What is your vision for Teen Writers and Artists Project?
There are so many directions. All headed toward the she same place though.
As soon as possible I would like to make my staff and I full time paid staff. When we are working other jobs full-time there are only so many hours in a day or week left to move the organization forward. I have found myself letting opportunities to serve greater numbers of teens slip away because we just don’t have the time to give them.
Right now, our office is in my home and our conference room seems to be the Panera Bread in Batavia. I imagine a physical place that we could operate from, a gathering place for the teens we serve. A side business, something like a coffee shop or used book store, could generate funding for our programming. We could do so much with a space: music and arts classes, a video studio with editing software and equipment, rehearsal space for bands and plays.
In my wild dreams, I envision a building filled with teens working together: the ability to publish a book, create a work of art, record an album, shoot music videos, get album and posters designed and printed, and maybe even find people willing to promote them all among the teens who use the space. Could you imagine what the world would look like (maybe how advanced the work force would be) if people were entering college as people who have brought their own visions into reality instead of people who feel ill-equipped to even believe that they can really do something of value for themselves?
The biggest dream of all is for a property somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, a place with beauty all around to inspire every kind of artist. We would found a camp/retreat; teach healthy lifestyle, ways to handle stress and channel creativity. There would be sound stages and theaters, equipment for making films and plays and dances, studio space for all kinds of visual art. It would be a space for young artists, suffering from diseases that will most likely cut their lives short, to come together with a mentor; a bestselling author, famous actor, film director, painter, etc.
What would surprise most adults about spoken word and spoken word competitions?
Most adults that witness a competition like Slammin’ the Sun Down or Louder Than a Bomb are blown away by the bravery of the teens who are performing their poetry. They possess such grace, and lucidity, and raw honesty when they deal with topics like racism, death, real pain that many adults don’t want to even imagine that a young person has to go through. Then the next moment another teen will bring something that is fresh and funny and lighthearted and innocent. When you attend a youth slam event you are inspired and moved in so many ways.
What do you think an organization like Teen Writers and Artists can offer teens?
I think we offer teens a place to develop their voices, their vision, and their leadership potential. I think we offer some place where the group of teens we serve can learn that they fundamentally matter, and that the things that are important to them are indeed important.
Photography By Chuck Bennorth
West Suburban Wordplays
Schedule subject to change –
Please see the Teen Writers and Artists facebook page for current schedule
Join us for a writer’s workshop, open-mic and featured performer.
Wordplay @Water Street Studios
4th Fridays of the Month
7-9:30pm
Water Street Studios
160 S Water St, Batavia, IL 60510
Wordplay @ MY Stage
2nd Fridays of the Month – Alternating with Lit Lab
Wordplay @ Elgin
3rd Thursdays of the Month
6-8:30pm
Gail Borden Library
270 N. Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120
Cost: Free
Lit Lab 51
A Live literary experiment
2nd Fridays of the Month – Alternating with Wordplay
Cost: $5.00 at the door