Poets & Writers, Inc., is the primary source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers. Founded in 1970, it is the nation's largest nonprofit literary organization serving poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. If funded, this grant will allow the Juvenile Hall Library to bring, poet, hip-hop lyricist, and literary arts educator Maddy Clifford to the Juvenile Hall. Maddy Clifford will visit with residents for a workshop series that uses poetry and performance to strengthen young people’s literacy and public speaking skills. The workshops utilize engaging examples, from hip hop lyrics to haiku, to unlock the power of three important techniques in figurative language: metaphor/simile, hyperbole and personification. Workshops demystify these poetic devices, so that their meanings resonate with young people. Students free-write, share poems in community and receive useful feedback. The overall goal of the workshop series is for students to feel capable and empowered to create their best work.
If the grant is not funded then the workshops with Maddy Clifford will not occur.
The workshop series will allow youth incarcerated at Juvenile Hall to engage in creative, educational activities that many of the youth have never experienced before, exposing them to new ideas and allowing them to discover previously unknown interests and hidden talents. This meets the Children’s Report Card outcome of Children Ready for and Succeeding in School.