Contemporary Learning Academy Speaks! Vol. 1 Cafe Cultura Community Speaks Project #10 Xpress Yourself Participants
Contemporary Learning Academy Speaks! Vol. 1 Copyright Š 2014 by Xpress Yourself Participants All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.
To the students at CLA who push through the struggles to reach their dreams.
Acknowledgments Thank you to Contemporary Learning Academy staff for giving us the opportunity to work with your students in telling their stories. Shout out to all Xpress Yourself workshop participants for putting forth your time, words, and energy in making our time together a success. Keep writing! “It’s our responsibility and choice to express ourselves and lift our voice, together building unity, leaders in our community. This is how we tell our stooorrrryyyy!
Foreword Even with the short time we spent at Contemporary Learning Academy, this collection of spoken word/poetry offers a glimpse into the stories that these high school youth have to tell. We are extremely proud of the insight they showed throughout this process. We hope you enjoy the poems presented here and use them as examples of how you too can express yourself and tell your own story. For those who do not know about organization: Café Cultura is an award-winning arts, culture, and youth development organization in Denver that promotes unity and healing among Indigenous peoples through creative expression while empowering youth to find their voice, reclaim oral and written traditions, and become leaders in their communities. Café Cultura has been providing positive, creative, and engaging community spaces for the Denver metropolitan area for more than nine years. The idea for our organization emerged during the summer of 2004 with the passing of respected elder and veteran poet Abelardo “Lalo” Delgado. At that moment, we realized and accepted our responsibility to continue using our oral and written traditions to provide opportunities for creative expression not offered in schools or in the larger community. Café Cultura also drew inspiration from the movements connecting Indigenous people from throughout the Americas. In that spirit of Red/Brown Unity, we hoped to use creative expression to unify people representing southern Indigenous nations, known by terms such as “Chicana/o,” “Mexicana/o,” and “Latina/o,” with those Natives of northern nations, referred to today as “Native American” or “American Indian.” Café Cultura’s most well-known event has found a home at the Denver Inner City Parish/La Academia, where we consistently attract 150 to 350 people the second Friday of every month. In
fact, we host one of the best open mic venues in the Denver metropolitan area, and the only space focused on family and youth. We take pride in featuring amazing poets, musicians, and visual artists from the Denver area as well as those from outside the state. CafĂŠ Cultura also conducts highly engaging and culturally relevant spoken word/poetry workshops for underserved youth throughout Colorado. CafĂŠ Cultura partners with select organizations and schools to facilitate an intensive workshop series, publish youth poetry, and organize participant showcases. In an effort to develop young leaders within our community, we also coordinate a youth leadership program for Indigenous youth. If you or your organization is interested in collaborating, feel free to contact us. We hope to see you the 2nd Friday of every month. For more information: info@cafecultura.org; 720-394-6589 www.cafecultura.org; www.facebook.com/cafecultura
Table of Contents Freedom by Maria ..................................................................................1 Identity by Luis .......................................................................................2 Say it Loud! by Jaelyn ............................................................................3 Abstract by Amber.................................................................................4 Love and Pain by Martha ......................................................................5 Gifts from Life by Christian .................................................................6 Mole by Marco........................................................................................7 My Life Story by Francisco ...................................................................8 Mi Cultura by Maximino .................................................................... 10 My Beautiful Life by Iris .................................................................... 11 Mom by Alondra ................................................................................. 12 Rodeo by Alondra ............................................................................... 13 Now 18 by Luis ................................................................................... 14 Potential by Omar ............................................................................... 15 Untitled by Russell .............................................................................. 16
Freedom by Maria I am the cheesy, spicy, and crispy enchiladas, that my mom makes with love and happiness. The smell reminds me of my family union. I come from a fight that will never end where you never have to give up, where we always have to be strong. I will never forget the smell that transports me to a delicious, spicy place. I will always remember how they brought my family together for us to all enjoy it. It is our link of my and our generations. I always have in mind the feeling of home, the tall, tall trees, water streaming. The beautiful waterfall, drops like a rainbow, the caves giving an echo on each step I give. I will always remember the smell of a relaxing breeze as you breathe freely, the sense of freedom.
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Identity by Luis I am Luis Estrada. I am his son. I come from times of him telling me that we’re going to the mountains. I am learning from someone who wasn’t there when I needed him most. I am 18. Who needs a dad, when you’re trying to teach yourself how to be the man? I come from an alcoholic crazy night, when you’re ten, knowing what it feels like to be the babysitter of your friend on a night out drinking, when you hadn’t ever drank. That was where I came from I see him then, when I took a trip to Mexico and I think now, how will he take his trip to come visit me? Then I realize, he can’t come back. He took his trip back home and there I was waiting for him.
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Say it Loud! by Jaelyn Black pride, Black power… We have been through so much and have overcome even more. As black people, we are talented, honoring, loving, and very strong people. “They” have tried to lock us up and tear us down. We conquered it then and will continue to conquer it now. Black pride, Black power We fight for each other, not with each other. We must stick together with power, honor, love and respect. From the day I as born, until the day I’m resting in the ground, I will always and forever be Black and Proud!
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Abstract by Amber I’m a painting without a caption, not that you could capture me in a word or two, or three. I’m the impatient dabbles of the addict filled with despair. I’m the lush strokes of the selfish child who never learned how to share. I’m the random splurges of color from a woman with a heart so big, her chest can barely contain it. I’m the faded fingerprints of the lost ones that made it.
