This blog post was written by Maddy Cuevas, a mentee. The found poetry workshop was on December 10, 2016.
I was looking forward to the Found Poetry Workshop on December 10th in the Girls Write Now office for weeks. One of my teachers at school was familiar with the organization and their work, so I knew I was going to meet two new poets whose work was powerful. I was really intrigued because it was a workshop where I could enhance my own poetry skills. It was also fun to learn about a genre that I knew I wanted to participate in.
The workshop did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded my expectations. I never would’ve thought that there are poets actually advocating for women of color and lifting up our self-esteem. That matters to me because often women of color are overlooked by society and face negative stereotypes.
My favorite moment from the Found Poetry Workshop was when Mahogany Browne presented her poem called “Black Girl Magic” and when I had the honor to follow up with a performance of my poem called “One Of These Days.” It’s beautiful how poets from different age groups can share a similar passion for world issues. “One Of These Days” is about the Black Lives Matter movement. “Black Girl Magic” refers to the inner beauty of a woman of color. Both pieces address real-life issues women of color face on a daily basis. What I liked about the second speaker, Morgan Parker, was that she introduced me to using writing as a form of therapy. Before, I wouldn’t imagine writing as a gateway for relaxation or coping with depression.
Mahogany and Morgan are very alike. They’re both motivational and funny and all while showing us young women that we’re powerful in our own way. The workshop helped my writing skills and left me excited and inspired by the speakers’ poetry and presence.
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