Dream Keepers Blog

On Monday night, the Dream Keepers met for their annual holiday party. We ate cookies, drank lemonade, and wrote letters to Santa. Afterwards, each of the children chose a book to take home. One of the younger Dream Keepers asked me, "You mean I can keep it forever?" "Forever." "Yes!" she cheered. All of the young people—eight boys and two girls—were equally thrilled to take home a book. This year's collection of books for the young people came from generous donations by the Zonta Club of Milwaukee, people who purchased books through our Amazon Associateprogram, and two individuals who donated their own gently used books. Many, many thanks! I was thrilled to read their letters to Santa. I hope you are, too. Enjoy. Dear Santa, I want things to change. Let there be peace instead of violence. I want everybody to have a house and a car. I don't want anybody on the street. Sincerely, Damarious Dear Santa, I want God for Christmas. I want to meet Hannah ...

Last week, one of the Dream Keepers wrote a scary story and shared it with the group. He had us all looking over our shoulders for ghosts. The author, Jaimie, is pictured above. His story follows. Enjoy! Little Lyric by Jaimie Bogard-LaMar “Come on, Lyric,” said Deseree. “The last bell just rang.” “I’m on the homecoming committee, remember?” “Oh yeah. So you have to stay. Well, I’ll see you later. Just don’t be here alone,” said Deseree. "Wonder what she means by ‘Don’t be here alone,’" thought Lyric. After Lyric and the homecoming team were done for the day and about to leave, Lyric remembered. Uh oh, she thought. I left my jacket in the locker room. My mom said if I left it one more time, she wouldn’t let me go to the homecoming and all of my work would be for nothing. So, Lyric rushed to the locker room and saw her jacket lying on the bench. As she was about to grab it, she heard a banging sound. She looked around to see what it was. And she saw a locker door...

We've done six-word memoirs. Tonight the Dream Keepers wrote six-word scary stories. Read and enjoy! (Then write and submit your own in the comment field!) A vampire destroys the city with power. —Tramonta Garner (pictured above) One virus. One town. No survivors. —Jaimee Bogard-LaMar, 14 One girl. Many monsters. What's next? —Jaimee Bogard-LaMar, 14 Big zombie eats eyeballs. City blind. —Elisha Branch, 14 One house. One family. Both gone. —Elisha Branch, 14 Knock, knock. Who's there? Killer mysterious. —Derranesha, 12 Baby cries. No answer. What happens? —Derranesha, 12 Ring, ring. "Hello." Please help me. —April, 12 The spooky monster ran towards me ... —Sonya, 17 The worm crawls into the brain. —Sierra The slippery, slimy monster grabs two. —Quintoya Eskridge

Each week in October, the Dream Keepers have been meeting to write scary stories! None of those are quite ready to post yet. Until then, I thought I'd give you all an assignment. (That's what writing teachers do!) When we met tonight, I put up a list of potentially scary creatures on the board. I didn't pay attention to the other writing on the board. Then one of the young people pointed out that it looked like the Census Office had jobs available for zombies, ghosts, goblins, and other creatures. Now that would be some job description! I'd love to read it. And I can—if you write it. That's your assignment. Imagine that you are writing a job description for one of the above openings at the census office. If you like what you come up with, send it to me at rochelle@writenowcoach.com. I will post the best descriptions I receive! Happy writing! Follow-up Dream Keeper Elisha Branch put together a couple of wonderful job postings: Jobs Available Vampires Only!!! Black ca...

When we commit ourselves to writing for some part of each day we are happier, more enlightened, alive, lighthearted, and generous to everyone else. Even our health improves. —Brenda Ueland Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. —Margaret Mead. Writing saved my childhood. I was a skinny girl who didn't fit in. Writing gave me power and purpose. Now that I'm an adult writing books, I know that writing has the power to transform not only our lives but our communities and the world. Stop by on Monday afternoons this fall and claim your own writing power! See you soon! Rochelle

Last week I was delighted to attend the graduation of Dream Keeper Elisha Branch from the Academy of Learning and Leadership Middle School in Milwaukee. In the above photo, Elisha is giving her Salutatorian Address. I am so proud of her. Read on for Elisha's latest poem and writings from some of the other Dream Keepers. Our theme for the day was, "I Write to Change."  I Write To Change by Elisha Branch I write to change the lives of others, I write to influence my sisters and brothers. I write to change for the sake of us, I write because I want and because I must. I write to say, let's make this a great day. I write because I have a lot to say. I write to day and preach my word. I write because I have a voice that needs to be heard. I write to protect equalness. I write to fight for what is just. I write to protect justice and peace. I write to protect—to keep your mind at ease. I Write to Say by Natalie Branch What is this world coming to I feel nothing but anger wh...

