Kepner Beacon Middle School Speaks! Vol. 2 Cafe Cultura Community Speaks Project #39 Telling Our Stories Enrichment
Kepner Beacon Middle School Speaks! Vol. 2 Copyright Š 2016 by Telling Our Stories Enrichment 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 future leaders in our Spoken Word enrichment‌ Use your intelligence and voice to uplift us! #CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories
Acknowledgments Thank you Kepner Beacon Middle School staff for another opportunity to work with your students this year. Special thank you to the participants in our enrichment for writing and sharing your stories. Remember: “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 It was our pleasure to partner with Kepner Beacon Middle School for another quarter for the 2016-2017 school year. We used our “Telling Our Stories” curriculum to encourage 6th graders to express themselves and inspire others. The poets featured in this volume impressed us with their powerful words. We look forward to staying connected, as they develop into the leaders we need. Enjoy and share their words! 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 “Chicana/o” and “Latina/o,” with those Natives of northern nations, referred to as “American Indian” or “Native American.” Café 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. Café 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: www.cafecultura.org info@cafecultura.org 720-394-6589
Table of Contents My Inspiration by Adrian ......................................................................1 I See by Samya ........................................................................................3 I Come From by Juan ............................................................................4 A Perfect World by Carlos....................................................................6 My Life by Ashley ..................................................................................7 Our Story by Daniel...............................................................................9 Love by Ruby ....................................................................................... 10 By My Side by Jenna ........................................................................... 12 My Mom by Abelardo ........................................................................ 13 Remembering by Antonio ................................................................. 14 My Dad by Cesar ................................................................................. 15 Tamales by Kevin................................................................................ 16 My Dreams by Jose ............................................................................. 17 Perfect World by Adrian .................................................................... 18 The Last by Samya .............................................................................. 19 Jesus by Juan ........................................................................................ 20 The Story of My Ancestors by Carlos .............................................. 21 My Dreams by Ruby ........................................................................... 22 Happiness by Daniel ........................................................................... 23 The Lost by Ashley ............................................................................. 24 My Old Life by Jenna ......................................................................... 26 Rice Gum by Abelardo....................................................................... 27 Untitled by Cesar ................................................................................. 28
My Inspiration by Adrian I am the delicious enchiladas my mom makes. I come from the strong recipe. I will always remember that when I eat them, I am actually in Mexico. I will never forget the soft, juicy enchiladas my mom makes with love! When I take a bite, l feel like I am the greatest person in the world! The smell takes me to Mexico. The taste brings me together with all my family. When I am lonely, all I have to do is eat the enchiladas my mom makes. The soft texture and the cheese makes me feel calm. The smell comes up and hugs me, as if it were saying, “Hi.” I come from my Rubik’s cube. Its movement reminds me of a dancer. Its colors that of a parrot. It is my best-friend, a colorful rainbow! Its shape like the basket my mom takes to work. If I did not know about Rice Gum,
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I would be alone. Every time I hear his name, I feel like I am at home. He taught me how to roast. Sometimes I might even boast. He is my inspiration. I am glad I know about him. I am my lovely Mexico. I might not live there, but it is still my home. When I am alone, it sits there with me and whispers its history in my ear. My home represents my culture. It makes my family happy. When I am here, I am in Mexico. I am my lovely home.
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I See by Samya Through my eyes, I see a good leader. You know why? I want to have the best leader. They can show us how to do things, and live our lives. I want to see hope because people are going to kill and die. We do not want the U.S. to go down. I know that we need a new leader when I see people die. I cry because it is so sad. I want to be a good kid. I want to see people happy and I want to have a good time. I see a lot of things we need to think and say. So let us take that first step.
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I Come From by Juan I come from Mexico, from a mother that cares about me. I will always remember a lot of her feelings. I come from Mexico, from a grandma who always encourages me. I will never forget her smell. I will always remember her in my heart everywhere I go. I come from a family that made me happy in sad moments, from a family that made me laugh when I felt down. I will always remember how many people marched on May 1st 2006 for our rights. I will never forget all the immigrants. I am immigrant I come from Mexico. I will never forget the sadness of immigrants leaving Mexico. I will remember how they fought for us. I will remember how long they fought until they let Mexican people into the United States. From a blink of an eye, everything changed. I come from a piĂąata with the shape of a star that reminds me of working hard to get something sweet out of it.
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I will never forget the sweetness from the inside of the piĂąata. It reminds me of my past and makes you achieve whatever you want.
