the Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest. I just wrote five essays for a writing fellowship, so I know how long and hard the essay-writing process can be. Most of the teens asked to write poems instead. Here's the crazy part. When the students showed me their poems—I saw the seeds of essays. "This is your starting point," I said. "Really?" they asked. Yes. Really. I can't show you those poems—I'll save them for January, when the essays are published. Two students did write acrostic peace poems just for the blog. Two other students wrote their I AM poems as a way to introduce themselves to you. Enjoy reading. (Then go write your own poems!) Martin by Davonn May Memorable Achieving man who Reunited people of all ages. He was a Truthful man. He also was Intelligent. He was Never racist. Peace by Daquan May Prayer Ethics Americans Consider Equality I AM by Andreya Jones I am brown-eyes, d...

Tonight we met some new Dream Keepers.  How fun! They are students at the Young Leaders Academy. They wrote I AM poems and Urban Haiku poems. One of our founding members was also present, working on a scholarship application. Sitting in a bright, big room in the library, looking out the window to take in the leaves—it was a perfect afternoon. Enjoy! I Am by Daquan May, age 10 I am tall, caramel, handsome, skinny. I am smart, goofy, playful, me. I am a gymnast. I play basketball. I jump around. I read books. I am a son, brother, worker, player. I am 10-years-old.  I am Daquan. Money by Daquan May In my pocket I have a lot of green. Money is not the most important. part of me. I Am by Davonn May, age 13 I am tall, handsome, smart, funny. I am dark chocolate. I am fast. I play basketball, football, baseball, and swim. I am Davonn May. I am a son, a brother, a cousin, an uncle. I study. I do my work. I love school. I have good grades. I go to church. I read the Bible. I am a son of God. I ...

We've been meeting at the library since September. Some of our work has to do with self-discovery. The young people have written about difficult past events—trying to make meaning from them. Psychologist James Pennebaker links this work with increased happiness and wellness over time. That work was beautiful and private. The girls have also been writing about their future—either a vision of their best possible future selves or a list of the fifty to one-hundred things they want to do before they die. Psychologists also link visioning a good future in great detail to increased happiness. These exercises are harder for the young people to do. I'm not sure why. I need to ask them about that.  Here's a collection of poems that come from our various meetings this fall. I always have an assignment, but often the teens just want to write whatever comes to mind. Their goal is always to make something that's raw—or cool. And they do it. Every single time. Enjoy! Alone by Elisha ...

This summer eight young people gathered at Atkinson Library for the first-ever Book of Me class. We laughed, we played games, we ate—but most importantly we wrote and wrote and wrote. The founding Dream Keepers also met this summer for meals, reading, and writing. Here's a sample of their recent work. More coming soon! A Letter to a Candidate by Deanna Branch Dear Obama, My life is a continuing struggle. I was born and raised in a rough neighborhood. I've experienced everything from the loss of a loved one, being homeless, and having no electricity. My neighborhood depresses me. Violence and drug abuse are epidemics here. My surroundings make me question if anyone really cares! I am old enough to vote now, and you inspire me. You were raised by a single parent and by you being an endangered surviving black male, you have overcome some of the same struggles I have. I believe you can help because you know where I come from. Most people try to understand but you can only truly un...

On Monday June 2, the girls and I met and read more from Things I Have to Tell You. Mostly, the girls write about their own lives. On Monday, the Dream Keepers tried something new. They wrote poems from a persona or a character—someone other than themselves. I love what they did. See what you think! Born at 13 by Maya Montgomery Born at 13—prematurely. Momma didn’t want me. Daddy abusing me. Boys looking over me. Brother selling. Girls teasing. Born at 13. Look at me. I look just like you. Can’t you see? Same hair, same eyes, same lips. Born at 13. Go to the same school. See you every day. So don’t judge me. Born at 13. Just Another Girl! by Natalie Branch When I first saw you, I couldn’t stand you. When you first saw me, you wanted to nail me. Every day you would spit yo’ game. Everyday I looked at you with shame. But one day, you said the sweetest thing. I stopped being mad and I stopped being mean. You became my man, and I was yo’ girl. You were the only thing that mattered in my wo...

Tonight we began reading, Things I Have to Tell You: Poem and Writing by Teenage Girls edited by Betsy Franco. Two of the young women wrote about secrets. Elisha Branch wrote a poem about how our ancestors tried to change the world while many of us we sit by and do little good. Secrets by Natalie Branch My life is ruled by the weight of untold secrets. I have them, you have them, we all have them. My mom says all secrets are brought out eventually. But it’s the ones we cannot imagine that scare me. Past secrets, family secrets, future secrets. What scares me most is you never know when It’s gong to hit you or what it is. You know the saying, “Every day you learn something new”? Well, that’s true. I could wake up tomorrow and find out my mom isn’t my mom or my dad isn’t my dad. Don’t get me wrong. There are good secrets and there are bad ones. Secrets can either make you or break you, but it’s up to you where those secrets are going to take you. My Secrets by Rachel Coney I have a secr...

