When I first began teaching in 2003 the first question I asked was, "how would I want to be taught"? Why were lessons successful and unsuccessful with me when it came to learning in a classroom? What were they missing? I pondered all of those things and listened to the students that were in front of me on a daily basis. From that point on I began using hip hop, spoken word, and poetry in the classroom in conjunction with English, Science, History and even Math classes. I instantly saw a difference in the level of engagement, critical thinking, communication skills, and sense of identity. Learning about my students from a wholistic perspective allowed me to navigate lessons and my relationships with them better. What I realized is when using art and creativity it's actually easier to address the whole student/person that is learning from you. I realized that they needed a space to operate creatively and express themselves wholeheartedly, so they could have a healthy, productive, and progressive outlet that could truly assist their personal development. What started as a road trip with 4 teenage poets to the Brave New Voices International Poetry Competition in New York City transformed into an inspiring opportunity to conduct free writing workshops, expose young people to different parts of the country, while celebrating literacy and progressive young people. At PYPM we have also created opportunities for youth to discover their identity, build self confidence and esteem, emotionally heal, develop leadership skills.
The Legacy Project will explore the multi-layered experience of the Black male in America. It will dive deep into the definitions of 21st century manhood using poetry, focus groups, workshops, film, spoken word, poetry, and theatre. This groundbreaking project will help close generation gaps by creating intimacy through authentic dialogue and empathetic listening. Intergenerational conversations will increase critical thinking surrounding issues of self-love, education, incarceration, violence, drugs, and other problems that are effectively staggering the growth of Black men in our community.
The Legacy Project will explore (mis)representations of Black men. The project will culminate in a one-man show, several documentary screenings and a website with video archives. Over the course of 4-5 months, I will: • Conduct 8-10 focus groups surrounding issues of masculinity, vulnerability, and intimacy among Black males. Focus groups will include interracial women ages 18-60, Black males ages 18-60, high school females ages 14-19, and interracial men ages 18-60. • Create a database with findings from focus groups. • Conduct interviews with leading figures in the Black male community. • Conduct 6 intergenerational workshops with 20 people on deconstructing and rebuilding the images of Black men. • Write a one-man, theatrical spoken-word poetry production inspired by personal experiences, focus groups, media representations, workshop feedback, and interviews. • Create a documentary on images of Black men in America using footage from one-man show, focus groups, media representations, workshop feedback, and interviews. • Employ eight student interns to help conduct interviews, analyze data, co-facilitate workshops, gather footage, and edit video project. • Screen documentary in front of 200 people. • Perform one-man show three times in front audiences of 50 people. • Create a website with videos from interviews with leading figures in the community, workshops and focus groups, one-man show evolution, and personal interviews.
• Create a virtual safe-space via website and social media. • Inspire artists to create similar projects addressing images and stereotypes on diverse groups in the community. • Use film as part of a curriculum to break down barriers, develop character and identity, and create safe spaces for intimacy and authenticity. • Create awareness among members of the community on the harmful effects of stereotyping Black males. • Bridge the generation gap and inspire healthy, meaningful intergenerational relationships.
up to $25,000
Gregory Corbin
• I will engage members of the community in a series of focus groups, workshops, and interviews, which will culminate in a one- man show and several, free film screenings in the community. Footage from the film will also be available on the website. • I will employ eight student interns to help enter and analyze data, film, edit, conduct interviews, co-facilitate workshops, and run events. • I will employ a local filmmaker to help with filming and editing. • I will employ several local teaching artists to help facilitate workshops. • I will employ a local web-designer to create a website for the Legacy Project.