#7 Barrio Writers Workshop at KIPP Austin

Before the holiday break, BW Founder Sarah Rafael García taught 1-class period workshops at KIPP in Austin, Texas. She was hosted by an empowering high school teacher (and poet) whose goal was to influence her students through creative writing—Yay for Ms. Minde!

For the next few weeks we will be featuring Ms. Minde's students on our blog! During the workshops the youth read, wrote and shared as a community (60 mins: 20-reading, 20-writing, 20-sharing). They read and discussed works by Tim Z. Hernandez, Jasminne Mendez, Rene S. Perez II and Barrio Writer Jesse Castillo!

After reading, they were asked to respond to a writer by doing "blackout poetry" or writing their own poem/story in similar style as the writers read in the workshop.

“Blackout poetry” is poetry made by blacking out the words in a text with a permanent marker, leaving behind only a few choice words to make a poem.

After writing, all the students were offered the opportunity to share their work and receive feedback from their peers. They were also invited to share on our blog!


Today's piece is by Joselene Mora, she created her own "black out" poem from "Austin" written by Barrio Writer Jesse Castillo and published in the Barrio Writers 6th Edition by SFA Press. Here's Joselene's poem:

Austin

Austin is
a place
filled with things
never recognized.

Just in front,
a faded white building
filled with art.

Students walk by
avoiding the beauty
of the art.

Yet, there it is
sitting right there
waiting for that one—
that one that will 
start wondering
and start admiring 
the beauty.

—Joselene Mora

Check out her submission to Barrio Writers! Great "black out" poetry Joselene!