Proud to See So Much Beauty in One Day: Martin Luther King Youth Leadership Academy and Hope Club at Bassick High School

82 young people from Bridgeport Public Schools attended the MLK Youth Leadership Academy at Fairfield University, where I was able (lucky/fortunate/privileged) to host the 8th year Writing Our Lives celebration (woot woot! It's the 10th Anniversary for WOL led by Dr. Marcelle Haddix at Syracuse University).

In the words of Edem Wemene, "I've been in an American High School and a college, but I've never seen so many American kids so focused on literacy, writing, and making America the nation it claims to be." He was a guest to the event, a college graduate, who came to pay witness to the ideals of Martin Luther King, Jr., the investment within middle school youth, and the potential of using young adult literature to promote writing excellence with diverse populations of kid. By the way, today is his birthday.

I owe the success of the Writing Our Lives conference to the writing of Jerry Craft, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Kwame Alexander, Matt de la Peña and many others who provided the texts, the possibilities, and the models for the workshops. The kids wrote and, as always, the teachers were in awe. "You can hear a pin drop in here," said one. "They are so focused. I didn't know my kids could do this."

Um. They can. It's in the instruction. It's in the books we choose to use with them. It's in the willingness to see them as the beautiful human beings. It's in the communities we build.

I'm thankful to the schools that attended, the Fairfield University students who came to lend their support and advice (Candice Peterkin scene in the photo to the left), and to the faculty who stopped by to offer expertise. I'm always thankful to Todd Palazzo and Rony Delva for their brilliant commitment to the work. They are amazing men and leaders.

It was a four-hour workshop where the kids read a lot and wrote even more. By the end, they lined up at the mic to read what they had to say. They were passionate, eager, emboldened, committed, and ready to have their say. Once again, it was 100% focus, integrity, self-esteem, self-awareness, sense of humor, responsibility, and Ubuntu.

The teachers were proud. So was I.

And the kids reported they wish school was more like this. The teachers did the same. "You know they're going to expect this back at school, don' you?" Um, they should.

I was so, so, so lucky to have the help of Stephanie Vendrella, Justin Wooley, Candice, and Edem Wemene. They helped me to carry the message forward. They are incredible human beings.

As for Rony Delva and Yolehema Felican? Please. They grace our campus with everything thing they are.

Edem and I left campus and immediately headed to visit William King's Hope Club, a Friday afternoon group who gather around literacy, mentorship, and excellence between K-8 and high school youth. There, we experienced the beauty of perseverance, dedication, mission, and the power of words. Edem shared his story, and the day came full circle. I am heading into the weekend feeling rejuvenated, even though a majority of the young people in this group  are on the radar for being banned as Americans simply because of who they are.

Phew. It was a day for living the belief that actions speak louder than words. Yesterday was pure beauty, absolute hope, total joy, and evidence for all I've ever worked for. This is the Hope I believe in. This is the Hope I will die for.

Welcome to February, Y'ALL!