With such interactive pieces, the audience had questions for students about the process behind their creating. Each piece had been inspired by an in-class assignment. One student from Emily Harris’ class told about selecting a “boring” item from a sack and then writing about it, in this case a rock. The subsequent broadcast piece was amazingly textured, with a sensory description of a rock that the audience could virtually smell and feel as the student described it. In Nicole Georges class, students chose “weird” headlines and created a comic about them. Again, students displayed impressive creativity, building a multi-page story around a deceptively simple phrase.

It was certainly an entertaining evening for everyone involved. Many thanks to Broadway Books for hosting and to all those who came and participated!

Many of this year’s mentors are enthusiastic returns from the previous event. We also have a great new crop of volunteers who were inspired to help after reading Susie Bartley’s essay in the fall edition of Literary Arts’ newsletter, Words Matter. With backgrounds as lawyers, teachers, psychologists, writers, artists, philanthropists, and doctors, our volunteers bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with students.

Despite the blustery, rainy afternoon outside, the Franklin school library was alight with positive conversations. Students answered a questionnaire to spark topic ideas, and mentors worked on helping them craft their experiences and aspirations into thoughtful and unique pieces.

Our report for the 2010-11 WITS program has just been released and is available to read online.

Click here to read and learn more about what we’ve been up to this past year!

To view our library, you can visit our profile at http://www.issuu.com/literary-arts.

In the morning, each organization shared what they’ve been working on over the past year. Nearly everyone spoke of having their contributed income from grants and endowments decrease, but at the same time a few had secured new sources of income and were expanding their programs and/or hiring staff. Many organizations had experimented with new strategies and residencies over the past year, and they shared their triumphs and challenges. Some orgs had more volunteers than they could use, while others were hoping to get more applicants for writers-in-residence programs (which is good news for Oregonian writers!). Overall, the day was filled with conversation about how arts education is adapting, growing, and doing phenomenal work despite financial challenges.

Exposito’s presentation on teaching creative writing to Latina youth—or any marginalized student population—was insightful and touched on struggles that many artists-in-residence have faced. She shared her experiences with teaching writing, and the importance of creating a safe space for students to write in and finding mentors who care about the students.

As always, the exchange of ideas and strategies at the WITS Summit was invaluable. Many organizations are forging new partnerships in their communities, diversifying their funding streams, and raising awareness of the services they provide to their local communities. Some were exploring online writing courses to increase rural access. Others were doing teen writing camps, scholarships for students to writing retreats, monthly radio readings and themed classes for students. All were passionate about reaching out to all students, no matter their background or geographic location. It was nothing short of inspiring to hear how hard everyone works!

The highlight was hearing presenters share individual stories of how their work has changed lives. It was a good reminder of the importance of arts education and why everyone works so hard at their nonprofit or school. At the end of the day, it was great to feel connected to so many people who are actively working to nurture creativity throughout Oregon. Thanks to our presenters, our host, and all our participants. We’re excited to see what everyone accomplishes in the upcoming year!

We even had a lunchtime stroll in the beautiful Gorge!

A  week from graduation, she walks into her English class, sits down and looks to the overhead screen for the day’s prompt: “Neighborhood.” For a minute she quiets herself, pen in hand.

With each passing day, school seems both closer and more distant. Surges of memory — her teachers, her classes these past four years, all the hallway conversations, the languages. The halls used to be more crowded, livelier, but now some of her classmates show up every other day, if that.

Her teachers tell them they matter, no one is abandoning them. They can’t take it personally, that’s the thing. Life’s not always fair. And they know it’s true, and also, enrollment was on the low side compared to other high schools.

Still — this place is theirs. For some kids, it’s home, where they can come to know that people will pay attention to what they’re thinking. Where they can find a few moments of calm. Where they can eat.

“I live in the wilderness of the economy,” she writes on the first line of her paper.

To read the entire article, click here.

Mark applauding an author's work at a student reading.

Another round of WITS Readings is approaching! Here’s the schedule:

Lincoln High School
Date: Thursday, May 12
Location: Portland Art Museum (1219 SW Park)
Time: 6:30 pm
Featured WITS writers: John Isaacson and Laura Moulton

Roosevelt High School
Date: Monday, May 16
Location: Girasole Pizza (8438 N. Lombard)
Time: 7:00 pm
Featured WITS writers: Carmen Bernier-Grand, Chris Cottrell and John Isaacson

Jefferson High School
Date: Wednesday, May 18
Location: Talking Drum Books/Reflections Coffee House (446 NE Killingsworth)
Time: 7:00 pm
Featured WITS Writers: Hali Felt and Joanna Rose

Marshall High School
Date: Monday, May 23
Location: Lents Commons Coffeehouse (9201 SE Foster)
Time: 7:00 pm
Featured WITS Writers: Mark Pomeroy and Donna Prinzmetal

Franklin High School
Date: Wednesday, May 25
Location: BiPartisan Cafe (7901 SE Stark)
Time: 7:00 pm
Featured WITS Writers: Angela Allen, Alexis Nelson and Donna Prinzmetal

We hope to see you there!

For those who wondered how many different flags there were, we had 16 different sayings. Here’s the list:

Abby had a community leader as a mentor for her college essays.

Juwan saw Edwidge Danticat speak.

Kathy’s class met the author of their assigned novel.

Miles performed his slam poetry at Wordstock.

Natasha saw Margaret Atwood at the Schnitzer.

Christina published her poem and won a prize for it.

Billy was featured on OPB’s Think Out Loud.

Nuwo wrote an essay about nuns in Africa.

Anna was published in the Oregonian.

Jabari read his poem at Talking Drum books.

Angel read Isabel Allende’s book and then saw her at the Schnitzer.

Bronson Enos read his poem to an audience of 2,300 people.

Mohad got to meet Greg Mortenson.

Natasha Trethewey visited Madison High School.

Frankie read her story at Annie Bloom’s Books.

Hundreds of commuters read Talisha’s poem every day.