#11 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.

In a response piece, you analyze the writing, but you also include your personal impression. Sometimes it's just something the writing made you think about, a small connection to the words, images and theme.

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 Andrea Andrade, she created her own response to an excerpt from Seeing Off The Johns written by Rene S. Perez II and published by Cinco Punto Press. Seeing Off The Johns is about how youth in a small town in Texas deal with grief after losing two popular students from their school.

In Barrio Writers we welcome youth to express themselves freely in whatever language they choose. Andrea adds culture and style to her writing by codeswitching with Spanish and dialogue.

"Codeswitching" is the practice of alternating between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation.

Here's Andrea's response piece:

Ana

        During summer, me and my cousin, we sneaked out of her house to go to this party. I was really scared because I didn't usually went out without telling my parents.

        The night before she was talking to me about how she was doing drugs. I was very disappointed. I asked her why she was doing it and she said this, "Nunca me ponen atención mis papas para que me quieren? Solamente para fregarme la vida." 

        

        That was the last thing we spoke ever.

        

        She died the same night of the party. Se metió una sobredosis de droga. Yo pienso que ella estaba dolida por la falta de atención de sus padres. La extraño mucho y lo peor de todo fue que se murió en mis brazos. Yo trate de ayudarla, pero no pude.

        I miss her...

       She died October 12, 2013 @ 1:something.

—Andrea Andrade

Check out her submissions to Barrio Writers! Muchas gracias for sharing your thought-provoking story Andrea!