SPRING 2014

Stories and Poems by the Youth of Telling it

YPSILANTI

Telling It is an exemplary community-based program that employs innovative approaches to boost scholastic confidence by using the healing aspects of the arts in concert with evidenced-based educational and social work practices.

The teens have been exploring their identities and their creativity in Telling It’s after school sessions that introduce the visual arts, photography, spoken word poetry, rap, music, creative writing and the theater arts. All of these experiences provide platforms of expression for the teens, some familiar and some new. All are designed with the goal of creating a safe environment in which a trained team can support the teens as they address the personal and educational vision they have for themselves.

We hope that you enjoy this anthology with its mixture of creative writing and photographs that capture the individual spirit of each teen. These photos include some of the more animated moments during this past year! Today it is important that we let each teen know that as they share their creative writing with us, we appreciate their talent and their self-confidence.

Thank you so much for supporting our teens and sharing in our Telling It celebration!

Deb Gordon-GurfinkelTelling It Founder and Director

Marvin GundySite Facilitator

WELCOME TO OUR TELLING IT CELEBRATION FOR THE YPSILANTI AREA TEENAGERS HOSTED BY PARKRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER! THIS CELEBRATION IS THE COMING-TOGETHER OF FOUR TELLING IT S ITES FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEENS. THESE SITES RAN AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND VARIOUS SPANS OF TIME DURING THE 2013-14 ACADEMIC YEAR. THEY INCLUDE MACARTHUR BLVD AT THE CHRISTIAN LOVE FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY, YPSILANTI COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL, WEST WILLOW’S COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER, AND PARKRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER.

Kyla PageSocial Worker

Walter LacyMC

WEST WILLOWJOSHTHINGS THAT I L IKE TO DOMy name is JoshAnd I like to play sportsWhen I’m feelin’ low I go to sleepWhen I’m feelin’ good I go play.Now my flow is done so watch tv.

I AMI am a house, big and open.I am a plane, slick and fast.I am a garden, beautiful and smell good.I am a swimming pool, wild and fun.

LAMAR’DRA DAILY L IFEMy name is Lamar’DraAnd I like to play trumpetWhen I’m feelin’ low I listen to musicWhen I’m feelin’ good I watch tv.Now my flow is done so am going to go to sleep now.

I AMI am an airplane, I go all around the world.I am a house, I am very big and very tall.I am a garden, I grow every spring.I am a lover, I love my family.

CIATTA(I HAVE TO TELL YOU)That I am awesome,Brave, courageous,Musical,Artistic, creative, Mysterious, friendly,And good at heart.

MYSTERIOUS HERO!Hello my name is (Mysterious hero.)A female hero with many identities.

Including this one.Wonder Woman is my favorite.

I change into many things.Fairies, including this one.I don’t really like this one.

Plus, to blend in I try to be a gamer girl.But I end up being clumsy.

LAISEE PARLER LES GENSThis song was made in France nine years ago. It’s all about secrets. In the music video, singers Passi, Jacob, Joycelynne Laybelle and Cheela sang. This relates to me because someone told a secret yesterday.

I AMI am a house, I’m big and empty and people move into me.I am a scooter, I’m in many colors. I ride around the city.I am a garden, blooming with blossoms in the Spring. Breathtaking view.I am an art supply, I create things. I’m very useful And full of color.

ALEX’USI AMI am a house, locked down,Tall.I am a car, Fast,Needed.I am a garden,I grow a lot,Dependent.I am a wild girl,Sneaky,Sexy.

TE’AVION I AMI am a house, big and long.I am a garden, tasty and nutritious.I am a motorcycle on steroids, fast and young.I am my tag, I am West WillowAnd peace.

TIARRAI AMI am a plane…small and wide.I am a house…small and emptyI am a garden…grow every spring.I am a lover…I love myself and people close to me.

YPSILANTI COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL MITCHBROKEN PROMISESPromises,the easiest thing to break,the easiest thing to make,and for what?nothing but a uselessworld crushing lie.

All promises made to me,were broken.Most promises made by me,were also broken.So what’s different?about this one I just made?

To me,a promise is a difficult situation,wanting to embrace you,wanting to get into your headand sooner or later,making you want to be dead.

So that’s what a promise is to me,the easiest thing to break,the easiest thing to make,and for what?For a nobody like me,to say I’m sorry.

ASHLEYI HAVE TO TELL YOU…I have to tell you about the dreamI have to tell you about meSick and tired of being criticized constantlyUnconsciously goes the mindWishing we could rewind the timeWhen my people were free, Not just physically but mentally.I have to tell you that I have a dream!

