Kyndall Brown Wins Larry Neal Writers' Award

Kyndall Brown, a freshman at Duke Ellington High School was awarded First Place in the Larry Neal Writers' Award competition for Teen Poetry. Split This Rock is incredibly proud of Kyndall, who has been a part of the Split This Rock family since 2006 when her poem “When Is War Going to Stop?” was published in the special Wartime Issue of Beltway Poetry Quarterly.

Imaginary Pressures

Its seems clear
It sounds just right
Each row perfectly aligned
And spaced
Flawlessly decorated with
Personality and self expression
Lyrically flowing swift
And smooth
She’s swept away
It’s done and finally finished
That false sense of security
Slowly but surely
Falling into a bottomless
Pit of uncertainty
She eventually cracks
Under the burden of
Physical abuse and
Low self-esteem
She becomes transparent
One piece at a time
Almost but not completely
Wiped away
Lost to the insanity of
That white page and thePressure of her own insecurities
She’s trapped
Between blue lines and
Marginalized by red bars
She tries to escape
From that mental slavery
By hiding behind a mask
Of trivial rhythm and rhyme
Only to be swept into deception and disorder
Each verb, noun and predicate becoming
Lost in confusion and doubt
No longer able
To speak the truth
She’s tossed away
Like some unwanted trash
Imprisoned behind
Circular walls of desperation and indifference
There with
The other failures
Broken, scarred and wrinkled
She contemplates her own fate
And wonders if
She can ever be
Truly set free
Or will she forever
Be bound and tied
By the imaginary pressures
To be a perfect
Poetic Verse

Kyndall Brown
2009

The World & Me Youth Poetry Contest Awards Reception

Split This Rock Presents:

The World & Me Youth Poetry Contest Awards Reception

Saturday March 6, 2010
4-6PM
BUSBOYS & POETS
14th & V STREET, NW

Keynote Poet: Samuel Miranda
Hosted by: Regie Cabico

The Top Youth Poets of Washington, DC
read original poems of Provocation & Witness.

Poets Representing:
Archbishop Carroll, Seed Charter School,
Bell Multicultural High School,
Sousa Jr. High, Powell Elementary, Alice Deal Middle School, Willam E. Doar

EVENT IS FREE

Please R.S.V.P. by March 3, 2010 to gregory [at] splitthisrock [dot] org.

Co-sponsored by Busboys and Poets

Critical Exposure

Critical Exposure teaches youth to use the power of photography and their own voices to become effective advocates for school reform and social change.

The organization was founded in 2004 by a former educator and an education policy analyst in response to the drastic disparities that exist among public schools.

By empowering young people to develop skills as documentary photographers and advocates, we expose citizens and policymakers to the realities of our current two-tiered education system as seen through the eyes of the students who confront those realities each day.

Through this approach Critical Exposure works to secure policy changes in order to ensure that all children have access to an excellent, equitable public education, fulfilling this nation's promise of providing all children with an opportunity to succeed.

Critical Exposure will have a presence at Split This Rock's upcoming benefit party featuring Dwayne Betts and the DC Youth Slam Team. The party is January 18, and donations of $100-1000 are accepted. For more information and to RSVP, contact ali at splitthisrock dot org.

To see some of Critical Exposure's galleries, click here.

The World and Me Youth Poetry Contest

Split This Rock is excited to announce the opening of our youth poetry contest, The World & Me. We invite children and youth who live or go to school in the District of Columbia to speak out and share voices and thoughts on their communities. If you are a teacher, please encourage your students to submit their work to the contest. And if you know other educators and youth counselors who could make the contest a part of their curriculum and learning activities please pass the word on to them.

Additional flyers and the required application form are available here.

Split This Rock seeks poems on the theme: "The World & Me."
What about your neighborhood/city/country/planet makes you happy and proud? What makes you sad? If you were in charge, what would you change? Are there issues you care deeply about? Situations in the news or in your neighborhood that make you mad? Or glad?
Tell us in a poem!

