WriteGirl

More from the teens in this segment:

Kyla's poem

I am me
Tasty like a leaf,
Made of tea,
Smooth like the weeds of the sea
I am me.
Shallow like rain puddles,
Deep as the Nile
Dry like the desert sand
Running for miles.
The sugar in your coffee,
The milk in your tea,
I am once more that person called me.
I'm sticky, and icky,
Clean and serene.
I am me,
The pit of a sunbeam.
Weeping like a willow,
Soft as a pillow,
I am me.
Poetic, Flow-etic,
Me.

Glenda's piece

The object I chose came from China,
From a pile that is filled with knick-knacks and a temperamental royal family, with the exception of one fifteen-year old boy.This fifteen-year old boy isolates himself from the rest of his family. Whenever family functions turn ugly, he rushes to an empty corner of the house and rolls himself into a ball. With this action he tries to shut all the screaming, hitting, and any abuse out.In the way of doing this, he somewhat feels more with himself. As he comes to know himself, he comes to realize that at the end of the day, the only person you have left is yourself.

This piece was written as part of an exercise that involved choosing an object from a group of objects set out on a table, and using it as a jumping-off point for free writing.

About the program:
From Keren Taylor, Director

WriteGirl, a project of the nonprofit incubator Community Partners, is a program for inner city high school girls centered on the craft of creative writing and empowerment through self-expression. It is clear that girls in Los Angeles don't have much opportunity to explore their creativity and individual voices through school, so starting WriteGirl seemed like a good idea all around. Having a place where you are encouraged to express your emotions and ideas is important at any time in your life, but somehow particularly vital as a teenager, and still (yes, still) especially vital for women.

Through one-on-one mentoring and monthly workshops, girls are given techniques, insights and hot tips for great writing in all genres from professional women writers. The result is a channeling of thoughts and emotions, improved self-confidence and life skills and, most importantly, a window to a wide world of possibilities. Some of our girls may go on to pursue careers as writers, but all will have valuable communication skills to help them no matter what they decide to do in their lives.

Beyond the Bell (a Division of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has been a terrific supporter of WriteGirl from its inception because they see the immense value of giving girls personal mentors and a stimulating environment that encourages learning OUTSIDE of school.

There's no question that writing provides a means for understanding the self. Especially for girls from families with challenging communications patterns, writing provides an outlet and a doorway to ideas, dreams and goals that might otherwise never be released.

Contact:(323) 327-2555; www.writegirl.org