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A Perfect World by Carlos In my world, there would be no school. With that said, there would be no wool. In my world, there would be no girls and there would be no work. In my world, there would be no such thing as cool and no one would be a fool. In this perfect world, there are no wars and there would be peace between countries like a jolly Christmas. In this perfect world, there would be no cars, so the Earth would be clean as new. In this perfect world, there would be no wounds and there would be no words that hurt.
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My Life by Ashley We make tamales for Christmas, as a family reunion. We will never forget the taste of all the tamales, that were made with all of the love and effort we put into them. My life and memories live in Juarez. Located in Mexico, it is hot like if it was on fire and it would not stop. I love going to visit all the people say hello, good morning, good night, and good afternoon. A house can be ugly, but it is about if you clean it and you fix it that matters. This beautiful place is my home, where I feel safe. We feel happy and proud being from Juarez. I will always remember the Mexican flag because all my family comes from there. It is something very special to us. The color red represents all the love of my family.
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The white reminds me of all my beautiful memories I had with my family. Lastly, the green is my family’s growth. It is a part of my life. I am a woman who will change the world for other women, making their lives better so we always will be treated equal. Everybody should have the same rights in the world. I am someone who is now going to make rules equal for women and men. Then, women will have the same rights as men and can be treated the same. I come to fight for women's rights and help them not just work at their homes and be treated like dogs while men are working. Women can do the same stuff as men. Men do not have to tell women what they are supposed to do. Women are strong and can work, so that boys cannot say to women that we work for nothing. I come so that men can treat us better. I come to make the world a great place, where people can admire women. This world can be great but only when women have the same rights as men.
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Our Story by Daniel Let us start the story, a story about my family. Even though we have had hard times, we can make the community better. All we need is love and respect. Together we will change the world. With our hands, we hug each other. We see a future filled with happiness.
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Love by Ruby I am the tamales de dulce that my grandma and mom make. It is the softness and warmth of my family love. I am made of flour and sweet stuff. It makes me feel the love of my family. That is why they complete me. They are usually made during winter or Christmas time. I will always remember the fact that my family comes from Chihuahua, Mexico. My dad, grandparents, and ancestors live there. It connects to the past and future because that is where all my family lives. Its reminds us of memories that we had and shared. The people that surround us are people who knew all my ancestors. I feel like my home is in Mexico. I visit it every summer. I always feel like I never want to come back. It is made of love and peace. I will always remember my mom. She represents the love of my family. From her, I have learned that you will not always get what you want. My mom is an amazing
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and hard working woman. She has given her everything for me and my siblings to be here. My mom always makes us feel like we are in the right place. She will always connect to the past and future because I will always remember all the things she taught me, like the value of a person. I will always remember the Mexican flag. The color red represents the love I have for my family and the USA. The color white is the border separating my family in the US and Mexico. I will always remember how people work hard to get what they want. People get happy when they finally get their diploma. They work hard. Through hard work, I will be a successful person.
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By My Side by Jenna I am a very successful person with my mom and brother by my side. I will never forget my culture. I am a strong, powerful Chicana. My brother and I were raised in a hardworking family. We prove to my dad that we do not need his money even though the law says we have to take it. My brother has a big impact on my life. He is my twin, but we do not look a lot alike. My mom says we are not identical. We go to separate schools, so people see us as two instead of one. He makes me laugh even when I cry. If I need help, look who is by my side. He encourages me to do things even when I do not want to. Juan will stick up for me when no one else does. My brother is my inspiration.
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My Mom by Abelardo I am a strong kid and come from my mom's dreams. I look in the mirror and see a good heart. I have love for my mom! My mom gives me love, food, clothes, and shelter. My mom loves me, no matter what. My mom respects me. My mom carried me for nine months! My mom tells me what is good for me and what is not. My mom is not selfish. She is my world.
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Remembering by Antonio I come from Durango, located in Mexico It is sunny and dusty There is a lot of sand. I visit Durango during the holidays and the summer. I come from the burritos my great grandmother makes with cheese, beans, chile, and carne. It make me feel happy and squishy inside. But now that she passed away, I do not feel happy. When she was alive, she made a lot of food, serving happiness that brought my family together. I will always remember my great grandma because she makes the best food in my family, along with beautiful blankets of wool. She made me a blanket with love.
