Raeme's Post - WritersCorps

I went to the White House yesterday for Barack Obama’s White House Poetry Night and the White House Student Poetry Workshop hosted by Elizabeth Alexander and the First Lady. I made the long trip from San Francisco with WritersCorps, a creative writing program that works under the San Francisco Arts Commission. It’s an awesome and innovative organization that comes into local high schools and other venues with the goal of supporting young people and works with students who are passionate about poetry and poetic prose. They also teach methods to introduce creative writing to students who may not have expressed interest in the past. I’ve been participating with WritersCorps since September as a part of my AP Composition class.

     The workshop consisted of about 75 young creative writers from around the country, members of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and world-renowned poets. It was set up like a Q&A forum, led by Elizabeth Alexander. After speaking with four poets, six of the young poets—including myself—each read a piece aloud to the audience. My peers’ pieces were emotional, empowering, and immensely insightful.

     A few weeks ago, I had no idea I’d be heading to DC to read a poem in the State Room, to recite a poem and an interview on the White House balcony, to conduct interviews with local media organizations, and to have an overall positive and thought provoking visit to our nation’s capitol. In addition to my personal experiences at the White House, I was able to bask in the presence of acclaimed artists such as Billy Collins, Kenneth Goldsmith, Aimee Man, Jill Scott, and many more.

     Independent of WritersCorps and the White House, I’m a passionate creative writer and reader. When I learned to read “chapter books” (my first being a Goosebumps book), I somehow knew I’d be a writer someday. I’ve always found solace in weaving words this way and that—putting my imagination to greater use. Through my passion for creative writing, I’ve found composition to be a universal medium with which humans can express passion, goals, love for nature, a political or philosophical argument, or (maybe) a blog post.

     I can’t count the number of times I’ve been with friends or acquaintances (in the park, at a café, during lunch) and a notebook has been brought out. Usually a little worn, decorated, personalized. The author will crack the spine, look for a pertinent piece, and share it. Sometimes only with their closest cohort in the group, other times hushing the gathering to recite a line, or two, or three, or maybe the whole piece. This bringing together through well-contemplated syntax is always a warming feeling. You get to know the writer and you get to see the power of language.

     If anyone is interested in further press about this experience, NBC Bay Area has short piece, and the SF Chronicle has written a blog post.