New America School Speaks! Vol. 4 Cafe Cultura Community Speaks Project #56 Youth from New America School - Lowry
New America School Speaks! Vol. 4 Copyright Š 2018 by Youth from New America School - Lowry 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.
This book is dedicated to the resilient students of New America Lowry School! You all have been through so much but have never let anything stop you from achieving your goals! Keep pushing yourselves to be better humans and better writers! Don't stop telling your stories, don't forget your story meters. 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!
Acknowledgments We want to thank the Staff of NAS Lowry for another amazing year! Special shout out to Micha for supporting us and the students anytime we asked for help! We are thankful that we got to work with you all, and hope to work together again in the near future.
Foreword It has been an honor to partner with New America School Lowry for the second year in a row! We used our “Telling Our Stories” curriculum to teach a spoken word class. 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 thirteen 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 Rebuilding an Empire by Hector .........................................................1 CO by Christian......................................................................................2 Prove the World Wrong by Nehadd ...................................................6 This Life of Mine by Josiah ..................................................................7 Our Power by Hector ............................................................................8 Community? by Nehadd .................................................................... 11 The Last Call by Josiah ....................................................................... 12 Our Responsibility by Christian ........................................................ 13 Dear Past Self by Hector.................................................................... 14 Culture by Nehadd .............................................................................. 15 All I Do Is Win by Christian ............................................................. 17 Memories by Josiah ............................................................................. 18 My Depiction of Life by Nehadd ..................................................... 20 Peace by Nehadd ................................................................................. 22
Rebuilding an Empire by Hector When everything comes crumbling down, I will build my empire with honesty. My walls will be built with stones of respect. My kingdom will only further my respect. This Empire will bring unity within my community, giving me and my people time to understand each other and see where we come from. My kingdom will be the biggest symbol of Respect and Unity. I will always make sure it remains solid stone for good. I will open up eyes and get my people to look all the good in me because at the end of the day, this is our kingdom
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CO by Christian I come from a place called the Mile High City, a place where the gold of heaven drips when the sunsets glow, where high mountains with tall trees all around. Sunny and snowy days will have you feeling tropical or as if you were fishing in Antarctica. On a hot day, the birds out, flying in the breeze, the sun high, the sky bright and blue as we sit at the park barbecuing hot dogs, hamburgers, and meat on the grill. The smell goes through all our noses. The joy of eating all together reminds me of my childhood, barbecuing on a hot day. We have lived here our whole lives. I will forever watch the sunset here until I am gone. I am the delicious, cheesy green enchiladas my mom makes with corn tortillas, onion, cheese, and mushroom soup. The smell reminds me of a nice cheesy quesadilla that my mom sometimes makes in the morning before school.
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I come from a recipe from my childhood that represents the culture, food that was showed to her back in the day. I will always remember the soft and creamy the enchiladas made with love. I will never forget the times green enchiladas brought joy to my good childhood day. It is our link from the childhood days to the future. I will never forget a lot of things, like cooking my favorite enchiladas that my mom makes me. She’s the most beautiful person, with long hair. She seems to have the answers to all things, like life traps. Always by my side, she gives me confidence for things I couldn’t have. She tells me never to give up, even if all hope is lost. I come from a strong woman who never gives up. I will never forget her being the best mom, having many bumps in life, but never giving up no matter what came to her. I come from the red, white, and blue flag that represents the United States of America and my family. The stars show that we are united together,
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states ending up becoming a nation. I will always remember my people when I look at the flag. I will never forget my favorite auntie, my other mother I could say. I will always remember when my auntie and uncle took care of me when I was a little kid. I will never forget this picture of her holding me in her lap in a single cab ford next to my uncle who sits in the driver's seat. I will always remember the joy and the happiness being by their side. I will never forget her, she is like my second mother, always in my heart. RIP. I am a money man, and come from a money world, so sick and cruel. I look in the mirror, and see money, money, money machine. In my dreams, I imagine money, think about money, sleep with the money flowing down the river filled with money. I am a money man. I cry when I am broke
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and in a drought laying on a couch. My love for money is endless, It feels like uncontrolling love that will not end until the death. I am a money man. It is unfair that money controls the world, as if it is a god or something. I feel angry when money takes control of me. If I could change one thing, it would be the power that comes with money, the root of evil. I am a money man.
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Prove the World Wrong by Nehadd Proving others wrong is my life goal, rising from the ashes of my burning soul, trying to rise and soar high, flying high and far away. Take me to a place where you are your own boss, where you take control. Try not to fall but know if you fall, you will fall into the hands of love.