The Dream Keepers have had a busy spring. The high school Dream Keepers continue to work on advanced writing projects. Jacque Troy of the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre  visited us and presented a four-session playwriting workshop. At least two of the high school students finished plays and submitted them to Milwaukee Chamber Theatre One-Act Playwriting Festival. This is quite an achievement!  The younger Dream Keepers group continues to grow. We attract a wide group of children each week—especially boys—who are interested in writing. Here are a few of the pieces the young people have created in the past two months. I AM by Robert I am black and I'm proud. I don't care what I am Long as God's kind work together. To be continued ... ALL I WANT by Trayvece All I want is a dad who will be there for me. Who would love me. Who wouldn't forget my birthday. And ask me is it a bad hair day. Who would call me his little angel sent from above and tuck me into bed. That's all I wan...

On Monday, the Dream Keepers had their own version of March Madness. The young people experienced difficulty concentrating. Still, in the midst of the giggles, a few words were set to paper. Enjoy! Our newest Dream Keeper writer an I AM poem to introduce herself to you. I AM by Sydney Byrd I am light skin  5'9  happy  forgive-ful. I am aware  delighted  passionate  proud. I am a writer  a basketball player  a friend  a daughter. I am Sydney Byrd. Dream Keeper Ruthie Matthew wrote about going to see the musical CATS with her family and friends. CATS! by Ruthie Matthews, II Lights appear on stage As the dancers all appear The crowd is restless The music begins And the first act is in play The cats prance around The various cats Tell us about the main cats Such as Barnabee. Once we know the cats The intermission begins After the first act. Fifteen minutes past Everyone sits down at last And the lights go out. The cats come onstage And the second act begins As everyone claps. ...

Last Monday, the Dream Keepers were delighted to welcome guest speaker Keri Gerlach, Director of Marketing at Clement Manor, Inc. in Milwaukee. Keri is both a photographer and a writer. She brought beautiful framed photos and invited the young people to use them for inspiration. What fun we had! The first group of writings comes from a photo of a tree's gnarled roots in spring, just before the earth has come back to life. Around The Tree by Lamar Hobson I walk around a tree like three times. It looks like darkness and big as this tree is, I think if I touch him, he going to eat me. Everyone Has Roots by Olivia Bell Some people are like leaves, unstable, always moving with the wind. The season changes, they wither and die. They take and give shade under the harshness of the sun, but rarely do they stay all year long. In your time of need, the wind has taken them, and they will not return upon your calling. Others are like branches on a tree. Little do they move with the wind or rain...

Tonight we had a small group of Dream Keepers writing and connecting. The younger students wrote acrostic poems. The high school students used headlines from popular magazines to write poems.  Natalie took a headline about Jessica Simpson to write her poem, She's Proud of Her Body. Before our hour was over, the High School students were delighted by a surprise visitor—Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor. State Senator Taylor encouraged the young people to work hard and send her their poems! Both groups of students made it their mission to teach me about words and music. No matter which way you slice it, there's a lot of learning going on at Dream Keepers! If you know any young people who might be interested in writing, please send them to Atkinson Library on Monday nights. Enjoy the poems, Rochelle She's Proud of Her Body by Natalie Branch She was used to society controlling her image. They didn't care what she wanted or how she was feeling. They knew what the buyers wa...

The Dream Keepers has been on break since mid-December. We come back together on Monday to write and vision our next year of writing together. I'll be sure to let you know what we come up with! Until then, I wanted to share with you some of the poems and essays the Dream Keepers wrote in December. This work was written in response to essays we read in The Freedom Writers Diary . As you read the poems and essays, remember that most of these are not personal declarations but creative works. The students are using their imagination to create characters and situations. But we start with an essay from one of the students about our new president, Barack Obama. Our President by Gregory Byrd Wow, finally a black president. I really do hope Mr. Obama makes a change in the society. The economy really needs work. I know that's President Obama's first job. I really worry people won't even listen to President Obama. I mean, like, the important stuff he is saying. Some people won...