Words Unlocked 2019
Transcendence!
Words Unlocked Update #9: Winning Poems!
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*Be sure to scroll down for resources and weekly updates!*
Words Unlocked is a month-long initiative that includes a seven-day structured poetry curriculum for young people in confinement. Our practitioner-ready curricular materials, which include lessons à la carte, culminate with a nationwide competition and publishing venues for poetic works.
“Pain is important: how we evade it, how we succumb to it, how we deal with it, how we transcend it.” – Audre Lorde
This year's theme is transcendence. Transcendence is the existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level, beyond our circumstance. The power of the human spirit to transcend and be oneself in the face of things happening around and even to us is nothing short of magical. Through Words Unlocked we hope to encourage young people held in locked facilities to voice their truths about the ways their circumstances contribute to, yet do not solely define, who they are.
Far too many young people are locked up around the country. Through this initiative, we continue to ensure that their words are not.
Words Unlocked Update #8: The Distinguished Dozen!
Congratulations teachers and poets! We'll be back in touch next week with an update on the contest winners.
Poem: This is My Life
Poet: Demetrius & Josiah
School: McLaughlin High School
Facility: McLaughlin Youth Center
State: Alaska
Teacher: Leslie Fleming
Poem: Transcendence
Poet: Ryan
Facility: Durango Juvenile Detention Center
State: Arizona
Teacher: Alex Lopez & Traci Ball
Poem: I'll be Me
Poet: Samantha
Facility: Golden Ridge Juvenile Hall
State: California
Teacher: Aiko Akers
Poem: IDK
Poet: Anthony
Facility: Pinellas Juvenile Detention Center
State: FL
Teacher: Derek Sanders
Poem: The Drug in Me
Poet: McKenzie
School: Juniper Hills School
Facility: Nampa
State: Idaho
Teacher: Alice Marlow
Poem: Warrior Built
Poet: Greggory
School: Juniper Hills
Facility: St. Anthony
State: Idaho
Teacher: Owen Hirschi
Poem: Mr. Farney's Class
Poet: Trinity
Facility: LaPorte Juvenile Correctional Facility
State: IN
Teacher: Janet Freeman
Poem: Transcend
Poet: Jeremy
School: North Carolina Learning Academy
Facility: Cumberland Juvenile Detention Center
State: NC
Teacher: Ruth Dee
Poem: Bad Liar
Poet: Patricia
School: Yvonne B. Miller High School
Facility: Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center
State: VA
Teacher: Leigh Barnett
Poem: I'm Special
Poet: M.M.
School: Vel R. Phillips School
Facility: Milwaukee County Juvenile Justice Center
State: Wisconsin
Teacher: Michael Riedl
Poem: Peeling a Husk
Poet: M.S.
School: Horizonte
Facility: Odyssey Adolescent
State: UT
Teacher: Anders Kvaal
Poem: Breaking My Mother's Addiction
Poet: D.A.C
School: Granite YES School
Facility: Salt Lake Valley Detention Center
State: UT
Teacher: Bonnie Shaw
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ALERT: Words Unlocked 2019 Contest Update!
From there, the Top 10 poems will move forward the the final round and will be under the gaze of reviewing artist and Words Unlocked inaugural focus poet, Jimmy Santiago Baca.
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Words Unlocked Update #7: May 20, 2019
WU19 Poetry Contest: Review Round 1
All poems are currently in the hands of our Round 1 Volunteer Reviewers. We'll be back next week with another update on the review process. By then, we will have moved on to round two. From there, the top 10 poems will be in the hands of Words Unlocked Reviewing Artist, Jimmy Santiago Baca.
Teacher Spotlight: Leslie Fleming from Alaska!
Let's hear the experience straight from Leslie!
"McLaughlin High School in Anchorage, Alaska had an amazing Poetry Café last Friday, May 10th. We transformed our library into a café with food, coffee, music, and sharing of poetry.
I wasn’t sure how it was going to go when I kept hearing from students that they didn’t want to do their poem. I was pleasantly surprised as students went up to the microphone and things started moving along smoothly. Each one inspired the next resulting in 28 poems being presented.
The Poetry Cafe was more than I had imagined! After that we honored seniors by having everyone write a couplet on the black paper covered tables (with white pencils). Students moved on to another table and added another couplet. All were read aloud afterwards. The informal atmosphere created an experience where students felt as if they really were at a café for a couple hours. I was going to attach the program and then realized it had their first and last name, but have attached a photo that captures a very small window into the MYC Poetry Café.
Way to go, Leslie! Check out the image of the MYC Poetry Café! We love it...candlelit and all!!
Praise Your Poets!
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Words Unlocked Update #6: Week of April 29, 2019
WU19 Submissions
The submissions are steadily coming through the WU19 Submission Portal! Wow!
Having trouble? Send us a quick email at WordsUnlocked@ceeas.org and we'll support you to ensure your poets voices are heard!
Poetry Café Highlights!
Check out the pics below! (Want to share your journey with us? Reach out at to us today at WordsUnlocked@ceeas.org.
Transcendence Café in Florida
Transcendence Café Billboard
1st Annual Poetry Night in Missouri
Teacher Spotlight: Jackie Munster from Missouri!
Here is what Jackie had to say!