SOULI LIVEI live in a world where I danceOr my heart stops beatingCoughing blood after every rehearsalAnd every battle because I push myself too much.

I fall out after I’m done, go right to sleep.Wake up and do it all again becauseI’m just doin’ me. I love it, love the Feelin’ that it brings to my heartLove the feelin’ cuz in the mornin’ I got A jump start.

COURTNEYFIVE SENSES OF AN ARCHETYPEI see my death in front of meI hear an old man telling me about him busting a nutI touch my face because of the tearsI smell old man cologneI feel (emotion) really scared

MAXFIVE SENSES OF AN ARCHETYPE: A CAT PERSONI see the law office he works out of.I touch a cat person.I smell rape in the airI hear someone killed in Vietnam.I feel in rape mood.

EMMAI LIVEI live for the things that mean the most.I live for the things I need.I live for the superficial as well as the real.Above all, I live for them.The ones who stand by my side.The ones whose side I stand by.Those who refuse to give in.Those who refuse to let me give in.Those people in the real worldAnd those in a made up world.

ELIZAFIVE SENSES OF AN ARCHETYPEI see a drunk stranger. He seems to need help.I hear the elevator stop.I touch his arm and he yells at me not to.I smell liquor and fabric and old people from this man.I feel comfortable.

KIDS L IKE MELiving in this space,It’s definitely a cold place.Living with others,Who aren’t even there.Silence drowns outThe music aboutKids like me,Kid who aren’t free.

JAZLYNFIVE SENSES OF AN ARCHETYPE: CEREAL KILLERI see the people watching me as I shower in the bank.I hear the rapist approaching.I touch the cereal box.I smell the stale box.I fee scared.

I L IVE…. Hatred, violence, emotion. Day after day I see myself in the mirror, a reflection of self-pity and doubt. I fall to depression, many usually say it’s my sin but my paper and pen respect me in a new light. I fight with

courage though I am dragged down with the poles of shame. My friends uplift me, my love for my girlfriend uplifts me. Myself uplifts me. Nothing but power uplifts me. Love, passion and freedom uplift me.

WACKYWacky-tacky, silly-willy upside down twists, turns spinning, this our love. We scream, we shout, we cry, we pout. Community, free lift us up no wor-ries, no cares, scared by the next math test – to hell with you – we’ll be us no matter what. The time or place, a space, filled with us – a must of oddities. We’re a big-top circus, not bound by ropes. Hopes of memories long faded. Ages of memories, tutorials of safety and the will of we – LGBT. Long gone – empty.

MACARTHUR BLVDJALEHTHE MIRRORWhen people look at me they see a guy on a shirt and shorts.When I look in the mirror I see a strong football player.My idea of myself in the future I see a world-star football player.

ROBTHE MIRRORThey see someone tall, athletic, a Christian rapper, black, Christian, high jumper.I see an intelligent African American, a rapper, tall and built.I want to be an NBA player, a Christian rapper, or a music producer, or a mentor to kids.What makes me a survivor is that if I was lost, I’m smart enough to look for a homeless shelter.

DJ THE MIRRORThey see the coolest with swag, a genius, male.I see my eyes, my self, my phone and my color.I want to be the leader of the world and be a sk8 boarder.

JAYLETHE MIRRORWhen people look at me they see a person with money.When I look in a mirror, I see a person with a good life!!I want to be a good artist

PARKRIDGE

MARTAJIAMIRROR MIRRORWhen I look in the mirror I see a beautiful, pretty girl who can be suc-cessful in life and a money-maker person, who loves to read and a person who loves math

When they look in the mirror they see a cool girl, phoner and a rapper and someone who is irritating.

I AMI am a houseSomeone is always in the basementI am a gardenThe flowers are always bloomingThe flowers are always healthyI am a thre- wheelerReally fast and coolI am a headphoneI love music and Dr. DreHeadphones with a neon color

GHOST STORYI open the door and I looked around and I saw this door that I have never seen before. There was a women swinging from this rope, she looked down at me and blood came out of her mouth…but she fell before she could tell me what she was going to say. Shen started to follow me and I ran, then all of a sudden she started to sing. I found a baby and I put the baby in his cribe and then the lady took the baby. I went down stairs to look for the baby and as I went down the stairs the lady came out of no where and said “How Dare You” and smacked me.I was uncouncous and I woke up and the baby was down stairs hung on a hanger….The end of Tuesday

SAMIAHI AMIm a NFL superstarI’m going to football practiceI’m angry andI’m headed to the sports center andI’m cheating