Youth from New America School - Lowry
This Life of Mine by Josiah This life of mine is similar to a movie. What I have experienced is why I am now pursuing what I have never had. Because of that, I no longer want to lose. As I grow older, I begin to choose decisions of mine. But it is not so easy sometimes, hoping that I don’t make a big mistake, even though that is what I face every day. Temptations can be an obstacle. I try to stop it though, knowing that I am better than some of my choices. It gives me the motivation so I can focus on these goals of mine. If others can do it, so can I.
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Our Power by Hector I will never forget my mother. She is the reason I am still striving to succeed. I really appreciate everything she has done for me and my sisters. I love how she pushed herself to be better each day and to be better for her children. This little woman has a heart made of solid gold, strong and loyal. I appreciate her sacrifices. She sacrificed herself to cross the border in order to provide and open up a bright future to all her children. I will never forget my mother's voice, soft and calming. I will never forget her lessons and advice. I learned a lot from my mother, like to respect and forgiveness. My mother connects to my ancestors. She is strong, hardworking, and loyal. Her greatest accomplishment is literally everything she has done for my sisters and me. I come from Colorado where you can see the snowy mountain peaks
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from your house. Its appearances are green, Blue, and red, making Colorado standout. Colorado makes me feel humble and appreciated. It brings unity to my family and me. It connects me to my past. I come from Colorado, where it brings lots of respect to my family and me. It allowed us to build a bright future. I come from Colorado. I am the tostadas my mom makes randomly. I am the beans, mayonnaise, beef bits, and fried tortillas. I am that delicious smell that comes from my mom’s tostada. I am also the indescribable taste of mixed flavors that go well together. The feeling brings joy and warmth in my heart and stomach. It is magical in its own way, bringing my family together, our ancestors’ souls in us. It keeps us thankful at all times. Therefore, I am a tasty tostada. I am the streets and come from Montbello, where everyone daps you up. I look in the mirror
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and see a self-made dude. In my dreams, I imagine myself surviving the struggle and the streets. I am the streets. I cry when I see my family hurting and stressing. But they make me laugh. My love for the streets feels like the love I have for my family. I am the streets. It is unfair that most of us street-made people get looked down at. I feel angry when I get compared to low-lifes. If I could change one thing, it would be to have everyone understand where I come from. I am the streets. I am the Mexican flag, I am the eagle in the flag, taking out the snakes and anything in my way.
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Community? by Nehadd Can my community really be call the community? Is it really a community if we are against each other, when we are all we got? If we are a community, why do we kill our own people with gangs and wars every day!? Can we even say we are a community? What is a community? If we are all people, why are all our people broken? Why do we have to be split into countries, into states? Why are there bombings and gas destruction? Our nature gives us oxygen and in return, we create destruction, death, and deforestation. Does anyone see the reality? Or are we lost busy trying to make a living while creating destruction and death? We all want money yet 6 individuals have more money than billions of people. Our trees are even a part of our community. We are all literally in a broken chain, lost from our true ancestry, killing our brothers and sisters. When has anyone truly witnessed a true community? What is a community?
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The Last Call by Josiah When I received the news, my mind began to race, not knowing why it was you they had to take. When I close my eyes, I begin to picture your face and the last time we were able to conversate. That big bright smile of yours was like no other. Even though we were cousins, you were more like my brother. What I would do to bring you back or at least get the chance to see you one more time. I miss you cousin. You will always be on my mind.
Youth from New America School - Lowry
Our Responsibility by Christian Together, we are responsible for the Earth’s climate change, the Earth's future and Humanity as we know it. So what we do and say it will be our future honestly. We, together, need to take responsibility, if you really want to live in the future. We must take care of our animals, our food, and of course, the Earth itself. We need to come together if we want the best for our children, for the future of the earth, and Humanity as we know it.
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Dear Past Self by Hector I am surprised how I managed to walk to my future alive. I am still wondering how I survived some tragic moments back then. It is crazy how foolish I was, overall stupid. I wish I looked at things differently, worked towards my goals. I could have made you different. If I could only go back to the past, I would have focused and thought of others, not just myself. Dear past self, damn you were on some other s***. Now, I am working twice as hard to shape a better me and achieve all my goals.
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Culture by Nehadd I am a food passed down for thousands of years that has stayed the same. I come from Middle Eastern cultures that range from North Africa to Asia. The food I eat today is defined by its past, the same food for thousands of years. I am the lamb of my ancestors, chopped the head off, and made fresh, soft, juicy, and herbly seasoned. I am the rice that my Asian people grow from the rich dirt that spreads our oil through nations. I am the food covered in gold. I am the food that comes from kingdoms. I am a golden culture known for stripping women of their rights, a culture that switches the game around with women as the only cooks, not the men. I come from a culture of a prison for women, a culture of forced marriage. I come from a culture where women cannot drive or leave the house without a man. I am from a rich desert surrounded by gold, a place of kingdoms and royalty. I am from a prison for women,
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where only men can drive and only men can leave the house by themselves, a place of no freedom, a place rich with pain and tears as well, a place where it is so beautiful but you cannot see the beauty, only my tears drowning me. I am from Saudi Arabia.