Tonight we listened to Pink's song, Dear Mr. President . The girls write their own letters and poems to President Bush. Dear Mr. President by Deanna Branch War is an act of violence Like killing each other makes us strong. War is useless Nothing follows in its tracks. War is a remembrance The rattles all placed on a map. War is ignorance People dying without a cause. Peace sustains life War ends life. War is pain. A son’s blood stains his mother’s tears. Be the one to catch her tear drops. Sincerely, Deanna Branch Dear Mr. President by Natalie Branch Dear Mr. President, listen to me. (Don’t talk. Just listen.) This isn’t a song. It’s the truth. Since your election, poverty rates went up. Since your election, food stamps are harder to get. Since you election, Reading Is Fundamental has been taken away. Can you tell me why? (Shut up.) Why are we still in Iraq? Why has gas and dairy product prices gone through the roof? How many men and women must die for you to get it? Do you even ca...

Last night we read poems and essays about beauty in the book edited by Iris Jacob called, My Sister's Voices: Teenage Girls of Color Speak Out. The girls wrote poems in response.  Standards of Beauty by Natalie Branch I’m that girl who never fits in. I’m not fat nor am I thin. I’m an African American with light skin. When I walk out the house, I’m full of curiosity— Not knowing what others will think of me. Some may be jealous, others furious. Me, I’m just curious. My confidence isn’t low; it’s not high either. My emotions are building up—like a deadly fever. People like me because of who I am. People hate me because I’m not like them. Sometimes I ask myself: should I stay the same, or become someone else? That’s something you will never again hear me say. People say change, but I stay the same. I am me, and I was born this way. And this is how I will stay. Yo! I’m sayin’! by Deanna Branch Q: Why you wear yo’ hair like that? Yo! I’m sayin, My hairstyle reflects my personality. When...

Greetings Dream Keepers' Fans! It's been awhile since I've posted the girls' writing. Well the hiatus is over! A little over a month ago, I read that our local independent bookstore, Schwartz Bookshops, was hosting a contest based on the new book, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. I bought the book, brought it to the Dream Keepers, and read a bunch of the memoirs to the group. The Dream Keepers were immediately captivated by the idea! Over the next two weeks, the Dream Keepers created several memoirs in the six-word style. I entered the Dream Keepers in Schwartz's Six-Word Memoir Contest--and they won! Last night, I brought five of the Dream Keepers to Schwartz Bookstore on Downer for the store's six-word slam. They were all recognized and given an honorable mention (AND PRIZES!) for their writing. The Dream Keepers read their work to a good-sized crowd of community members. And, as a special treat, the Dream Keepers ...

This year I was delighted to teach writing workshops for young people at The Kujichagulia Lutheran Center's 8th Annual Dr. King Day Event, 2008 (http://www.lutheransonline.com/lo/Kuji). I gave the students some simple poem starters to spark their writing, and they came up with amazing poems. Here are some of the starters that students worked with: *Instead of . . .; You could . . . *This is what I need to say. . . *Peace is when . . . *The truth is . . . We also talked together about why poets write. Sometimes poets write poems for ourselves--to help us work through experiences or emotions. Sometimes poets write poetry to help change the community and the world. To this end, I offered to mail any or all of the poems to the Mayor or the President. I also promised to publish poems on this blog. The following poems come from students who asked that their poems by published here. Others are on their way to President Bush and Milwaukee's Mayor. Read them and then write your own poem...

Peace is to . . . a poem by Milwaukee teens composed at The Kujichagulia Lutheran Center's 8th Annual Dr. King Day Event, 2008 http://www.lutheransonline.com/lo/Kuji Peace is to hug Peace is to love Peace is to have fun Peace is to share Peace is to jump for joy Peace is to relax Peace is to be happy Peace is to show your feelings Peace is to show faithfulness Peace is to share happiness Peace is to live Peace is to enjoy Peace is to appreciate Peace is to be fair Peace is to love Peace is to be equal Peace is to be nonviolent Peace is to not fight Peace is to love your family Peace is to say no to conflicts Peace is to respect others no matter what Peace is to give Peace is to love as to love is to cherish Peace is to admire Peace is to be kind Peace is to stop war Peace is to share Peace is to be kind Peace is to be faithful Peace is to cherish

On January 16th, the Dream Keepers met Milwaukee-area writer Yolanda White. What fun we had hearing about her writing gigs and doing some of our own writing! The picture features from left to right, Writer Yolanda White, a friend of Yolanda's, Dream Keepers Deanna and Natalie Branch.

Last fall, I challenged the Dream Keepers to write essays for the local Martin Luther King essay contest. The contest theme was America Must Change. I brought stacks of books from the library. The Dream Keepers spent two sessions reading and taking notes. Then they wrote rough drafts. I read the essays and gave some feedback. The Dream Keepers asked to add extra writing sessions so that they could polish their essays. I happily agreed. After the essays were turned in, I promised the Dream Keepers that I would publish their work once the judging was complete. None of the Dream Keepers placed in the essay contest--but I consider all of them winners. The Dream Keepers took time to learn, think, and write about a topic of significance. In this process, they gained wisdom that can never be taken away from them. On Sunday, the Dream Keepers will read their essays at our church, Hephatha Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. They will have the opportunity to talk to their community about how America ...