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Party People,

A young man in my neighborhood comes up to me and asks me to cut my grass.  Good kid.  I've watched him grow up.  I've been in my house for 10 years, he's 19 now.  He was a standout High School Football player, projected to go Division 1.  Then he hurt his shoulder, and the scholarships dried up.  Now he's sitting on my steps, and he has no plans.  He never even thought about it past football.  He wants to go to college, but hasn't started the process.  He wants to get a job, but the economy is bad.  He's gotten in trouble with the law, because he was hanging in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Young brother, full of talent, no ambition in his eyes.  He's 6 feet 2 inches tall, but eyes fixated on the ground when he talks because he has no confidence.  He represents a lot of young men and women that are slipping through the cracks.  I don't even live in the hood like that.  We have a decent neighborhood.  It's full of hard working middle class families.  Their children are not exempt.

We know the problems, we know our struggle.  It's well documented.  Now it is time to add our chapter.  I do the First Word Youth Open Mic because it is my contribution.  They are killing arts in the schools and curriculum.  That takes away creativity.  No creativity leaves no ability to adapt with change.  Not being able to adapt with change leads to a stagnant youth vulnerable to peer pressure.  Poetry is literacy, activism, leadership, public speaking, and social interaction all rolled up into one.  I will see my niece graduate from Temple University this year, a product of First Word.  I have watched another young brother become a college graduate, teacher, and flourishing slam poet, a product of First Word.  The youth I work with now get it, and see options just by being involved.  I'm not trying to be like those long drawn out sad commercials, just making a point.  It works.  I've seen it work.  This is a FUN event.  This is a FREE EVENT.  Bring out your teens that have talent.  If you are a teacher, organizer, or student reading this, BE A PART OF THE MOVEMENT!  I will see you Saturday.  Holla at ya boy!   

Cocktails a.k.a. Lean on Me

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