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My Dad by Cesar The last time my dad and I were watching YouTube on his computer, we were watching Fast and Furious. We were eating ice cream and popcorn. We went outside. His name is Santiago.
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Tamales by Kevin I am from Guerrero, Mexico. I have not been to Mexico. I have family en un rancho, where there are animals. I am a Tamal. Tamales are delicious, The smell and spice are made of carne and masa. My mom and my aunt make them. They bring me joy.
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My Dreams by Jose In my dreams, I can make good grades in school.
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Perfect World by Adrian If the world was perfect, there would be no war. Candy canes would be the Earth’s core. All would be kind. No one would ever be blind or deaf. Money would not ruin people’s lives. Everyone shall share. Everyone shall care. Everyone will respect each other. We will forgive everyone for their mistakes, and there will never be earthquakes.
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The Last by Samya I will never forget the times when my mom and I made awesome bracelets together. I love my bracelet to death. I do not want anything to happen to it. I would do anything for it. I still have the bracelet to remind me how much I love my mom. She also has hers showing she loves me. I would not want to live without that bracelet. I am Samya. I come from Denver, I will always remember my mom, dad, and family. I always will be here. I am happy to be here. I will always remember that I will continuate. Then, I will have a key in my hand. My mom and dad will cry, proud of me but also not wanting me to grow up.
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Jesus by Juan My cousin’s name was Jesus. The only memory I have with him was at my grandma’s birthday. I will never forget his laughter. I felt the sadness when they said in the news, “A bus from Durango that was going to Tijuana crashed.” That was when my heart stopped. I felt a big headache. I felt like I wanted to die too. I felt alone. I felt so alone that I felt his own feelings. I felt a stab in my heart. This poem is to my cousin Jesus, que descansa en paz.
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The Story of My Ancestors by Carlos I come from Culiacan, Mexico, where my family grew up. That is where my ancestors lived and where my grandpa kept the spirit alive. There, my grandma made tamales and cocteles de camaron. I come from my grandma's tamales. They make us remember our ancestors. They smell like love and taste better than anything in the world. We eat them on special holidays to make me feel part of the family.
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My Dreams by Ruby In my dreams, I wish to become someone important. It takes a lot of work, but you can accomplish something by working hard. Work to get what you want. Do not let anyone get you down. It is important to work hard, it will get you to a good education.
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Happiness by Daniel I come from Zaragoza Mexico, where my grandma and auntie still live. When I think of my memories of it, I feel like I am in heaven. I will never forget my animals, especially the white horse. They remind me to always visit and enjoy being free. I am the spicy and delicious nachos my mom makes with chips, cheese, and cariĂąo. When I eat them, I feel happy and comfortable. I will always remember the happy times with my family.
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The Lost by Ashley I will always remember my nicknames before the world ended for you. I will have you in my mind like the memories I have of you that would never flush down my heart. On my last vacation, the time I passed with you was the best. Even though you were not with my grandmother and hurt her, she still tried so you could have a better life. My sister was down when she heard the bad news about you. When I think of you, I feel happy because I have the greatest grandpa. You made me feel so lost when I saw you drunk, but I loved you with all my heart. My grandmother would feel bad. You left my family. That day I heard that you fell asleep and never woke up again was the day I cried a lot. I will love you forever. You will stay deep in my heart. You always made my day. We live with you in my family’s heart that was tied down when you left. If I had one wish, it would be to make everything come out like you wanted.
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I would ask God to bring you back to life and never leave my family. I know you can hear me and see how my life is miserable without you. I know you are in a better place. It was time for you to go. Give me strength. R.I.P.
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My Old Life by Jenna I remember when my life was great. That was one year ago. I was so happy. Now, I wish I was the same person. I can be happy sometimes. Only when I am not sitting alone in my room looking at old pictures with my family. I do not have a family anymore. My house was sold, my dad left us, and my dog is with my mom’s boyfriend. All I have is my brother. We are everything we need.
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Rice Gum by Abelardo I remember when I watched Rice Gum’s first video. Rice Gum inspired me to roast. Rice Gum taught me to roast and stick up for my family, friends, and me whenever they are bullying me. Rice Gum hit 5 million subscribers in 1 year. Rice Gum, I think about you. Rice Gum, I am your fan. So fight for your right.
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Untitled by Cesar I come from Mexico, where my family is. It is a place we love. I come from Martin Luther King Jr. He was a good person. I am ice cream coffee. My dad makes it with milk. It tastes like coffee and snow.