By Sara Ries Dziekonski
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New Arts Coast Writers
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NEA/Pinellas Recovers Grant Update
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As the pandemic swept across the globe, changing the course of our lives, Pinellas County School Board’s 21st Century iclass students gathered virtually to continue their creative writing classes with me.
At first this change was heartbreaking because nothing can replace the beauty of sharing ideas and emotions in the same physical space. Nevertheless, some beauty has emerged from a troubling time in that I can now reach many schools with writing activities in the same time it would take me to facilitate a creative writing class with one classroom of writers.
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I am currently running a Virtual Lit Writing Camp through Keep St. Pete Lit with 6 Pinellas County Elementary Schools, and last year there were 8 schools. There are a lot of participants in these virtual lit sessions, over a hundred.
Week after week, these young scholars bravely share their truths, wisdom and dreams. They share their wishes for a more just and kind world, their personal stories of joy and heartache, and their wisdom on how to make the world a better place.
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We have much to learn from these young leaders. It has been an honor to witness these scholars discovering the safe space and possibility of the blank page and the power of the pen as they build something beautiful and important out of words.
They show up week after week to tackle big emotions and take risks even when they’re nervous, even when they’re scared, even when the world feels cruel. They show up and read what they’ve written to other elementary-aged writers from around Pinellas County. Through their writing and performance, they nudge us to laugh a little more, too.
I hope the work of these strong voices leaves you with your pockets full of hope and your hearts a little more open
Warmly,
Sara Ries Dziekonski
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I Am
~ a collaborative poem by scholars at New Heights Elementary,
74th Street Elementary and High Point Elementary
I am like a bird that flies over
a mountain. I am happy
like a cherry blossom.
I am smart like Einstein.
I am a leader like Rosa Parks.
I am that girl who won’t give up.
I am a painter. I am good
at basketball. I am good
at reading. I am the brave girl
who will climb a mountain in Alaska.
I am that sound when the soccer
ball strikes. I am a good friend.
I am thankful to be here.
I am loved. I am loving.
I am love like I love my mom
and brother and dad.
I am good at helping animals.
I am cool. I am when flowers
grow tall. I am the wind
of the trees. I am a light
and when I shine, I shine
bright. I am a strong sister.
I am a fire extinguisher.
I am good like strawberries.
I am Earth’s kind.
I am the sound in the fire.
I am good like Sonic Spin.
I am unique like a tiger’s stripe.
I am nice like the bottom of my heart.
I am stars from above.
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We’ve been creating community poems. So each student who shares their poem on a theme has a line in the community poem. I write a line down from each student as they share, then I arrange the lines into the community poem.
I do a few of these community poems throughout the year, and they are inspired by Kwame Alexander, NPR’s poet-in-residence.
I like these community poems a lot because the work doesn’t leave any students out, and they all see their voice in the poem.
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I Am
~ a collaborative poem by scholars at Dunedin Elementary,
Eisenhower Elementary and Gulfport Elementary
I am the Sun to your Moon.
I am amazing. I am the strong
and stronger. I am love.
I am that sound in the trees
when the birds chirp.
I am that lightning.
I am a ruby that shines red
and bright in a world
of color and wonder.
I am kind. I am fast.
I am a kick that passes
the defense and makes
a last-minute goal.
I am shiny like a star.
I am a light when I have an idea.
I am the clickety-clack
on the keyboard when you
are typing. I am that sound
when the ocean waves hit
the shore. I am like the center
of a lollipop. I am smart
like a scientist. I am good
to the core because I clean places
to keep the Earth healthy.
I guess you could say
I’m one with nature.
I am a river that flows forever.
I Dream a World
~ a collaborative poem by scholars at New Heights Elementary
and High Point Elementary – inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem, “I Dream a World”
I dream a world like
a colorful, gentle morning.
I dream a world of life and nature
being together. I dream a world
of no more littering. I dream a world
of a calm, cool, day.
I dream a world of my love
to your love. I dream a world
of no bullies.
I dream a world of care.
I dream a world where people create peace.
I dream a world where people can get along.
I dream a world where I can eat all hot dogs.
I dream a world where superpowers
are for everybody. I dream a world where people
use strength in a good way.
I dream a world of harmony.
I dream a world of honest people.
I dream a world where women can do
the same as men. I dream a world of no
body shaming. I dream a world of equal
rules. I dream a world where everyone
has equal rights.
I dream a world of no racism.
I dream a world of no bad.
I dream a world where people
have good souls.
