Our Spring 2006 Poetry Workshop Begins.. and Takes Off at JHS 292 in East New York!

Amazing young poet, Naima (a.k.a. Fire),

sets things ablaze with her hard-hitting poetry

This past Saturday, March 18th, The In Progress Group in association with the Center for the Arts & Culture @SJB jump started our new Spring 2006 Poetry & Performance Workshop for Teens and Adults at a special site, JHS 292 Margaret S. Douglas, in East New York, Brooklyn. It was a wonderful start to what is sure to be another amazing poetry workshop facilitated by Luis Bernard of The In Progress Group.

Luis Bernard breaks things down for the poetry workshop teens and adults

The Spring 2006 Poetry & Performance Workshop is the follow-up to our highly successful Creative Writing Workshop that concluded this past November at CAC@SJB, and with a group that consisted of extraordinary, talented teenagers, highschool students, college students, adults, and special guest spoken word artists, our second poetry workshop was off and running!

The group of participating teen and adult poets get ready for an afternoon
of amazing poetry performances at JHS 292 in East New York, Brooklyn

After brief introductions, the workshop began with the insightful words and poetry of talented spoken word artist / vocalist, Shanelle Gabriel, who insprired all with her performances in both spoken word and song. She's a young talent with an amazing future ahead of her! We are so grateful to Shanelle for taking the time to visit us, inspire us, and getting us started on the right foot. After that, the poetry from all the teen and adult participants was on!

Spoken Word Artist/Vocalist, Shanelle Gabriel,
shares her poetry and some of her music at the workshop

One after the other, the youth and adult poets took turns sharing their poetry in what turned out to be an amazing display of diversity, uniqueness, intelligence, and depth.. especially from some of the youngest participants of the workshop. The adults in attendence were left awe-inspired, and shaking their heads by the poetic content and performances of the gifted teens.

Young poet to watch, 14 yr. old, Kiara, served notice that she is wise well beyond
her years with her amazing display of poetry and confidence at the workshop

Some of the older poets served notice as well that they were not to be taken lightly as each shared their own unique styles of poetry that inspired the teens, while making us all think, laugh, and even cry.

Richie Robles makes them laugh with his special brand of poetry..

..while talented, Purchase College student, Anthony,
amuzed the workshop group with his unique brand of poetry..


..and Karen's poetry touched all our hearts.

This great start to our Spring 2006 poetry workshop could not have been possible without the absolute kindess and generous hospitality of Mr. Everett Hughes, the Principal of JHS 292, and especially, Ms. Joann Kellum, JHS 292 Afterschool Coordinator, who was gracious enough to invite us to have our first session at their wonderful school. The workshop session was actually held in JHS 292's School Library, which was a perfect setting for all the youth and adult poets to get inspired and open their minds. We are so grateful to them for opening their doors to us, and are forever thankful for all the support they provided us during the afternoon session. We thank you for helping build the bridge between JHS 292, in East New York, and CAC@SJB in Bedford-Stuyvesant. We look forward to crossing this new bridge often with you in the very near future.

Special guest speaker and spoken word artist, Falu,
energized the workshop with her amazing poetry and spirit

We really thank our special guest poets, Shanelle Gabriel and Falu, for inspiring us all with their wonderful poetry performances, their talent, and their example of how it should be done! These two young, and extremely gifted women are truly the cream of the crop on the spoken word circuit today. If you ever get the chance to see them do their poetry live, you will witness beauty, grace, and greatness! Thanks for making the trip and taking the time to help our students, and for helping us get the workshop started with a bang!

And, of course, you know Glenn was in the house!

SPECIAL NOTE: The poetry workshop will continue at the Center for the Arts & Culture @ St. John the Baptist at 75 Lewis Ave. (bet. Hart St. and Willoughby Ave.) in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, for the remainder of the workshop. The remaining workshop dates are Saturdays, March 25, and April 1 & 8, from 1 - 4 pm.

Make sure to click on the "Directions to CAC@SJB" link at the right side of this blogsite for transportation directions to the Center. For more info regarding the Spring 2006 Poerty Workshop, contact Luis Bernard at (347)623-2547 or Glenn Echevarria (718)455-6864 x-152.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL THE PARTICIPANTS AT OUR SECOND WORKSHOP SESSION AT THE CENTER! MAKE SURE TO BRING YOUR PEN & PADS!!

