“Writing Change Into The World” with Connect Charter School
PoetryPeople…
Good Day, Greetings, and Salutations.
Hello, and How are you today?
WarmestWelcome.
The afternoon of Saturday, March 16 was a monumental day in the Poetic Journey of a select few, including myself.
In our wonderful city, I have been granted the fortunate opportunities to extensively bring Poetry to the Public-at-Large for 18 years now.
For all of the mics and stages that I have experienced, one of my most cherished audiences has been the Educational Communities of Calgary - and now abroad - more on that, later…
I first established my educational presence in the public School Board with the CBE.
Afterwards, l was discovered by the CSSD, and very quickly began visits with their schools.
My most recent success was facilitating a Black History Month PiPP (Professional Interactive Poetic Presentation) for the CSSD, hosting over 100 schools and 6000+ Students.
With staff, faculty, family, friends, guardians and miscellaneous others, I broadcasted to over 8000 individuals, my largest captive audience to date.
To my utmost surprise, Charter Schools caught wind of my work, and enlisted me as well, Connect Charter School, particularly
That being said, I have also been experiencing some recent gains in success with my PiPPs, known in schools as: “Writing Change Into The World”.
These are facilitated on-site, online, and in hybrid formats, and I am regaling in regards to a particular achievement.
Connect Charter School put great faith and investment in enlisting Page2StageProductions Inc. to engage the entire middle-school student community, in extended fashions.
I worked with Grades 7, 8, and 9; these were three individual facilitations for each grade, multiple visits, moving them all from Page2Stage; assisting these youth in “Writing Change Into The World.
Endless opportunities and countless realities were our resounding results.
So much so, I felt that this was the school most fitting to dedicate the efforts to, and collaborate with, in fulfilling my final creative contribution of my term as your Poet Laureate of Calgary, which ends next month.
For two weeks, 17 students from across all grades worked with me in a Private Poetry Session Series, in preparation for a public performance.
For an Artistic Auditorium, educational environment, and SafeSpace, we were granted the wonderful RGO Treehouse on the 4th floor of cSpace Marda Loop, courtesy of CEO Deeter Schurig.
We all wish to thank Deeter Schurig, Erin Maclean-Boyko, Nicole Zylstra, Ezgi Türker, Kate - and all of the staff whom we didn’t even know were involved.
We couldn’t have done this without your generosity and support.
cSpace Marda Loop is indeed - Community
My Poet Laureate Legacy Project is this collaboration of Community, Education, Literacy, Social Justice, World Vision, and our Youth.
We presented on Saturday, March 16 at cSpace Marda Loop, RGO Treehouse. It was a semi-private, public performance with the families of the students and faculty of Connect Charter School present.
Thank You, Connect Charter School:
Jared MacKenzie
Gail Stevenson
Rick Fawcett
Sara Malcolm
Leisel Coetzee
Andrea Freisen
Shashi Shergill
Principal Shannon Bennett
Special Thanks to: Jodi Garagan - you are the living reason for my being here, you invited me in, gave me space, and I am forever grateful for your generous invitation. Your capacities of kindness and giving are truly stellar.
My GreatestGratitude OF ALL goes to the Students, the youth, these Poets, these future Laureates of Connect Charter School.
You all entrusted me to widen your Worlds of Words, and walk with them into this world, willingly.
There is no greater honour than being of an elder generation that leaves a positive impact on younger ones.
As I spoke to the entire room of your families before you all began to speak to The entire world:
“For my Poet Laureate Legacy Project, I did not write a book, attempt a tome, make a recording, nor set word in stone. My Laureate Legacy is your Poetic Progeny.”
Our Future Poet Laureates in order of appearance:
Madison, grade 7
Eshal, grade 7
Kai, grade 9
Alexa, grade 7
Liam, grade 9
Paige, grade 7
Anni, grade 7
Teagan, grade 9
Gabriel, grade 8
Briela, grade 9
Katelyn, grade 7
Tobie, grade7
Mylz, grade 9
Zoe, grade 7
Sophia, grade 9
Vasundhara, grade 9
Minerva, grade 7
BravaBravo to each and every single one of you!
I am proud of you, PROUD OF YOU, all of you, for every single truest effort that you put into this Living Poetry Project.
I absolutely could not have done this without you - and you’ve given me the courage to make something more out of this creative community collaboration!
Everyone stay tuned for news on a Poetic Projection for the Laureates of our future.
To CAD - Calgary Arts Development:
Thank You ever so much for all of the goodness that comes with this prestigious poetic appointment, and for the endless opportunities that lie before me. I can finally state that I am a full-time Artist, a Professional Poet & Spoken Word Artist, no doubt - and becoming Poet Laureate of Calgary has truly solidified that success.
Thank You:
CEO Patti Pon
Kaley Beisiegel
Helen Moore-Parkhouse
Cherie McMaster
You held my hand EVERY time I needed it, (far too often), and the gravity of your patience and understanding is neither missed nor unappreciated.
All of you at Calgary Arts Development, Thank You so very much.
I shall pay this success forward endlessly, as now I may confidently express to the youth that a Wonderful Life and Lifestyle is possible as an Artist, and being involved in The Arts.
Well…
I guess that’s it, PoetryPeeps.
My final act in office as your Poet Laureate is aligned with being Your Poet of The People; by bringing Poetry to The Youth, the most important people of all.
To Connect Charter School
To cSpace Marda Loop
To Calgary Arts Development
To The City of Calgary
I Thank You, One…
I Thank You, All.
WordWizard out…
~W🧙🏾♂️🎙️
P.S.
There was Cheesecake, LOTS of CHEESECAKE!
~w.
Poet Laureate Impact Statement
Becoming Calgary’s 6th Poet Laureate is the greatest public poetic position that I have ever professionally achieved, and I am beyond grateful for the appointment.
Being Calgary’s 1st Black Poet Laureate is the most notable level of attention that I have ever established for My Culture, and I am deeply honoured to represent.
Mohkinstsis and its many communities have supported my efforts in every conceivable way, granting passage into places and spaces previously inaccessible, so that I could effectively bring Poetry to The People – All People.
It is visibly apparent that Mohkinstsis has evolved through actively adopting the pillars of World Vision and Social Integrities that fuel my work: Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Intersectionality.
With all sincerity and greatest gratitude, I would love to humbly state:
Thank You City of Calgary for making me your 6th Poet Laureate, and forever your Poet of The People.
