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June 26, 2019

POETRY IS POWER TEEN INSTITUTE

POETRY IS POWER TEEN INSTITUTE


June 26, 2019

Poetry is Power Teen Institute is the only free poetry and creative writing teen institute aimed at serving young people in the Inland Empire, and specifically in San Bernardino.

Over the course of two weeks in June, young people will participate in courses on spoken word, comics poetry, poetic form, and the institute will culminate in a public reading and collaborative performance, in addition to a published anthology.

Free, healthy meals and snacks, and writing materials will be provided for all participants. The mentor faculty who will be teaching this summer are award-winning and critically acclaimed poets and authors, in addition to junior faculty who are studying creative writing in local colleges and universities.

Poetry is Power Teen Institute is sponsored by the Literary Laureate and Inlandia Institute

During this program, teen writers from ages 12-17 will participate in writing workshops where they will generate their own work, read a variety of dynamic poems and stories, then produce an anthology of their original writing and perform for their family and friends.  Topics will range from spoken word poetry, poetry comics, and more. The program will be taught by award-winning, experienced mentor faculty writers, including Isabel Quintero, author of Gabi: A Girl in Pieces, and junior faculty members who are undergraduate and graduate students from the local colleges and universities.  Poetry is Power is based on the principles of mentorship, creativity, youth empowerment, and community engagement.

FAQ

What are the dates for the program?

June 21, 24, 26, and 28 from 10 am – 2 pm

Who is eligible to participate, and what do you foresee them getting out of it?

Middle and high school young people are invited to participate, especially students who live in the San Bernardino area, which is considered an underserved community specifically in the literary arts.  Youth participants will gain connection and community, a chance to access their creativity and to tell their important and unique stories, an opportunity to gain serious and considered feedback on their writing, and their names and poems/stories published in a physical book.

How should interested teens reach out to get on the list?

For interested teens and their families, they can fill out this interest form, follow the Inlandia Literary Laureate Instagram account at @inlandialitlaureate, or shoot Rachelle an email at inlandialitlaureate@gmail.com.

How can the community help you get the word out?  

You can share this opportunity with educators or school administrators you know, and share about it on your social media.

What else can I do to help?

If anyone is moved by this project to donate monetarily, they can send a check to Inlandia Institute and mark it for Poetry is Power.  We will use the funds for printing anthologies, notebooks, writing utensils, books, transportation for teens, and more. We’re also looking to provide healthy meals for our teen writers this summer,  so we’d happily accept gift cards for grocery stores, or local cafes and restaurants.