Heart & Hand Speaks! Vol. 2 Cafe Cultura Community Speaks Project #23 Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
Heart & Hand Speaks! Vol. 2 Copyright Š 2015 by Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12) 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 strong-willed youth in Heart & Hand’s afterschool program‌Continue using your voice to uplift yourself and others! #CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories
Acknowledgments Thank you to staff and volunteers of Heart and Hand for supporting our work with your youth during our Telling Our Stories workshop series. Special thank you to the dedicated participants for sharing your thoughts and hopes with us. Remember: “It is 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 For a second year, Café Cultura had the honor to continue our partnership with Heart & Hand in offering youth in the Five Points community opportunities for creative expression. We collectively pushed through with determination in service to the young people in the afterschool program. This book of spoken word/poetry represents a glimpse into the world of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade participants in Café Cultura’s Telling Our Stories workshop series offered during the 2014-2015 school year. As is clear in their work, these youth remind all of us that our dreams and voices matter. We know their words will have an impact, opening the door for us to express ourselves and tell our stories. For those who do not know about our 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 ten years. After the passing of respected elder and veteran poet Abelardo “Lalo” Delgado, we accepted responsibility to continue using our oral and written traditions to provide opportunities for creative expression often not offered in schools or in the larger community. Café Cultura also drew inspiration from the movement connecting Indigenous people from throughout the Americas. We use creative expression to unify people representing southern Indigenous nations, known by terms such as “Chicina/o” and “Latina/o,” with those Natives of northern nations, referred to as “American Indian” or “Native American.”
CafĂŠ Cultura hosts one of the best open mic venues in the Denver metropolitan area, and the only space focused on family and youth. We also conduct 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. For more information about our open mic events, workshops, youth leadership program, and other programs: info@cafecultura.org 720-394-6589 www.cafecultura.org
Table of Contents Independent Woman by Seaira ............................................................1 My Future by Emilia ..............................................................................2 The Power by Itzela ...............................................................................3 My Mom by Evelin ................................................................................4 Strength by Kiya .....................................................................................5 Her Eyes by Madison ............................................................................6 Menudo by Eymi ....................................................................................7 Focus on Education by Seaira ..............................................................8 Singing and Achieving by Emilia .........................................................9 Bullying by Itzela ................................................................................. 10 Stop the Bullying by Evelin ............................................................... 11 Sister Love by Najeah ......................................................................... 12 Lifting Me Up by Aija......................................................................... 13 Tether Ball by Seaira ........................................................................... 14 My Piece by Emilia ............................................................................. 15 I Have the Power by Itzela ................................................................ 16 Grandma by Konstince ...................................................................... 17 My Necklace by Seaira ........................................................................ 18 Friendship by Emilia........................................................................... 19 My Sister by Seaira .............................................................................. 20
Independent Woman by Seaira I am the woman who fights for her country. Her mind helps her become an independent woman. I am the woman who will always be strong and never give up.
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My Future by Emilia I see myself going to college and being able to start my life with my family. I will hold my future in my hand and with my happiness, inspire kids to go follow their dreams.
Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
The Power by Itzela I will always remember the sweet and bright smile on my grandma’s face. Even though she passed away, I still see her in my dreams. I can still hear her talking to me. I feel that she is with me. She tells me to never give up and keep dreaming. She lives on in the enchiladas that I love. When I eat them, it is something wonderful. I imagine myself being powerful and passionate. I am not afraid to show it.
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My Mom by Evelin I come from a mother who takes care of me. She feeds me and buys me what I need. I call my mom mama. I am lucky to have her. She is a good cook, a fun woman, and a nice mom. She makes me feel happy when I am sad. I will never forget when I was with her. She calms me down. I am the hot delicious tamales she makes. They are my favorite food. They remind me of my grandma and my hard work. I love my mom.
Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
Strength by Kiya I am tostadas. I have a family older than history. I am made of tomatoes, cheese, salad, beans, and greatness. I am mind-blowing. I remind myself of my grandmother, who makes me with love. I am good anytime. I am the gold key chain that a friend gave me. I can see life in it. I feel strength when touching it. I am a memory. I see her faith.
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Her Eyes by Madison I come from a mom who keeps me healthy and safe. When I look into her eyes, I see bravery and intelligence from a mile away. I am the pretty eyes her mother gave her. They are a reminder to be strong during times of strife. When I look into her eyes, they remind me of people who will rule one day. These eyes help her see her future.
Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
Menudo by Eymi I am the hot, delicious menudo my mom makes. I will never forget making it with her. Our menudo smells like my mom’s respect and love. My family enjoys tasting the hard work. I will always remember eating menudo with my grandma. It always feels like it is going through my body, filling me up with warmth.
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Focus on Education by Seaira I throw my hands up in the air sometimes when I see people just talking during class. “So, do you want to go to the movies this Saturday night. I am totally free. I can bring my boyfriend Jack along. We are going to see the new romantic comedy.” Can you please be quiet so I can focus? “Whatever, do not listen to that ugly witch.” I am not ugly! Besides, focus on education and not boyfriends. “Why?” Well, because you will get good grades, graduate, and go to college. The more you know, the more you grow. The more you learn, the more you earn. Boyfriends and girlfriends can wait, but your education and future cannot.
Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
Singing and Achieving by Emilia When I first walk in the room, I see thousands of people. I get shy. Someone came up to me and said, “you can’t do it, you suck at singing.” I believed her for 5 seconds, then I realized that I can. I can do it. The only person I should impress is my mom and myself. She will love me for how I am. I will always use my voice to bring power! So, give it what you got to achieve your goal. Nothing is impossible. Do not give up your dream for something someone else said to you.
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Bullying by Itzela Bullying can break you down and leave you hopeless. But do not believe them. They are just trying to make you sad because they are jealous of you for who you are. Instead of listening to them, you can keep going and follow your dreams. Look to your future. You do not know, it might be better than you think. You might be what you wanted to be when you were young.
Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
Stop the Bullying by Evelin Bullying hurts our feelings and can make you cry. Their words can bring you down and punch you, slapping you to Mexico. So, to the bullies, stop mistreating other people! If you were to get bullied, you would feel the same as those you push around.
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Sister Love by Najeah I will always remember my sister, the only one I have. She represents everything to me. Looking into her shiny brown eyes makes me feel good because I know she will never give up on me. She went from the bottom doing bad to now. Now she is above and beyond. She has taught me to be strong and never give up.
Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
Lifting Me Up by Aija I will never forget my father. He is strong as Hulk. When he picks me up, I feel like a light feather. He makes me feel happy and gives me comfort. I will always remember his favorite quote, “Stay in school and never drop out.�
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Tether Ball by Seaira As I step onto the tether ball court, I feel like I am going to lose. I do not have confidence in myself. The person that I am going against tells me I cannot do it. I am letting it get to my head. So, I imagine my family and friends cheering me on. I know that my mom and dad want me to succeed. So, I am going to try my best and never give up. As I see myself winning, I finally have confidence in myself. As I am thinking that, I build more power. I win!
Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
My Piece by Emilia I come from the crispy tortillas that I gently take off the stove. When I bite into them, I can hear the crunch! The taste takes me home. This is my little piece of earth.
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I Have the Power by Itzela As I see myself in the mirror, I feel as if I am not going to sing well. The words I hear from others are becoming my worst enemies. As I walk to the stage, I talk louder, so I get the strength to push away the pressure. “You can do it.� I see my family and my people in the audience cheering me on. They want me to do my best. I stand with confidence looking toward my future.
Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
Grandma by Konstince I am one of my grandma’s granddaughters. She has accomplished many goals. She is a wonderful reader and gives nice advice. She teaches us a lot about our culture She is very smart. She shares her great personality. She is strong in good or bad times. She will do anything to keep us safe. She makes me comfortable and happy. I love her. I will never forget her.
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My Necklace by Seaira I am the shiny necklace that my mom gave me on my birthday. It is white with crystals on it. It reminds me of my mom when I am at school. My mom gave it to me because she loves me and always will.
Telling Our Stories Workshop Participants (ages 9-12)
Friendship by Emilia I first step into the class. I am the new girl. No one knows me. Someone comes up to me and said, “eww, you are not in this class.� It is scary at first. I am in the circle saying my name. At recess, I am at the swing. Then, a girl named Seaira came to me and asked if I wanted to be her friend. I said yes. Years pass. We fight and then become friends again. We are still friends. From this day on, Seaira is a sister I can depend on.
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My Sister by Seaira I will never forget the time my sister stayed by my side when I was in the hospital for five days. I will always remember when she and I went to the park to ride our bikes or the time she made me eat a lemon as a baby. I will never forget those fun and awesome memories.