Peacefulwood

Written and Illustrated by Wentworth Elementary School Students

What do you wish for in a perfect neighborhood?

What are your dreams for the Englewood of the future?

Janiya M.

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What do you wish for in a perfect neighborhood?

What are your dreams for the Englewood of the future?

Malik W. Elissa S.

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Destiny J. Keelah H.

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I Spy...

1st Grade

...23 flowers, 3 beaches, 5 nice houses, 1 Batman, 4 Avengers, 1 Super Boot, 1 Kalvin on a horse, 8 peaceful places, 2 swimming pools, 2 playgrounds, 6 families, 2 nice cars

Sincere B, Teshan B, Santino B, Kasia C, Janiyah C, Branden E, Unique F, Gionna G, Troy G, Janiya A, Joshua H, Kalvin J, Lauren J, Destiny M, Airle M, Lamya M, Makaya O, Christopher P, Ty’rihanna R, Makaiyah R, Camren S, Iyanna W, Kierra W

I wish for Batman and Robin catching butterflies, a house with a bowl of flowers, and superheroes.

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Kayla J

1st Grade

Demetrianna M, Jonta W, LaNia S, Makare T, Marie W, Carmella H, Cameron S, Tamarion M, Tonique M, Janae V 1st Grade

Asia F, Jahaun S, Deon B, Demetrius P, Deyshia C, Emanuel W, Janae V, Derrel C, Traziya H

1st Grade

I will want an indoor pool because if it’s cold you can just get in the pool. After you are done you can dry off. Then you can eat.

Then if you want, you can stay in the pool until you want to get out of the pool, or you can invite your friends over if your parents let you.

—Jashya H

I pick pool party because when it is hot outside I know people will want to get in some cool water. It’s much better if you do it outside.

If you do it inside you will get your house wet.

—Jayveon W

Kdg/1st 2nd/3rd Grade

Jamie T Traziya H LaNia S Shawndria M Dajuan W

Indoor Pool: This will have a water slide, one that leads to water and one that doesn’t, a big pool in the middle, a play house on the side, and a place where you can sit and dip your feet. This can help Englewood because sometimes it’s super hot and people try getting under a fan.

—Journi S

We want people to come to our movies, and we need people to work there and get lots of money.

We want security people.

We need popcorn, pizza, candy,

pop, juice, and slushies.

—Jose S

1st/2nd Grade

Daewon H Jessie G Jose S Ryan D

1st/2nd Grade

Damariyon T Marcus B

2nd Grade

B re l S r e Ki nue S a M ose J

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2nd Grade

Malik C~money cars

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M, Jermara G, B ri a na

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Da’marion E~pet shop

Jacob J~talking fruit

2nd Grade

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2nd Grade

. Michael A ses u o

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I’m Teya B, President of Englewood. I welcome you to the Perfect Englewood. We are opening a new homeless shelter, a pet shelter, and this beautiful garden behind me. We also have colorful houses, money trees and hot red candy trees.

1st/2nd Grade

Jonell G, Kenjoshua P, Marcus B, Steven C, Tiyanna L, Tatiana N, Micyah B, Damariyon T, Teya B

Our dream for Englewood is to have a zoo because people sometimes like to take their family to the zoo and have fun. Some people like to go for a camel ride and have a meeting together to get a job at the zoo. We can work together, pet the animals, and have fun. — Nyla H, Victoria C

1st/2nd Grade

Randy R, Jamie T, Tracey C, Takyla B

Haikus

A Better Englewood

Take care of homeless.

Give money to the homeless.

Help the poor kids learn.

By Aria G

3rd Grade Art (top-bottom): Demarcus L, Aria G, Shyann H

Kamari M

Make more schools for kids.

Make more restaurants for me.

Do not fight no more.

Erique S

Aaliyah M

Erique S

By Erique S

Take guns out the block.

Put dogs on leashes.

Add more toys in Englewood.

3rd Grade

By Marshawn D

Daja H Chasity R Marshwn D

Markel B

Javon C

Keenan R

Makaya C

Stop fighting people.

Make the world a better place.

More friends no more fights.

Take the guns way.

Cleaning is easy and fun.

Kids have fun at parks.

By Javon C

3rd Grade

By Bithiah L

Iyana T

Bithiah L Jamari H

Egypt G

Kaylinn J

Anthony R

3rd Grade

No trash on the streets.

Put more homes in Englewood.

