Kepner Beacon Middle School Speaks! Vol. 3 CafĂŠ Cultura Community Speaks Project #50 Youth in Telling Our Stories Program
Kepner Beacon Middle School Speaks! Vol. 3 Copyright Š 2017 by Youth in Telling Our Stories Program 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 powerful and intelligent students in our Spoken Word enrichment: Be the leaders we know you can be! #CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories
Acknowledgments Thank you to Kepner Beacon Middle School staff for another opportunity to guide your students in finding their voices. Special thank you to the young poets for pushing yourself to be great. 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 It has been an honor to partner with Kepner Beacon Middle School for a second year. We used our “Telling Our Stories” curriculum to teach a poetry after-school enrichment. We enjoyed the energy students used to share how they see themselves and the world around them. They wrote insightful poems that show their potential. 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 720-460-9203
Table of Contents My Strength by Alondra ........................................................................1 Homerun by Rubi ..................................................................................3 Cross by Veronica ..................................................................................4 Unforgettable by Diego.........................................................................5 Soccer Match by Oscar .........................................................................6 Yo Soy by Diana.....................................................................................8 Ocean by Erika .......................................................................................9 My Defense by David ......................................................................... 10 Score by Jonathon ............................................................................... 11 Mexican Blood by Edmar .................................................................. 12 Boxing by Demitrious ........................................................................ 14 Being Myself by Adrian ...................................................................... 15 I Come From by Gabriel ................................................................... 16 I Am by Jorge ...................................................................................... 17 Bracelet by Carlos ............................................................................... 18 Food by Crystal ................................................................................... 19 Challenges by Alondra........................................................................ 20 Powerful by Rubi ................................................................................ 21 Hourglass by Veronica ....................................................................... 22 Legendary by Oscar ............................................................................ 23 Bruises by Diego ................................................................................. 24 Como La Musica by Diana ................................................................ 25 California by Jonathon ....................................................................... 26
Pie by David ......................................................................................... 27 Texas by Erika...................................................................................... 28
My Strength by Alondra I am from a house that works hard. This house is the house that keeps me safe when I come from school. Having my family in the house. makes me feel happy. I will always remember how the house puts a smile on my face, and on my family’s too. It represents having somewhere to live that many people do not have. I come from the spiciness of chile as my mom teaches me how to cook abuela’s tamales. I will never forget the delicious smell coming from the kitchen. It made me feel like I was tasting the best thing in the world. I come from a mother who came from a family that struggled. She represents both parents, a mom and a dad at the same time. Having her in my life makes me strong for the future. I learned from her that I need to work hard
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so that I will not struggle like her. I am from a squad of friends. One simple thing is that they are not just friends. They are my family. Having them as sisters and brothers is the best thing that ever happened to me. I will always remember them being there through the good and bad times. I will never ever forget how they treat me, making me sonreir. I am from el cuadro de la Virgen de Guadalupe hanging on the wall. This beautiful woman has been with me the whole time. When I look at her, I see the miracles she makes for families that pray for her. This reminds me of her beautiful skin color, Morena, like me. When I compare myself to her, she makes me feel that I can do miracles too.
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Homerun by Rubi Life is like a baseball game. You lose some, and you win some. The bases are the levels that you face in life. When your mom tells you to hit a homerun, you push yourself to get your grades higher. As we play new teams, we face more obstacles., But there is nothing we cannot beat. We will always win.
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Cross by Veronica I will never forget the cross my dad gave me. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of the work he had to do. He crossed the border, keeping it safe just like he always keeps us safe. I will always keep it close to me, just like I keep my dad close, even if he is far from me.
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Unforgettable by Diego I am brave and come from a busy place. I look in the mirror and see myself In my dreams, I imagine I could reach the stars. I am Diego. I cry when I see homeless people but jokes make me laugh. My love for my mom feels like the love when I see food. I am the pozole that smells good in my house. I show that we love our grandma. She connects with me. I love her and she has loved me for a long time. I will always remember my house made from bricks. I go there after school It is modern. My family lives there. The surroundings are grassy. It makes me feel happy. I am unforgettable!
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Soccer Match by Oscar Life is like the referee blowing the whistle to start your dream. The goals you make are where you come from. Your family celebrates like it is your birthday. Sometimes the other team wants to make you fall. I show them that I can be the fastest, best, and strongest All of my family wants is to see me being perfect at everything. My t-shirt is showing that God is with me. This number is going to make history. The team is done. The team is my second family. The goalie protects the house like the defense. The stars and midfielders say, “Be careful�
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because we are going to be tired. In my eyes, I can see that my life is awesome. Without soccer, I do not know how I will exist. This ball is like my brother. Soccer is life.
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Yo Soy by Diana Yo soy México, el lugar donde yo vivo. Soy de la ciudad más grande y bonita. Mi sueño es graduarme Voy a estudiar hasta completar mi sueño de ser doctora revisando los ojos, una optometrista. Yo vengo de la bandera de México del color rojo, verde, y blanco, Tiene un símbolo de una águila. Me gusta el futbol. Es un deporte muy conocido en México. Le voy a las águilas del América. Mi sangre es azul crema. Siempre recordaré a mi primo Victor. Él siempre me ha cuidado desde chica, mientras mis padres trabajaban. Él es como un segundo padre para mí. Yo soy el amor de mi familia.
