S P O K E N W O R D

WORKSHOPS

Poetry Saved Our Lives (2015 - 2018)

A group part of the Toronto Public Library’s program, in the Eatonville branch. Co-facilitated with Patrick De Belen. “The workshops will provide youth with mentorship and artistic development opportunities, while providing a platform to showcase their artistic talent and develop leadership skills.” Teaching the collection of youth in the West End, made the best family and memories for the better part of the four years.

In My Mother Tongue (2018)

“Over 10 weeks newcomer youth from four different language communities – Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog – collaborated with special guest artists and poet mentors to draw upon personal narratives and experiences, to express themselves through written and spoken poetry, in English and in their mother tongue. Addressing questions such as: "Who am I?" while drawing attention to the cultural significance of their mother tongue, this collaborative project aimed to inspire participating youth to share their own stories, while building confidence in their writing abilities – emphasizing that everyone has a voice that deserves to be heard.”

photos: Dahlia Katz

Poetry Is Our Second Language (2016)

“PSL: Poetry is our Second Language is a 5-week workshop course that bridges the gap between traditional Filipino poetry and contemporary storytelling. From ambahans carved into bamboo, to the intense poetic debates of a Balagtasan, to the revolutionary words of Rizal, to finally publishing your own work and performing in the final showcase, you embark on a quest to mark your own X in the history of Filipino poetry.”