Guest Blog: Using Your Voice to Do Great Things

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In this week’s guest blog post, written by Jennifer Mulvey of Anoka-Hennepin Schools, we check in with the students of Anoka Middle School for the Arts, who recently finished a remote residency with Frank Sentwali. Students were inspired by Frank to use their voice to great things, and some of them agreed to share their work with us. You can read Jennifer’s original article here.

COMPAS Teaching Artist Frank Sentwali, who led the remote residency at Anoka Middle School for the Arts.

COMPAS Teaching Artist Frank Sentwali, who led the remote residency at Anoka Middle School for the Arts.

Eighth graders rose to the challenge at Anoka Middle School for the Arts (AMSA) during a four day artist residency. Advanced English students studied spoken word poetry with Frank Sentwali, a Twin Cities artist and educator. The students were tasked with writing an original poem about a real world issue. Sentwali asked students to push beyond common middle school worries and to “use your voices to do great things.”

Spoken word is a theatrical art form that combines poetry recited aloud with movement, gestures and choreography. Students performed their finished pieces live for Sentwali and classmates in a virtual session on the final day of the residency. Topics included climate, race, the pandemic, gender and several themes of acceptance. The goal was not to vent about problems, but to explore thoughtful solutions.

AMSA English teacher, Melissa Williams, said it was a moving experience. She witnessed her students bond and build closer relationships, despite their physical distance.

”Not being able to see students in person, and with all the challenges during this time, it was something we really needed,” said Williams. “It was absolute magic. It was such a kind day and the students were so supportive of each other.”

Some of the performances were recorded and AMSA staff is considering ways to showcase spoken word during the school’s annual arts festival in the spring. Watch a few of them here:

 

Many students who Frank taught also had original work included in We Tore Down the Forest, the 2020 COMPAS Anthology of Student Writing. Interested in booking Frank to lead a virtual residency for your students or community? Find out more on his artist bio page or reach out to our programs team today!