We want less fighting.

By Anthony R

Lakeiah S

Tashonne P

Imani W

Kayla M~The petting zoo is for kids who love petting pets.

Cats, dogs, birds, and hamsters.

Angel G Kendarius R

Shakyla B Mohogany C

Malachi D Donte W Demetri B

Iviana G Tony W Amyla F

3rd Grade

Jashay H What I want in my nice Englewood is some nice parks. More parks for children to play in at school in the summer.

Shakyla B I would like to plant more plants. I like plants and it gives more air. It also makes gardens look very pretty. It will give you more honey.

I would like to have a greenhouse.

Amyla F What I want in Englewood is an indoor pool.

I want that because it comes in handy if you are going to a swimming race you can win it because there is an indoor pool in your neighborhood.

3rd Grade

Gregory W~I will want more Burger Kings. Why? Because where I go I want a burger or something I can eat on the road.

Because I do not have to walk 3 blocks to a Burger King. And get free burgers on Monday and Fridays for little kids 3-10.

Bruce S, Gregory W, Journi S, Kenya B, Ashley D, Otavion M, Makaylia D, Anthony S, Kayla M, Markeisha P, Jovon H, Jamya B, Jayveon W, Avion B, Emmanuel D, Jashya H, Jashay H, Kentreal H

This book stemmed from a quick drawing assignment that Rachel and I gave my 1st grade students earlier this year. Rachel’s magazine, StudentsXpress, was originally created for young Chicago Public School students as an alternative to expressing themselves through violence.

Wentworth Elementary was the first school from the South Side that Rachel contacted to contribute to StudentsXpress, and because of this, she wanted Wentworth to be a part of this book as well.

I believe art can save lives. Maybe not directly—like a doctor or a firefighter can—but I believe we need it to truly live. It’s part of what makes a community. Expressing oneself productively—in words and art—is important. Words can change lives. Words lead to action.

This book represents one way I’m trying to do my part about the epidemic of violence in Chicago. By giving students a voice, we give them the ability to imagine a better community—a better future.

It’s one piece to the puzzle needed to fix the problem. Every piece has a place, and we can all work on the puzzle together.

What is a perfect community? Wentworth Elementary students have some wonderful ideas. They are the future of Chicago, and I hope they remember some of these ideas as they become adults. They should be very proud. Their art is beautiful, their words are powerful, and their ideas are unbelievable...unbelievably clever, thoughtful and imaginative.

I regularly hear students of all ages talking about violence as if it is an everyday occurrence, because in their world it is. As a result, their conversations are littered with the words shooting, murder, rape and jail and no one blinks. Following one such discussion about violence and how it has affected the lives of their families and friends, I asked 1st grade students to illustrate their experiences using pencil and paper.

Those drawings were then submitted by Rachel to the Awesome Foundation, and the Foundation awarded us a grant to create this book.

However, rather than focus on the negative, we wanted the children to have a forum to express their positive thoughts and ideas for the future.

The opportunity to write and illustrate a book detailing their ideas for a better Englewood would be proof that the art my students create and the choices they make have the potential to make the world a better place.

I know firsthand how children can be very closemouthed about their feelings but very open when it comes to putting their ideas into their work. As their teacher it is my responsibility to see that they have the tools and skills necessary to express what is in their minds’ eyes, and understand the power and permanence of art and literature.

Through the use of pencil, crayons, pastels, markers, water colors and collage, this book shares Wentworth students’ feelings about the Englewood of today and their dreams for the Englewood of tomorrow, and is tangible evidence of the strength of their self expression and creativity. I hope they are extremely proud of themselves. I certainly am.

But I believe...and I hope they do too.

Rachel Switall Creator, StudentsXpress Magazine

Deborah Davis Visual Arts Teacher, Wentworth Elementary School

Co-creators Rachel Switall & Deborah Davis

Wentworth Principal Dina Everage Wentworth Teachers (Kdg-3rd) K. Robinson, L. Boynes, H. McGovern, M. Deksnis, A. Miller, M. Geist, A. Gebhardt, J. Ashley, Q. Brown, A. Muhammad Wentworth Language Arts Teacher (6th-8th) Brittaney Simmons

Special thanks to: The Awesome Foundation, Chicago Branch & Martin Davis

A StudentsXpress publication

Wentworth Elementary students picture a better Englewood....and a better future.

cover art by 3rd Grade