“I wonder why my mother always kept things she kept and I wonder what Ill keep of hers. How long until the painting fades. How many times can I spin the Steve Miller Bands Greatest Hits before it warps into oblivion – who will keep my things after I am gone.”
That was Maeve Wilburn, student writer of the Creative Youth Center. This year Maeve along with Aliya Hall – have been selected to attend the International Congress of Youth Voices.
The youth congress will amplify the voices, ideas and energy of these accomplished youth. The conference will welcome journalist and filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas, published authors, writers and activists.
But Wilburn and Hall didn’t always consider themselves writers that is until they first met their love for words working alongside the staff of the Creative Youth Center, an after-school program in the southeast end of Grand Rapids.
Brianne Carpenter, Program Director, shares that at the CYC students get to use language and words and writing not only to advocate for themselves and their community but the safe spaces becomes a home for them.
“I had one middle school student this year describe the CYC as “You know like another family” which I think is truly what it feels like to a lot of our students.”
For Hall, celebrating all forms of English means using her voice in poetry and in spoken word.
“Ask if you are wearing any make up – beautiful before and after – reply with no, I am naturally beautiful but if I was wearing make-up then I still would be. I am beautiful before and after.”
Michelle Jokisch Polo, WGVU News