Performance Poetry is Poppin' in Plainfield, people!

We have a couple extremely exciting, never been attempted opportunities for our school and community happening next week. Spoken Word Invitational - November 16 (night event) from 6-9 Our poetry club has fused together with PEHS's Poetry Club this year in order to create a student-to-student mentoring program and a combined competitive poetry team. As you may know, Lawrence "Binkey" Tolefree and Harold Green III were here in October to workshop all eighth graders. They will be back a week from today, November 16 from 6-9 hosting our first annual Spoken Word Poetry Invitational. We have a huge show planned: 5 schools, 5 judges, and Harold and Binkey will host. We have invited a 4-piece ensemble jazz band from PEHS to seat the audience and play during the intermission. There will be a professional photographer capturing the experience for the poets and the audience. There will be a jewelry vendor selling very cool leather/copper/rock pieces. We will have our former student Naki Jones selling her handcrafted duct-tape pens. We have PTA providing refreshments. We will also be selling t-shirts (see attached artwork) and poetry books of Kevin Coval, Nate Marshall, Harold Green III, and Jamilla Woods. I have hired a DJ to play between sets and we will have it staged and lighted properly. This is a HUGE show that I am expecting a HUGE turnout. Last year I planned for about 50 people and we had between 300-400 people show up for our first showcase. I need volunteers to assist with this show and make it as wonderful as it has the potential to be. Please email me at jgruca@psd202.org if you are able to attend and help out. Volunteers will assist with the following needs: stage set-up and break-down, supervision, t-shirt and book sales, concessions with PTA, poet organizing, judge score organizing, spotlight assistance, host pampering, and videography. Poets representing JFKMS for the invitational Esmeralda Castelan Caitlin Arquines Mimi Towner Group- Paige Stahleber and Jordan Miller "Sacrificial Poet:" Gretchen Freebern Poets representing PEHS for the invitational Niani Scott (no relation to the other Scott girls) Victoria Scott Donna Scott Group- Deniece Gutierrez and Dominic Kevin Coval Appearance - November 16 (during the school day) from periods 5-7 We have the extreme honor of having the Godfather of Spoken Word Poetry in Chicago (where spoken word poetry originated) -- Def Poet Kevin Coval (google him) is coming to OUR school on November 16th during the school day. Many schools pay $2000 for him to come out but he is coming to JFKMS for free! He's really interested in having spoken word poetry grow into the suburbs since it is primarily a "City of Chicago" thing and he's supporting our efforts. I had the opportunity to attend "Check the Method" week-long writing workshop this summer in Chicago and he's fabulous. He is the founder of "Louder than A Bomb" competition in the city and just had his documentary finished last year. He has many poems published along with many anthologies of his own. I have the documentary on DVD (featured on OWN and available on Netflicks--and YouTube) if you are interested in seeing what all of this hype is about! He really has changed the lives of many Chicago students and his energy and drive is contagious. We are going to have 8th grade students sign up with their LA teachers if they are interested in workshopping with him during 5th or 6th period. He will workshop two groups of students (place: TBD). If any 6th or 7th graders are wanting to participate during this time, please let me know. As a staff member, if you would like to write with Kevin and you are off those periods, please stop by! During 7th period, Kevin will be performing two sets of 30 minutes for the eighth grade students in the cafe. Other staff members, please feel free to drop by if this is your off period! First half of seventh period (1:50-2:20): 8A Second half of seventh period (2:25-2:55): 8B/8C Thank you for all of your support! Let me know if you have any questions!