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Love and Pain by Martha I am the tamales my family makes for Christmas. The dedication comes from all the women of the house. I will never forget the kids smiling with happiness or the smell at home while waiting for me to be ready. I will never forget the moment I received the beautiful necklace my mom gave me. Four little girls represent love and unity. Each one has with a different personality, color, and humor. I will never forget the last time I hugged him. I will always remember how bad he used to treat us. But no matter what, he is my dad. I love him with all my heart. I miss him. He means everything to me. He left to Mexico. It’s sad, but that’s life. Twelve years away and I still have faith, one day.
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Gifts from Life by Christian There is nothing like feeling the sun tanning your skin, the sound of ocean waves, playing in the sand with your toes waiting for the wave to hit and pull you. Family time is well spent when you’re having a great time. In Acapulco, many people sell their talent, whether it’s braiding hair, cooking, or just making things to sale. Watching a dreamcatcher being made was simply amazing. That’s real talent. All the good experience I’ve had were all thanks to my aunty Juliet, a strong, beautiful, and independent woman. Her saying has always been: “Be free, and be yourself.”
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Mole by Marco I am the sweet, spicy, bomb dish made with chile, ahoholing, chile, and platano. The smell reminds me of my beautiful state Puebla, Mexico. It brings my family together and makes everyone happy. You will see this wonderful dish during in special events and holidays. My car is a small fancy object it take me enough. It’s a very funny looking black car. I worked hard for it, all summer. I love my car, the first nice car I ever had I takes me to school, the store, a party, or anywhere I want. Before having a car, I would use the RTD.
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My Life Story by Francisco I come from a mother who gave her strength, soul, and wisdom to stay alive and be here right now. I understand the stress, the effort, the power she went through to put me here. I have the power to carry through and be successful in life. I am from Cuernavaca, Morelos. I can’t remember a lot. The memories are fading away. I can’t seem to let them go. Cuernavaca, a land with a house, cows, and great food. Mole, the taste of sweet chile, that satisfies your hunger. The arroz is warm and tasty when it first touches your tongue. I am the warm tamales that come out of the pot looking nice and juicy. The smell reminds me of Mexico, when grandma first told us about them. I come from the old days when every mother made them. I will always remember that first bite of that juicy carne de puerco
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and warmed masa that hits the spot after a long day of work. I will never forget the tamales grandma and mom shared.
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Mi Cultura by Maximino I am the delicious and hot mole my grandmother makes with chicken, chile, and love. The smell reminds me of her. I come from the combination of mole and the love she puts into it. I will always remember each bit of chicken and taste of chile. I will never forget the smell of mole that my grandma makes. It is our ancestors who made it and will stay in our present and future.
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My Beautiful Life by Iris I come from the tasty, spicy menudo made out of carnitas, lechuga, chile, kindness, and amor from my mom and aunt. The hard work and time creates something beautiful that brings all the family together. It comes from really old times. I am from a place that I haven’t really been to. The weather is beautiful. When you go, a lot of people know you and each other. It is like being in the sky because people really respect you and each other. I will never forget my brother who first went to go to college. He gives me an example of the good path I should follow. He gives the right directions to go far in life. It is like watching an angel fly into the distance. He gives me hope that am going to be successful in life. Walking with your head held high and your body straight, walking with hope, is another good path to your future. I will never forget my graduation that took me far in life.
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Mom by Alondra Maria is mother and father, strong but weak. She is the woman who has always kept her kids strong, the woman who works in order to have what we need the one who loves in a way nobody can. He has taught me that if I want something, I can get it with the help of no one. Lessons have showed her a lot, but nothing will tear her apart.
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Rodeo by Alondra I am from the land of alacranes, from Rodeo, Durango, from the dirt roads I walk every time I visit. I am from a place where everybody knows each other. I am from my grandma’s cooking, from the building my mom is bringing up, from the nights spent at the plaza and the time spent with my family. I will never forget the things I’ve done there. I will always remember my grandpa and the horses he left behind. I am from the time spent with family and the eyes that saw me grow.
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Now 18 by Luis I am on the phone with him Is he a friend or my dad? I can’t really say. We’ll talk all day. You make me laugh But does that really make up for a lost past? We talk here again and again. Guess what we could’ve talked about today, dad? I drove for the first time. I almost hit a fence. I was with Meno he was right next to me. Isn’t that where you should’ve been? I don’t know. Maybe I’m just hurt that when you left, I don’t remember you saying good bye. It’s alright. Everything I did/learned was on my own. I might call you tonight on a phone card I paid for because my mentality is get it on my own because you weren’t here to ask por favor.
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Potential by Omar I have a lot of places to go but no place to call home. I have a lot of things on my mind, so I roll my best to get rid of my stress . . . take it straight to my dome. It’s a big world, so why do I feel so alone? I’m on my George Thoroughgood ‘cuz I’m bad to the bone. I don’t need anybody. I can make it on my own. I’m a hand grenade that’s ready to explode. Some people on they little kid shit – they need to act grown. I want my name in shining lights Living the big life, I want to be known. They say I got potential, but I guess it’s something I’m not showin’.
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Untitled by Russell I’m stuck trying to please everybody, but nobody understands. The struggles pull down my spirits like a ball and chain. Believing life is fertile, but really it’s just a game. I’m trying to find myself through all this madness. I never give up, never give up, defeat is not an option. I’m willing to give up everything for a restart. All the shoes, clothes, and jewelry, they don’t mean a thing, but status. Coming from nothing, but learning everything.