Hello all just want to keep you up to date with what is going on at Rikers Island. Green Earth Poets Cafe is dedicated to sharing with our incarcerated youth ages 16-18 monthly on Saturdays. Here are some of the last highlights:

Dec 20th:- I wish to thank the poets and artists who came with us and performed Dec 20th. Rebecca Sol opened with soul stirring singing playing with her guitar. She then transitioned into spoken word. We also welcomed another new poet to the stage, Prince Arthur Taylor aka Flo Fokus. His commanding presence was welcomed for some of these young incarcerated people can be a little restless. We also welcomed Victoya (Victoria Walker) who participated in a collaboration with Relle the poet and Quindell Evans. It was called behind these bars. It was a phenomenal piece. Raymond Vasquez , and David the Werdsman Lewis did what they do spoken word and rap. We featured a few additional new voices Dec 20th, among them Tony Polanco,  John (Wolf) Franceschi,  Yhamir Chabur aka Eternal Mestizo. Thank you all for taking these kids out of that place mentally for an hour or two.

 

 

Nov 22nd:-I wish to thank the all of the phenomenal poets and artists who selflessly gave to the boys at Rikers Island. Today some new faces came with us among them I want to give a special shout out to Flo Fokus (aka) Prince Arthur Taylor who traveled far with love in his heart but was unable to enter the prison because of ID issues. He’s coming back to impact because he is the type of brother who does not give up. Thanks Flo. We also welcomed first time poet Dwayne James aka professor righteous, also Luis (ageless) Paulino, and we can’t forget Raymond Vasquez who shared his rap song “hanging with the homies”. This song is a hit with the Rikers boys who start to sing it when they see us. We wish to also thank our Green Earth Poets Cafe team the dynamic duo of Relle the poet and Quindell (Quev) Evans who without non of this could be accomplished.

Green Earth Poets Cafe’s program for incarcerated youth has continued this month. A few poets came to share their gift of poetry performance with about 20-30 incarcerated youth on Saturday Oct 25. Pictured is Quindell Evans, Luis “Da Story Teller” Cordova, Carla Edwards, Raymond Vasquez and David “the Werdsman” Lewis. We will be going back to encourage through poetry our young incarcerated youth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Left to right -Curtis, Carla, David, Raymond and Quindell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

from Left to Right Quindell, Luis, Carla, David, and Raymond.

We ended the 2014 year with our anniversary special in which the Honorable Eric Adams President of the Borough of Brooklyn NY was in attendance. It was an honor to receive him, he is a poetry affection ado. Pictured with Curtis is Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Jesse Hamilton III the new NYS Senator from the 20th SD in Brooklyn, NY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the first month of the new fiscal year is any indication of whats to come, Green Earth Poets Cafe will have a great year 2015. Our good friend Jesse Hamilton III has won the democratic primary on September 9th to become the NYS Senate elect for the 20th SD in Brooklyn NY. Congrats Mr. Senator, make us proud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the vote watch night I met Council member Brad Lander who seems to be a pleasant guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also had the pleasure of meeting one of the countries greatest poets Aja Monet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 20th begins our youth poetry workshop series “Our youth are slamming”. this poetry workshop/open mic is for youth ages 8 to 18 yrs old and will be held at the Brownsville Heritage House 581 Mother Gaston Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11212 from the hours of 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm every other Saturday beginning September 20, 2014.  Our youth are slamming because our youth matter.

Saturday’s journey into Rikers Island prison started off with a major hurdle.  Upon registering at the trailer to get access to volunteer for the program, we discovered that of the (6) six people there with us were not on their list. After making a few phone calls we were granted access to the prison where we had to go through another security check point. Once inside the checkpoint ready to go through metal detectors, we discovered a red light alarm. This is an alarm issued whenever there is a major problem at the prison and no one is granted access nor allowed to leave the prison until the source of the alarm is resolved.

Going through two of these alarms, we were finally able to enter the facility to perform for 18 year old incarcerated youth. We were very well received by these young men, who responded very positively to our performances and message. Thank yous to Charles “Kais son” Coleman, Henry “distinquish” Gray, Jhrelle “Relle the poet” Benn, Quindell “Quev” Evans, Cindy “Blackangel” Peralta. Without these wonderful artists who did not give up despite all that was going on in the prison that day, these youth would not have experienced the unconditional love and empowerment these poets brought to them. These poets were so well received Saturday, that four of the youth participated in the spoken word poetry program performing a spoken word piece. We are going back in two weeks to continue the process of healing. Pictured from left to right: Relle the poet, Distinquish, Curtis, Kai’son,Cindy, and Quindell. All in all it was a wonderful experience for the youth , the poets and the correction officers present.

Curtis

We announced in March,2014 that we were rolling out a new program for incarcerated youth in NYC. This program, a creative writing poetry workshop, will be accessible to young people who are incarcerated or detained. In these workshops, young people learn new tools for coping with stress, moving past trauma, and learn to take responsibility for their actions and their emotions. They will learn self-expression techniques using poetry and creative writing. We are happy to report that the program “no more silent voices” will commence Saturday July 19, 2014 at Rikers Island from 12 noon to 2:00pm for youth 16 and 17 years old. We will have a poetry slam performance for these youth on July 19th and return Saturday to do the workshops. Pictured from left to right : Definition, Distinquish, Curtis, Relle, and Danny.