MIRROR MIRRORI see myself as a nice person who is so sweet and always shares. I think I am like my great grandma and grandpaOther people see me as a nice sweet personThey think I’m nicePeople think I can be helpful sometimes

DAMARKUSLYRICSGot so much swag I get a bit of loveCause you can’t mess with me I leave it’s real funnyI do good in school and I’m not a foolLike you wear foubo’s and I’m really cool

CHARLESBACK IN THE DAYBack in the day I use to bbqAnd I use to sit back and relax And watch my bbqAnd drink beer all day While I eat ribs all day And I spit 10 bars

ANISHAEMMET TILLI am a house and there is always someone in the bathroomI am a garden and I’m always so quiet and need waterI am a scooter because I like to be outsideI am Emmit Till because it was so wrongAnd It hurt my feelings

MELVINI AMI am a house with the door open with lots of food in itI am a garden with nasty dieting plants and dog shit everywhereI am a rib stick that is red and you have to move it aroundI am a tv that is 62 inch wide and never on.

SHAKIRA I AMI am a houseI like to hear the sound of childrenAlso televisionI am a gardenI like worms I love waterI am a motorcycleI got very fastI drink five-hour energy drinksI am a homicide detectiveBoss ass bitch I’m a homicide detectiveBecause ill put ignorant people in jail

EMMANUEL “E MONEY”GHOST STORYI opened the door and a boy was grabbing a knife. He sliced his head off. Then he grew a girls head. And then he/she ate the old head. Then, Satan came and said,” You have some flower dog.” The boy said, “Get yourself in here.” I said, “Hell no you don’t”. Finally, he sends me to hell. FOREVER! But I survived. I had a blood sword and I killed myself? The End…?

LYRICSI am the kind you knowI go with the flowI’m always on the goYo, you ninjas slowYou are skid row

I AMI am a houseI have a catI have a dog

I am a gardenBugsFlowersI’m hover bootsFloatGet awayI’m a ninja starThrow Stab

AVONTEUNDERCOVER COPI was going undercover I had to arrest two guys who had killed two undercovers They thought they was drug dealers. So me and my crew had to raid the house.

LYRICSI like soccerIt’s cool nobody on the teamCall them foolsI’m the only one on the team that rulesKids are sweating my jewelsBecause I got all the athletic toolsUgly ninjas you lose

SERINITYI AMI am a houseBigVery quietI am a gardenBeautifulFull of flowersI am a carMustang RimsI am a lightning boltStrike peopleYell out all the time

GHOST STORYI opened the door I walked To A StoreAnd A whole Bunch Of boys and girlsSo

I sawA lady named Taisha You Live in my house nowSaid Taisha…no I don’t I Said If You Live In Here

Then you die OK?OK SoI

Escaped from her then climbed out fromWINDOWAnd ran to Akyra’s houseAnd I’m going to die The witch had this in her hand and her fingers looked like this…

JANISI AMI am a houseIt’s always cozyIt’s always filled up with people

I am a gardenIt’s always full of rosesIt always smells good

I am a roller-skaterI’m blue and very fast

I am a bookFull of storiesAlways interesting

APPRECIATION AND APPLAUSEU-M Student Interns Ravon, Zach, Margarita, Meesh, Tristen, Chris and Christiana

Social Work Interns Samantha, Amanda and Leticia

Natalia Harris with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office

Princess with Young Women Making Washtenaw County Better

Anthony Williamson and the Parkridge staff

Linda Mealing and the New West Willow Neighborhood Association Board

Principal Natalie Turner, Debbie Swanson, and Laura Schaffer at Ypsilanti Community Middle School

Harold Wimberly with Christian Love Ministries

Telling It Program Coordinator Emily Marshall

STANDING OVATION FOR THE ARTISTS Graphic Designer Alexander Lee

Musician Matt Santana and his side kick Erika

Photographer Leisa Thompson

Resident Artist Walter Lacy

Visual Artist Valerie Mann

FUNDING AND SUPPORTWashtenaw Coordinated Funders

Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office – Jerry L. Clayton, Sheriff

U-M LSA Residential College

Ypsilanti Area Community Fund

Martin Family Foundation

Dick and Norma Sarns

Victory Toyota Canton

Bank of Ann Arbor

Con-way, Inc.

Doug and Julie Stotlar

Claus E. Zielke

Parkridge Community Center

New West Willow Neighborhood Association

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACTDeb Gordon-Gurfinkel

Telling It Founder & Director

(734) 649-3118

dmgordon@umich.edu

PLEASE VIS IT OUR NEW WEBSITEWWW.LSA.UMICH.EDU/TELLINGIT