Saturday, Feb. 25's Lyrical Sanctuary & Open-mic Poetry Review: the blessings just keep on coming!

Indeed an original.. the "Word Bird" Malik Canty made a special appearance

and blessed us all with his spirit and ever-inspiring poetry

With the backdrop being a beautiful array of awe-inspiring artwork by Chantal Smith, Glenn Angel, and Iandry Randriamandroso, the Lyrical Sanctuary & Open-mic Poetry gathering on Saturday, Feb. 25 in honor of Black History & Heritage was another memorable afternoon and deep experience at the Center for the Arts & Culture at St. John the Baptist in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

Glenn Angel reads the Willie Lynch Letter

A group of youth and adults gathered at the Center last Saturday for a special edition of the Lyrical Sanctuary. The afternoon gathering also offered an open-mic opportunity for all participants to share their poetry.. and share they did! The afternoon began with a reading of the infamous Willie Lynch Letter by Glenn Angel, CAC@SJB's Director.

Malik shares some of his deep historical knowledge and wisdom

Amazingly, all the youth and even some of the adults in attendance had never read nor even heard of the Willie Lynch Letter. For those who may not know, the Willie Lynch Letter was written in 1712 by the man himself, and was his basic blueprint for white slave owners in the deep south, offering them his great insight on how to condition and control black slaves for hundreds of years. If you haven't read it.. we recommend you look it up on the web and catch up on your American history!

Gifted 16 yr.old, William Locario, commands the mic with his poetry

The reading of the Willie Lynch Lettter undoubtedly roused up some deep emotions which led to a open discussion on the history of slavery in our nation, and how many elements of the letter still exist in our society and world today. After that, the poetry was on.. as each participant took their turn on the Center's new mini-stage to share their poetic offerings.

Multi-talented Richie Robles takes no prisoners!

One by one, each poet relayed their special messages of love, anguish, pain, struggle, redemption, victory, history, and hope with one another. It was as unique an experience as we've ever had at the Center.. and we sincerely thank all of the youth and adults who came and participated at this special Lyrical Sanctuary gathering.

Young adult and SJU student, Danielle Locario,

took everyone deep with her heartfelt words



Malik takes the stage and feeds the crowd

The next Lyrical Sanctuary gathering for youth and adults will take place on Saturday, March 11 from 2 - 5pm.. as a warm-up for our 2nd Creative Writing Workshop for teens and adults.. which will begin Saturday, March 18th and run for 4 weeks at the Center. Make sure to sign up early for what is sure to be an amazing workshop presented by Luis Bernard of The In Progress Group.

To sign up for the Spring 2006 Creative Writing Workshop, call Luis Bernard at (347)623-2547 or by e-mail at InProgress@verizon.net

Multi-talented artist / musician, Kris Echevarria, treats the crowd
with his special blend of poetry

The quiet, yet surprising, Miguel Garcia, rips the mic with his deep poetry

So, make sure to remember and make a note of it.. the next Lyrical Sanctuary will be held next Saturday, March 11th at the Center from 2 - 5 pm.

The Creative Writing Workshop for Teens & Adults will begin the week after on March 18th. Until then, we hope to see all of our poetry family members who could not make it for the Lyrical Sanctuary last Saturday at the next Lyrical Sanctuary and the Creative Writing Workshop. For the poetry family members that did make it, we are truly greatful for your participation and constant support. You are the reason why we are still here!

A very special Thank You.. to our great friend, true inspiration, and Warrior of Words, the "Word Bird" Malik Canty, and to his lovely wife and queen, Beverly, for blessing us once again with their presence, and their beautiful souls. You both have been a constant source of support for us, and the endeavors of the Center since the very beginning. The Center will always be your home!

A very special couple, Beverly and Malik, share a moment
and a smile at the Center

As a special treat for the community, the Center will continue showing the artworks of Chantal Smith, Glenn Angel, and Iandry Randriamandroso, and will be open to the public on selected dates and times this March. We will be making announcements regarding these dates and times on this site.. and we'll keep you posted on all of them.

If you haven't seen the wonderful artwork in the Center, make sure you take advantage of the opportunity to make a visit. If you have, come see them again.. and invite your family and friends,too. They're gonna love it.. and best of all.. it's free!!

We look forward to seeing you at CAC@SJB real soon!