"On Sunday, April 21st GRTC hosted our First Annual Poetry Night and it was a huge success!! As part of CEEAS Words Unlocked Initiative, our youth have been studying poetry during the month of April and had the opportunity to write their own poems that could be entered into a nationwide contest. I couldn’t be more proud of the effort that these boys put into their poetry! The event went over great and we had over 40 people in attendance. I was also very proud that even though some of our youth were very nervous to get up in front of the crowd to read their poems, they faced those fears and did a wonderful job!
For the contest, only 2 youth poems could be submitted per facility, so our staff in attendance voted and the winning poems were written by BJ S. and Hunter M. Their poems will be entered into the CEEAS National Contest!
I also wanted to thank everyone that made the event a success— Rick for being very supportive and allowing me to do the event! Patty for helping me get set up with the snacks and refreshments! Our CLC for giving us the funds for the snacks and refreshments. Staff that helped with supervision during the event and voting for the contest. Clarissa for taking pictures!
Again I cannot express how happy I am with how the event turned out! I can’t wait to do it again next year!!!!!!"
To that we respond smiling, nodding and finger snapping (of course). You go, Jackie!
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Words Unlocked Update #5: Week of April 21, 2019
WU19 Submission Portal is Open!
The WU19 poems are flowing in! So far, we've received poems from Florida, Maryland, Utah and Wisconsin. Looking forward to receiving more! Please remember to consult to the WU19 Contest Guidelines and only submit your top poems after holding your local competition.
If you have any trouble downloading the WU19 Submission Template or uploading to the WU19 Submission Portal, please email us at WordsUnlocked@ceeas.org and we'll get on it.
Teacher Spotlight!
"This week we are incorporating the new skills we have learned into writing a poem to our victims. The students have learnt about their direct and indirect victims and how their actions affected someone else."
Jenny, thank you for empowering your students to embrace our collective responsibility to one another.
Poetry Break!
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Words Unlocked Update #4: Week of April 15, 2019
WU19 Poetry Submission Template
Please download the WU19 Poetry Submission Template. This is a Word document and we ask that all submissions be uploaded as Word documents, using this template. PDFs will not be accepted.
Why? If one of your poets is featured on our CEEAS website, it makes life easier when working with a Word document.
*Note that contest rules have changed as we move into our 6th year or Words Unlocked! Please host local Poetry Cafés or Poetry Slams! From there, send us your winning poem.
Thanks in advance! : )
WU19 Submission Portal is open!
Poetry Break!
- In what ways might the danger of silence show up in our spaces?
- In what ways can we empower our students to embrace their voices and use words to transcend their circumstance?
Enjoy!
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Words Unlocked Update #3: Week of April 8, 2019
Poetry Café
How might you select your school's entries? Have a poetry café! A Poetry Café allows your poets to share the work they have done, not only with their classmates and teachers, but also with the special guests that they invite. These invited guests can be asked to join in the fun by reading their own favorite poems aloud. During the Poetry Café the scholar-poets can read aloud some of the poems they created or read one favorite poem by an author that they studied during reading workshop.
Check out the Words Unlocked Poetry Café page for guidance!
Tell It!
Teacher Spotlight & Poetry Break!
This week our spotlight is on Jackie Munster, a teacher at Gentry Residential Treatment Center in Cabool, Missouri.
Jackie is a shining example of tailoring Words Unlocked to the young people she serves. Check out this poetry break, entitled Ditch Diggers, by Eric Borden - The Pasture Poet. Check out his website and click the image below to watch the poem and hear Eric share the inspiration behind his creation.
What local poet resonates with the young people you serve? How might you introduce that poet's work to ignite your students' creativity?
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Words Unlocked Update #2: Wee of April 1, 2019
WU19 Kickoff Video
Who's ready!?
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Words Unlocked Update #1: Week of March 25, 2019
Oops!
WU19 Contest Guidelines
Still wondering if the young people you work with are eligible to submit? Just ask! Email us at WordsUnlocked@ceeas.org
WU19 Calendar
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Words Unlocked is BACK for 2019!
“Pain is important: how we evade it, how we succumb to it, how we deal with it, how we transcend it.”
~ Audre Lorde
In the spirit of National Poetry Month and in a continuing effort to encourage literary exploration by young people held in locked facilities, we are proud to announce that we will again be running our month-long poetry writing initiative and competition, Words Unlocked!
This year's theme is transcendence. Transcendence is the existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level, beyond our circumstance. The power of the human spirit to transcend and be oneself in the face of things happening around and even to us is nothing short of magical. Through Words Unlocked we hope to encourage young people held in locked facilities to voice their truths about the ways their circumstances contribute to yet do not solely define who they are.
All materials for the initiative are available at our Words Unlocked website, which will house a robust set of tools available for public use: daily lesson plans and teacher-ready classroom materials. Check back often, as we will continue adding material! Please share the website with anyone who might help get these materials to teachers working with incarcerated youth. We hope to have thousands of students kicking off Words Unlocked 2019 on Monday, April 1st.
Far too many young people are locked up around the country. Through this initiative, we continue to ensure that their words are not.
WU19 Updates!
The Words Unlocked 2018 theme was multiformity! Click HERE and take some time to read and listen to what young people held in locked facilities had to say through their poetry and podcasting about the complexity of their human being.
words unlocked resist
shouting above silent whirlds
multiformity
The Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings
We help schools inside locked facilities implement transformational, student-focused practices, designed to significantly improve the life chances of the students they serve.
Email: WordsUnlocked@ceeas.org
Website: www.ceeas.org
Location: Washington, DC, United States
Phone: (240) 326-3796
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CEEAS.org/
Twitter: @SecondChanceEDU