Acknowledgments

Laurence Steven Minter

To the Academy Group, who’s mission is fueled by the belief that talent is ubiquitous, thank you for trusting and believing in the transformative power of poetry. The allowance of this course being offered is a testament to the demonstrated excellence, curiosity, and eloquence of these students.

To my young poets who have taught me so much. Thank you for for the laughs, the attention, and the patience we have shared with each other. This jouney was not easy, and it came with many challenges but we faced them together. Thought it was hard at times, you kept trying and you found the language.

Remember the power in your name, remember to be curious, and rememeber that even in the silence you can find your voice. Keep writing and keep growing.

Continue to be a light in this world of ours.

Contributors

Jose David Del Aguila is going into the fifth grade at Moos Elementary school. Writing calms him down.

Oluwapemisire Akala is going into the fifth grade at Thorp Elementary school. He’s a gamer, loves playing soccer, and cooking. This summer he’s learned to give confidence to what he’s writing.

Derek Blodgett is going into the fifth grade at Ray Elementary School.

Tylend Coleman is going into the fifth grade at Wrightwood Elementary School. He enjoys playing video games. His specialty is writing sentences.

Tyler Coleman is going into the fifth grade at Wrightwood Elementary School. He likes anime, animals, sports, and cars. He enjoyed writing a Haiku with his group for the first time this summer.

Camila Cordero is going into the fifth grade at AGC Academy for Global Citizenship. She likes writing Haiku’s !

Caleb Henderson is going into the fifth grade at CICS Prairie. In three words he would describe himself as silly, kind, and happy. His favorite subjects are reading and math. His favorite experience with poetry was writing at Billy Barn’s Community Garden.

Jordan Hester is going into the fifth grade at Kellogg School. He loves his family and friends, as well as playing sports. His main sports are basketball and football. He loves god and puppies. Writing makes him calm down when he’s mad.

Maria Howard is going into the fifth grade at North Kenwood Oakland (NKO). Through writing she’s learned to take her time.

Xoe Kippers is going into the fifth grade at Lenart Regional Gifted Center. She has written multiple books, poems, and wants to be an author. She plans on going to Howard for college and is participating in AG to help her reach that goal.

Xolani Kippers is going into the fifth grade at Andrew Carnegie Elementary School. He likes to cook, play games, and talking to his friends. He sees writing as a way that people can express their feelings deeply.

Arianna Maldonado is going into the fifth grade at Matthew Gallistel Language Academy. She’s in love with ducks and has a duck plushie. She likes reading and her favorite book is They Both Die at the End and If This Were a Story.

Jasmine Martinez is going into the fifth grade at Cesar E. Chavez Multicultural Academic Center (MAC). My favorite book is Babymouse because it shows the life of a young mouse in high school and how the life of a teenager is.

Cinquain

Fruits

Sweet sour

Eating, cleaning, picking

Good for your health

Fruits Haiku

So flavorful to Me. I was hyper and tired

Still love doritos

Cinquain

Soccer

Fun time

Winning, losing, crying

Playing with your friends

Fútbol