"This is NOT the school store" by Marsi Maxwell

One of our Hip Hop dance students, DeDe burst into our office one day demanding pretzels, pencils, notebooks, etc. inspiring Marsi to respond kindly--in song!

"Real Rap" with Marsi

After just a few months of programming, The Village is coming together to present an amazing set of performances for family, friends, staff, and the community. Our students have worked hard learning new dances, new writing techniques, and building characters for the stage. With a tenacious appetite for the performing arts world, our villagers have risen to the challenge and it warms my heart to see them harvest the fruits of their labor.

Hip hop dance: From crumping to b-boying, creativity is flowing from the hands and feet of our dancers. Choreography taught in steps and skits designed to enhance performances provide the back drop for an electric show. These teens hungry for the beat learn and develop their ideas to hardcore Baltimore club dance beats and other hip hop classics, while Chase and I provide our own “we wish we could dance as well as you do, can’t stop us from cranking out where did that come from dance, and yes we love you enough to look like dancing fools techniques” to their warm ups and warm downs.

 

--List of Some Students Participating: NIjahuana Harris Cherlande Beaujour Lakeisha Williams Natori Johnson Cheree Gibson DeQuan Chambliss Eric Green Allea Anderson Jarell Clark Carlos Mantilla

Raymond Delgado Enes Green Denise Williams Melissa Dejesus Kenny King Dionna Blackson Tamira Chambliss Janielle Jones Juan Mantilla

Poetry: Everyday students arrive in our office at various times, mostly during the “Finish Your Plate” program to provide us with their newly written poems. Chase excitedly posts their work on our filing cabinets like a proud parent/teacher! It is rather sweet.

Their work is fresh off the pages and streams ink into my heart with verses and rhyme steeped in heartbreak, chaotic energy, and the need to emotionally understand the world around them. Our villagers take the time to write lengthy poems and songs as their way of dealing with their strife and I wholeheartedly appreciate their openness to share with us and in knowing that we also use these techniques to work through our own issues. These youth are onto something special and I can’t help but take joy in helping to lay the groundwork of their success.

--List of Some Students Participating: Gloria D. Vega Natalie Marcellus Sasha Carrero Carletta Cutts Tiara Roberson

Allea Anderson Jaralyn De Jesus Alvail Halladay  Andrea Bullock Olivia Taylor

Acting: What a crazy and hilarious group of awesome folks! The villagers take a very dedicated approach to learn new ways of coming out of their shells and reaching out to their peers by pulling close together to form a tight knit group of actors. With the leadership of Vanessa and Craig, these students are learning acting techniques that will allow them to grace the stage with confidence and a positive self image. From writing their own monologues and participating in interactive learning strategies, these students surprise me with every over indulgence of “act”ion taken on. I’m “stoked” for their performances in January.

List of Some Participating Students: Hichanell Ovalles Scarle Bello Alvail Halladay Nijahujuana Harris

Cheree Gibson Allea Anderson Guillermo Reyes Denise Williams Daisey Smith

Reaching out to the Latino community--Latino Heritage Month: Who would have thought that I would have the opportunity to work and support my culture through dance. If you ever saw me dance, you would understand why I’m saying this. The Latino and Hispanic students came together and created bachata and meringue dance routines that wowed the audience. They were proud of themselves and after a month of rehearsals, costume changes, dancer replacements and an all out love for the music/dance, these students rocked the stage. Still to this day, they come and ask when will they be able to dance on the stage again. I’m proud to say we will be offering instructional bachata and meringue dances in our 2^nd trimester of programming. What?! Yeah!

In closing: There is so much more that I could write about our program. “The Village” has been a joy to create and to implement with Chase. With every obstacle, a beautiful solution is born. Every day we learn something new and create a new partnership with a community member. Woodrow Wilson is where we call home this year and we are proud to meet and work with our new family. Stay tuned for more “Real Rap” with Marsi.

Poetry Spotlight: Carletta Cutts

Untitled

A girl needs a father

even if the one who raises her isn’t her blood.

I thank my father for his support and love

when my biological left, a real man stepped in,

with so much love

no one can compare what he and I share.

It’s my father that I think of when I question right from wrong

it’s the love and example he set from the day we met.

My little hand in his is still one of my fondest memories.

Because of him

I understand

a real man provides, cook, cleans, nurtures and scolds.

With Mommy’s hard life and addiction she did her best to love

and Grandma’s hard hand complicated things at times even worse,

but it was from love they all stood in my life

guiding, smoothing out rough patches and splintered boards.

And now I stand before you a Senior, a mother

 A winner.

No longer holding Daddy’s hand

or longing for Mommy’s hold

or afraid of Grandmas scolding face.

I am my own person!

So if what you have to say is just to bring me down

or make yourself look good,

Keep That!

If when you see me you think of negativity, that’s your problem!

Because life  has tried me and tested me and I know this is true.

“I have come this far by faith and by faith I will see all things through.”

Poetry Spotlight: Sasha Carrero

A preview of Sasha's poem to be showcased at our upcoming "One Mic, One Night" event at the Susquehanna Bank Center on 1/28/2011.

Behind the Scenes: Making the Video for Hip Hop Dance

Here's some student-shot Behind-the-Scenes footage for a video that will be shown at our Hip Hop dance culminating assembly on 1/14/2011!

Hip Hop Dance Showcase - Right Around the Corner!

The Village's Hip Hop dance students are hard at work on their upcoming show, with a working title of "The Emotions of Hip Hop". The show will highlight 4 styles of hip hop dance, their origins, and the emotion behind their expression.

The show will be held Friday, January 14, 2011 at Woodrow Wilson High School. We can't wait!


Hip Hop dance all star Cheree Gibson goin' in on the circle!


Hip Hop dance instructor Blaisian 5tylez showing off his B-Boy skills!

See ya there!

-Chase
EW Site Coordinator

EW's The Village presents "Finish Your Plate" Homework Help

EducationWorks' The Village is soon to roll out our homework help program entitled "Finish Your Plate". We are aiming to offer this service 4 days a week, alternating between lunch times and after school.

Projected start date is mid-late January--so stay tuned!

-Chase
EW Site Coordinator

New Name for 21CLC Program @ WWHS!

Hey family!

The staff and students of EducationWorks' program at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden has settled on a name for our program--from henceforth we will be known as "The Village"...because it takes a village to raise a child. Stay tuned for some of the fantastic work our students have been turning out! Until then...Peace!

-Chase
EW Site Coordinator

WE HAVE A BLOG!

Take THAT!