I dream a world of smiles.
I dream a world for the people
who take care of me.
I dream a world
where there will be
no car accidents.
I dream a world of no kidnappings.
I dream a world where it does not
stop raining.
I dream a world where countries work together
and stop fighting. I dream a world where everybody
helps poor people, so my people don’t die
because they don’t receive the help they need.
I dream a world where everyone has a home.
I dream a world of love.
I dream a world lovely.
I dream a world where everybody is kind.
I dream a world where everything
is made of candy.
I dream a world
where young voices
aren’t so small.
I Dream a World
~ a collaborative poem by scholars at Dunedin Elementary,
Eisenhower Elementary and Gulfport Elementary –
inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem, “I Dream a World”
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I dream a world where beautiful flowers
can bloom every spring. I dream
a world with music.
I dream a world of Earth-friendliness.
I dream a world with no pollution.
I dream a world where you can see
the beautiful sunset. I dream a world
where kids save the ocean.
I dream a world where people
come together in harmony
and peace. I dream a world
of happiness. I dream
a world of no sadness.
I dream a world with more food.
I dream a world where people and animals
won’t starve. I dream a world where everyone
has food and water.
I dream a world where people will be nice.
I dream a world where people won’t fight.
I dream a world where everyone is accepted.
I dream a world with Black and white people
playing together. I dream a world
with freedom and rights.
I dream a world where there’s more respect.
I dream a world where people listen
to Dr. Martin Luther King and do no harm.
I dream a world where people do not judge
by the color — I dream a world of no racism.
I dream a world of helping people who need it.
I dream a world where everybody has
a place to sleep. I dream a world where people
are kind everywhere.
I dream a world of love and more doctors.
I dream a world with no guns or violence.
I dream a world where everyone is loved.
I dream a world where the world can be good.
I dream a world where trampolines
are everywhere.
I dream a world that is fair.
I dream a world of equality. I dream
a world of passion, people uniting,
and no war. I dream a world where people
have peace and quiet.
I dream a world where everyone
is still learning. I dream a world where wishes
come true and everyone lives their best lives.
I dream a world where miracles
happen all the time.
Love Is
~ a collaborative poem by scholars at High Point Elementary
Love is apple slices.
Love is my grandma.
Love is everyone.
Love is where I live.
Love is swimming.
Love is seeing my dogs.
Love is music with kinds of melodies.
Love is books filled with entertainment.
Love yourself. Love me.
I love my family.
Love is my heart for other people.
Love is to help people up.
Love is who I am meant to be.
Love is challenges.
Love is food. Love is neat.
Love is not trash.
Love is not school when it’s boring.
Love is not dumb.
Love is the joy from people’s hearts.
Love is playing. Love is not fighting.
Love is not hurting other people’s feelings.
Love is not bullying.
Love is not mad.
Love is my favorite brother.
Love is lit.
Love has no rules.
Love is not faking love.
Love is being who you are.
Love is never a bad thing.
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Love Is
~ a collaborative poem by scholars at Dunedin Elementary,
Eisenhower Elementary and Gulfport Elementary
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Love is a flower in a field.
Love is soft and cozy.
Love is the word that brings me up
when I’m down. Love is hugs.
Love is telling someone they should have
a good day. Love is joy. Love is not boring.
Love is my dog when I play with him.
Love is being grateful. Love is being thankful.
Love is not judging people.
Love is not being mean.
Love is not bullying.
Love is not shootings.
Love is not exploiting people.
Love is peace.
Love is Black Lives Matter.
Love is love. Love is sharing.
Love is cool. Love is my room
and my bed.
Love is a clean ocean.
Love is not disrespectful.
Love is something you can’t buy.
Love is not heartbreak.
Love is hope. Love is hopeful.
Love is something you feel.
Love is moms. Love is dads.
Love is my friends. Love is promising.
Love is a cheeseburger that you love.
Love is cherishing someone.
Love is the most romantic thing in the world.
Love is the best. Love is strange.
Love is kind. Love is so nice.
Love is your grandma.
Love is everything in everyone.
Love is togetherness.
Love is family.
Love is life.
Love is hugging your dog.
Love is reading books.
Love is the best you can do.
Love is overjoyed.
Love is over the Moon.
keepstpetelit.org/kids-writing-classes
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Keep St. Pete Lit is a recipient of the Pinellas Recovers Grant,
provided by Creative Pinellas through a grant from the
National Endowment of the Arts American Rescue Plan.