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All I Do Is Win by Christian Life is like a real life game. To get anything in life, you have to win. Everybody wants to win. No one wants to lose in life Let's be honest because I know I hate it for sure. So whenever I do anything, I will try my best. My mission is always to win, to make my family proud. Everybody wants to be number one. It is the point of the game and that is why life is like a real life game.
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Memories by Josiah I am a young, Hispanic Latino who loves enchiladas. In the kitchen was my momma. As she would make them, I was able to smell those fresh, hot corn tortillas in the oven. Like the McDonald saying, “I’m Lovin …” It gave us a big satisfaction knowing that for dinner we were going to have it. But man, the moment it was ready, on my plate, covered in cheese caused me to grub it as if I were a feen. That fresh, hot, soft taste made me want another plate. I come from Denver, Colorado, home of the Rocky Mountains, and the Broncos. Founded in the year of 1858, but over the years it has definitely changed. I love my city because this is my birthplace, as well as my family’s. One side comes from the north, and the other side comes from the west. I am from the west. In my opinion it is the best, but we all show love
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because we are related. We never show hate because that's betraying. “Mother” More than just a word, or a saying. Everyone’s mother is different, similar in some ways, but different. My mom has always been by my side since my “Father” was distant. Because of her, I am very grateful. She has raised me to be the respectful young man I am today. She has also shown me more love than words can say. I will always remember the picture taken of my cousin, and me. It is memorable and important to me. As you would be able to see, we had a strong bond. He is gone now, and at times I get sad, but that picture reminds me of the memories that we had. The big smiles that were both shown in the picture gets me knowing that we were no different. Maybe on the outside, but that picture feels as if it was recent. We were both at his house and on the wall I was leaning.
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My Depiction of Life by Nehadd I am a person who is defined by my story, a person who blinds people to see the true me, a person who throws others off when I speak. I am a person who would sacrifice my life for another. I am a person who hides their tears so much it would be almost impossible for someone normal to see them. I am a walking testimony a survivor I am a person who survived a bullet in my face, two bullets in my back, and two bullets in my leg. I am a person who has been saved by God countless times but still continues to destroy myself with every liquor store on every block, a person who can take a hit by a man who is not really a man, but a b****. I am a person filled with life that is drained from me every day. I am a mask. I am a person defined by my story. Life comes with many surprises. I notice in my life a longing for something that is right in front of me while mourning things and people who left my life. Life is like a puzzle
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I can never put together. Life is like a rollercoaster you never know when it is going to end. Life is more than just ups and down. It is a lot of broken hearts and questions. Life is scary. Death while your life is worse with so many questions. Will I ever see you again in a different life. I long for what I do not have in my life. Life is like a ladder. You have to keep climbing to gain the wisdom. You need to have the courage to keep going. Life is learning. Life is patience, love, and heartbreak. I mourn the missing puzzle pieces in my life. I was enough puzzle pieces. Life is a never ending puzzle because my puzzle keeps falling apart.
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Peace by Nehadd I betray the man I love for drugs. I betray myself, my brain, my soul, tainting it all with drugs. I get drunk and feel the rush of temptations, a feeling of no morals for myself, feeding my flesh with death. As drugs rush through me, going straight to my brain, changing me, filling me with an energy that hides deep inside, is that energy really what I want? This energy questions me countless times because I can never be content with anything. I talk so much, literally pouring out my soul, every happiness, every hurt, leaving me with nothing but an empty heart yearning for more. I have never found peace within myself so I stay around people to give me a sense of peace in my heart. It has not been at peace since my dad left my mom and I saw how broken my family truly was. A broken heart stayed with me as well. I do not know what peace feels like
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so when I smoke weed, I feel peaceful, alone, and happy, the feeling of how it is when a person is almost dead. Will I be alone and at peace, bloody with screaming surrounding the area as well as unpeaceful spirits, when I'm finally at peace? Why is it I can never find peace unless I am dying or high with nature in my blood? That is the devil’s lettuce, which almost every person around me has running deep in their blood with no questions, that my man hates. with every hatred he could find in his heart to hate this leaf more. I hurt his feelings with every hit changing his perception of me, as I change the perception of myself and others. I mourn for peace in myself when he is not around. Can anyone really know peace or is it just a word that makes people content with living with so much problems? Is peace just a missing piece? My brain needs to feel to be happy. Will I ever truly find peace? When I do, will it leave?
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