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Ocean by Erika My depression is like the ocean. The ocean can drown you, like you drown in tears. Depression craves you, like you crave the ocean But what you do not know is that you are as beautiful as the ocean You are as clean as the ocean. Your temper is as hot as the sand. Your tears are as wet as the ocean. In the end, you are part of the ocean.
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My Defense by David I am the runner like in the video games. I run at people who make me mad and make sure they are nice to me and my friends. With my righteous anger, I use my weapons to defend people when they try to destroy our self-esteem I will always remember my stick bat I play with my stick bat every day It is green. It is made in china. It makes me feel happy. It helps me deal with stress. It comes from Kmart. It makes me feel safe.
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Score by Jonathon Life is like soccer, hard, but rewarding. I will never stop playing. It makes me feel good to score and achieve my goals.
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Mexican Blood by Edmar I am the soft pozole. I come from onion and chicken. I will always remember the creation of corn to make pozole. I will never forget the pozole that my grandma made. My stuffed buffalo will always remind me of my grandpa’s strength. I will never forget when it was given to me on my 8th birthday. I am proud to still have a stuffed buffalo and many others. They always remind me of the strong family I come from. I come from a mother with brown hair and brown eyes. She gives me confidence. I will never forget how hard she works every day. My house always lets me rest from long days. I am of Mexican blood but come from American places. I look in the mirror and see a human with a family that has gone through a lot of challenges.
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In my dreams, I imagine achieving all of my goals. I am grateful. I cry when people do not have others to make them happy. I am of Mexican blood.
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Boxing by Demitrious Life is like boxing. Someone is always trying to knock you out. Every day I pick up these gloves and get ready to fight whatever gets in the way of me achieving my goals. I will become a champ of my life. I remember the first time I got knocked out. I could taste the blood in my mouth. I could have just laid there, but I stood up. In life, we get back up and fight!
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Being Myself by Adrian I come from a smart woman, a mother who loves to cook, who provides for us. I will always remember my mom’s advice, “Always be yourself.” I will never forget that she is a great mom. She helps me learn about the past. I am Denver. I am a cold and green land filled with all my people, who love my weather. I come from a cold, but hot land in the southwest. I will always remember I have royal people in my blood!
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I Come From by Gabriel I come from my grandma's buĂąuelos, made with sweat and amor. I come from the red bracelet that my grandma gave to me. It comes from Mexico. It symbolizes protection. It makes me feel safe.
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I Am by Jorge I am the champ of the ring! I come from Houston, Texas I am arroz con leche, made of God’s power. It smells like something new came up, and it tastes like heaven.
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Bracelet by Carlos I am my bracelet my uncle gave it to me. It gives me good luck. I wear it to have as much luck as possible. It comes from Juarez, Mexico. It is very important to me.
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Food by Crystal I will always remember food because it is good And makes me happy. It makes me full, and it tastes good.
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Challenges by Alondra Life is like a challenge. Facing the challenges in life can be hard. But we always keep going. The toughest one is seeing my mom cry. Every time she is having a bad day, I ask myself, “what happened to her?” “Who made her cry?” “How can I make her happy again?” My mother always pushes me to be better. She challenges me and shows me how to heal. I will defeat all of the challenges life throws at us. I am strong like my mother.
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Powerful by Rubi I am powerful. I look in the mirror and see a fighter. In my dreams, I imagine fighting for my rights for being a woman. I am proud. I come from the warm tamales that my mom makes on Christmas. Where is my heart? Is it in the ocean? Or Mexico, where my family lives, where I am happy? Or do I belong to the United Kingdom, with my pet cats? Or is my heart already where it needs to be?
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Hourglass by Veronica Life is like an hourglass. When you tilt it, you are so focused on the sand running out. So worried about finishing, you forget to look at the shapes it is making. In life, you should always focus on the most important things.
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Legendary by Oscar I am from los ricos tamales de Guatemala. My mom makes them with pollo, Maseca, and love. Tamales bring my family together so we have a great time. I can never forget my grandma’s recipes written on the palms of my hands. I am the beauty of soccer. I come from the legend of Ronaldinho. I will always remember la chilena de Pele, tambien la de Zinedine Zidane. Just like Ronaldinho, the show always starts with our feet! I am a future legend.
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Bruises by Diego My life feels like bruises I get when I play football. Even when it is tough, I stand back up and continue on to win.
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Como La Musica by Diana La vida es como la música. Cuando una canción es muy buena, se pega mucho. Todo el mundo la quiere cantar. Y la quiere tener en su celular, o tableta, o lo que tengan. Yo quiero ser la canción que todo el mundo canta!
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California by Jonathon I come from cool California, the ocean breeze, tall palm trees, and shining sun at the beach. I will always remember eating menudo with my family. I can never forget when my mom makes it on Christmas and some Sundays. It makes me feel good and pleased It tastes like a joyful steak. I am from cool California.
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Pie by David Life is like eating pie because it can be good or bad because it can taste like coffee or it can be really cold. Most people do not like things like I do and that is ok.
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Texas by Erika I am Texas. I came from the Gods I am sunny and dry, and hot enough to cook a potato. As the night falls, my temperature cools down and the animals come out. The bandits ride through the night. They go after the sunset. Good night.