WritersCorps

It’s a Wrap!

Admin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:15:22 +0000

WritersCorps just wrapped a very successful 14th season. May and June were filled with events throughout the city celebrating the release of anthologies and chapbooks written by our students. In addition to holding publication release parties at many of the sites we work at, we also packed the house at the WritersCorps Annual Literary Festival, held May 22nd at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch. Students read poetry and performed one-act plays, then enjoyed some pizza, fruit and cookies.

Next, we made an appearance at AT&T Park. On June 3rd, International Studies Academy student Angela Starks read at home plate in the opening ceremonies of a Giants vs. Mets game, joined by her WritersCorps teacher Beto Palomar. Baseball and poetry — what a winning combination!

And the week after that, on June 10th, the WritersCorps Apprentices put on a dynamite performance of a group poem at Galeria de la Raza. The WritersCorps Apprentice Program gives youth from across the city a chance to form a community of writers who support one another’s development as young artists.

Thanks to everyone saw our students perform, bought our books and heard our words.

From left to right: A student reads at the WritersCorps book party at Downtown High school; Mission High School students perform a one-act play at the WritersCorps Literary Festival; Angela Starks and Beto Palomar are all smiles after performing at a Giants game at AT&T Park, and the WritersCorps Apprentices take a bow at their reading. All photos by Katharine Gin.

WritersCorps Apprentices

Admin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:16:33 +0000

If you missed the reading by the WritersCorps apprentices this week, you missed a very talented group of young writers. One day they will rule the world.

Sherman Alexie - December 1

Admin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:03:46 +0000

Sherman Alexie, winner of the 2007 National Book Award, will be at City Arts & Lecture on December 1 in an event benefiting WritersCorps. Alexie is the author of “Smoke Signals” and “Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian.” He also wrote the foreword in a new WritersCorps book due out this fall. (Yes, yes, we’ve been quietly writing a book this year.) More info to come. We promise.

Who: Sherman Alexie

What: City Arts & Lectures, 2008 Cultural Studies Series

When: Monday, December 1, 2008, at 8 pm

Where: Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave

Cost: $20, Tickets available here. Proceeds benefit WritersCorps

Poetry at Home Plate!

Admin — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:03:58 +0000

On Tuesday, WritersCorps student Angela Starks read at home plate in the opening ceremonies at the Giants-Mets game at At&T Park. Joining her on the field was WritersCorps Teaching Artist Beto Palomar, who teaches at International Studies Academy. Angela and Beto read a poem they wrote about baseball. Angela, we are so proud of you!

Literary Fest Recap

Admin — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:45:30 +0000

Thanks for everyone who made it out to the WritersCorps Literary Festival. Here are a few photos.

Mahru Elahi and one of her students from Sanchez Elementary.

Cindy Je and Milta Ortiz, WritersCorps Teaching Artists at Mission High School.

Students from Mission High School perform a scene that they wrote.

For more photos of the reading, check out our flickr set. Many thanks to our cheerful volunteers Mario and Susan. Susan wrote about the event on her blog.

What is the Cure? - June 10

Admin — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:08:12 +0000

Join WritersCorps for our last event of the school year, featuring the WritersCorps Apprentices.

The WritersCorps Apprentice Program gives youth from across the city a chance to form a community of writers who support one another’s development as young artists.

This year, the Apprentices hosts a youth open mic and performance event, What is the Cure?, at Galeria de la Raza. Come take a journey through the ups and downs of today’s world as seen through the eyes of these youth.

Youth open mic sign ups begin at 6:00 pm. Youth open mic begins at 6:30 pm. The featured artist, the Apprentices, perform at 7 pm. Reception with beverage and food to follow.

What: What is the Cure? — A WritersCorps Open Mic

When: Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Where: Galeria de la Raz, 2857 24th St

Cost: Free

Quote of the Day

Admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:21:15 +0000

“If our children are unable to voice what they mean, no one will know how they feel. If they can’t imagine a different world, they are stumbling through a darkness made all the more sinister by its lack of reference points. For a young person growing up in America’s alienated neighborhoods, there can be no greater empowerment than to dare to speak from the heart — and then to discover that one is not alone in ones feelings.” — Rita Dove

Untitled

Admin — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:57:51 +0000

I am
the prisoner of my own mind
a poet waiting to be free
by words and paper
I am
the solid shield of a turtle
that no one can break with words
I am
the bird that sings
but no one understands me
I am
the orange that waits to be eaten
by a person who is patient
waiting until I am as sweet as honey.

– Christiam Morales
From the 2008 WritersCorps book “Mangos Have No Borders” at Mission High School

Poem of the Month: May 2008

Poetry Potluck Tonight

Admin — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:51:23 +0000

The San Francisco Arts Commission (which is home to WritersCorps) is presenting a poetry reading tonight as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Neighborhood Arts Program. Looks like a stellar lineup. They’ve got some heavyweight writers like devorah major, Janice Mirikitani and Jack Hirshman as well as some more emerging writers like Leticia Hernandez (who, by the way, is on our advisory board.)

It starts at 7 tonight at Glide Memorial Church. (300 Ellis Street.) Also reading are: Roberto Vargas, Carolyn Caldwell, Al Robles, Alejandro Murgia, Anh-Hoa Nguyen and Nina Serrano. It’s free and there will be snacks from Mission Pie and Benkyodo.

Judith’s New Site

Admin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:28:55 +0000

Our training coordinator, Judith Tannebaum, has revamped her personal Web site. It’s full of information about teaching arts and prison arts, so if you’re looking for resources on those subjects, check it out.