Random Thoughts of An Obese Mind

The Harwood Art Center, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the International Poetry Institute, and Abqslams.org, present the 2nd Annual Middle School Poetry Slam on Saturday night, April 28, 2007, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.  This is a FREE event.  Twenty-four teams are gearing up to compete for the prize of STATE champions.   Those teams are (in alphabetical order):

Jimmy Carter, Cleveland, Harrison, Horizon Academy South, Jefferson (the defending city champions), John Adams, La Resolana Leadership Academy, Madison, Manzano Vista (Los Lunas), McKinley, James Monroe, PAPA, Polk,  Roosevelt, Santa Fe Art Institute, Taft, Taylor, Truman, and Carlos Vigil (Espanola).

The competition will begin at 2pm with the three preliminary bouts featuring four schools each.  The other twelve schools will compete at 3:30pm.  Of the six winner, the top two will automatically advance to the finals, while the other four compete in a semi-final bout inside the Bank of America Theater.  The top two will make their way to the finals.

The finals will begin at 7pm in the Albuquerque Journal Theater (capacity 700).  Danny Solis and Leah Black of 93.3 KOB-FM will host.

"We believe this event will help open doors for the students/poets onto a world in which the simple acts of reading, writing, and performing become life-long tools of empowerment that will help them and their communities live healthier, happier, richer and more prosperous lives," said Danny Solis, co-producer.

"Yes, this is a competition," said event co-producer, Sal Treppiedi, a teacher at Harrison Middle School, "but, as is said in slam, 'The points are not the point...the point is poetry.'  The goal of this event is to give kids a voice.  The fact that we have tripled the number of kids involved in one year is astonishing and very rewarding."

 

On Saturday evening, April 22, 2006, the 1st Middle School Poetry Slam Jam was held at Grant Middle School.  Eight teams from seven Albuquerque middle schools participated, and, to say the least, it was HOT.

In the end, Jefferson Middle School narrowly edged out Taft Middle Schools' Trojan squad to claim the cup as City Champions.  Taft's Greek squad came in third, followed by Grant.  Also taking part, but not advancing to the finals, were Harrison MS, Madison MS, Taylor MS, and Van Buren MS.

Congratulations to all of the young poets for an awe-inspiring evening.

City Champions - Jefferson Jets: Starr, Leigh, Evan, Angel, Sydney - Coach: David Sherman & Margaret Kircher

Grant Eagles: Ashley, Audrey, Christian, Jessie, Tanya - Coach: Susan Hillmeyer

Harrison Roadrunners: Angelica, Antonio, DJ, Erica - Coaches: Sal Treppiedi & Jose Trevino

Madison Magic: Ashley, Calle, Heather, Nicole - Coach: Carolee Dean

Taft Greeks: Ben, Daniel, Jennifer, Michael, Tamara - Coaches: Coleen Nelson-Schafer & Carla Cordova

Taft Trojans: Adam, Kimberly, Victoria - Coaches: Carla Cordova & Coleen Nelson-Schafer

Taylor T-Birds: Capree, Hali, Kacey, Katie, Rylie - Coaches: Tina DiChiara, Michelle Fencl, and Steve Pinzone

Van Buren Falcons: Amy, Anna, Amanda, Mauricio, Payton, Natasha - Coach: Meg Wills

There are many people without whom this event would not have taken place.  Special thanks go out to: the staff and students of Grant Middle School and Principal Ed Briggs, members of the Student Council; all the administrators from each of the participating schools; poets Danny Solis, Grace, Jessica Lopez, Adan Baca, Tony Santiago, Kevin Cassell; Sandy at Screen Images; our judges: Leah Black (93.3 KOB-FM), Jessica Garate (KRQE-News 13), AJ Smith (KOAT-Channel 7),  Lenell Storey (Albuquerque Youth Slam Team), and, once again, not only a judge, but the score- and timekeeper, Danny Solis; the Albuquerque Youth Team featuring Esme, Lenell, Viki, and Samantha; our hosts: Carlos Contreras, Samantha Farrell, and Viki; Mountainside YMCA (sound equipment); Domino's Pizza; Rudy Miera for taping the event; Michelle Fencl; KOAT-Channel 7 (great report on the event); Don McIver for the flyers; and, last, but certainly not least, to the parents of these amazing young people.

Look for Slam Jam 2 next year as Jefferson defends their cup.  Hope to see you then, and, in the meantime, never stop writing what is in your heart: your truth.

TO: THE YOUTHFUL POETS OF THE APS FIRST ANNUAL DISTRICT MIDDLE SCHOOL POETRY SLAM

We heard you speak about school and home/and of your thoughts when you are alone
And we need you to continue to create your verse/even when things around you seem to get worse

We heard that many feel no one cares/and many have been treated quite unfair
But we need your words to continue to be/a shinning, guiding light for all of us adults to see

We heard your courage and power come thru/speaking about yourself is not easy to do
And we need to hear from you again and again/in the poet community you have many friends

We heard some say they just want to leave/many friends and family would truly grieve
We need you to keep your words in our ears/to help us to get rid of all your fears

We heard that many adults are not doing our job/and because of this you feel you have been robbed
And we need you to stay and keep speaking the truth/so we can improve things for all of our youth

We heard many speak out thru all of their pain/and you may not think that anything was gained
But we adults needed to hear the hard core truth/especially from the mouths of our youth

So "thank you" for honoring us with your words/and trusting that your feelings would really be heard
Please continue to write and speak truth aloud/and know that all who heard you last night
are really, really proud!

Thank you all again.

Your fellow poet... Grace (4/23/06)