Eligible Writers: Poets must live in or attend school in DC, as well as qualify for either of the following contest groups:
-Ages 12 and under or
-High school students ages 13 and up

Directions: Please print and complete the application form (http://splitthisrock.org/contests.html#youth) and send 1-3 poems to:

Split This Rock/The World & Me Poetry Contest
1112 16th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC20036

Or Fax: (202) 387-7915

Postmark Deadline: Friday, January 15, 2010
You may also hand-deliver the poems by 5 pm on January 15.

Questions? Email: info at splitthisrock dot org
or call (202) 787-5210

Poetry, Writing, and Leadership Opportunities for Teens

Hurston/Wright Creative Writing Workshop for Teens
Genre/Topic: Fiction, Poetry, and Play-writing
Ages: Grades 8-12
Dates: July 12-July 25 2009
Where: On the campus of the RHEMA Christian Center - Washington , DC
Sponsored in part by BOSS The Movement
Cost: $59 dollars (Register 2 students/siblings and get a 20% discount)

The Hurston/Wright Creative Writing Workshop for Teens provides new opportunities for students who are interested in creative writing to develop their writing and reading skills in a nurturing group setting that celebrates Black literature. Most importantly, this creative writing workshop will enable students to become effective communicators, a skill which will benefit them throughout their educational, and occupational careers.

For more information, including details on workshops and how to apply, visit the Hurston/Wright Foundation website

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Youth Leadership Support Network and the Meridian Center Iraq Young Leaders
Program
Genre/Topic: Leadership and Conflict Resolution
Ages: 15-17
Dates: July 1-2 2009 and July 9-10 2009
Where: Meridian Center, Washington, D.C.
Cost: No Charge

Youth Leadership Support Network and the Meridian Center Iraq Young Leaders Program will host two-day "Leadership and Conflict Resolution" workshops for 44 DC area teens and 44 teens from Iraq in two groups.

Program times run from 9am to 9pm, and full attendance is required for both days. Food will be provided.

Iraq participants are aged 15 - 17 and include participants from Baghdad, Basrah, Hillah, Erbil and Kirkuk. We hope to include teens from DC, Maryland and Virginia in this exchange. DC area teens are invited to participate in either or both workshops.

The two-day workshop will focus on conflict resolution, leadership skills, music and arts, youth media and include plenty of time for exchange and friendship.

Workshop Objectives include:

Promoting mutual understanding between the United States and the people of Iraq.

Developing civic responsibility and commitment to community development among youth.

Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups.

Introduce participants to diverse youth approaches to community development

Instill tools and techniques for individuals and group process in developing community.

To Apply:
For group/organization leaders, please contact us immediately.

Douglas Calvin
Executive Director,
Youth Leadership Support Network
lunasol [at] igc.org
(202) 316-4403
www.worldyouth.org

Youth Participant
Application Questions:

A. How did you hear about this program?

B. Your name, age, school, address

C. Contact information
email, phone, facebook/myspace/etc

1. Why do you want to participate in this program and what will you contribute to the program?

2. What do you want to learn during the program?

3. How will your participation affect your community?

4. What are your skills/talents/interests? Please include any performing or visual arts experience, leadership experience, youth media or other skills that you feel would contribute to this experience.

5. Please list clubs, organizations, sports and community service programs in which you are involved.
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Smithsonian Young Voices Summer Poetry Workshops
Genre/Topic: Poetry
Ages: Women ages 13-19
Dates: June 22 - July 10, 2009
Where: Sackler-Freer Gallery of Asian Art (12th & Independence SW, Smithsonian Metro)
Cost: Each student will receive a stipend upon completion.

A group of young women ages 13-19 will serve as poets in residence at the Sackler-Freer Asian Art Gallery. This includes poetry and leadership workshops exploring the museum's collection and the themes of communication as an act of non-violence and women's leadership.

Interested youth must request an application at lisa.innerchild [at] gmail.com. Space is limited and applications will be reviewed & accepted on a first come first serve basis.

You do not have to be an expert poet to get a spot, you only have to be willing to participate fully in all activities and be open minded. This is a wonderful opportunity to grow as a leader and artist, meet cool new people and have LOTS OF FUN!!

For more information email lisa.innerchild [at] gmail.com, or see the Facebook page