This year’s Words Unlocked Podcast Project features the words and experiences of the student writers and educators at the Mat-Su Secondary School in Palmer, Alaska, and the Travis Hill School in New Orleans, Louisiana, as they worked through the Words Unlocked curriculum and wrote poems on this year’s theme of Authenticity. Both schools are located inside of secure youth detention centers.
Together, teachers and students at each site and CEEAS co-produced these podcasts, making audio recordings of class discussions, writing workshops, interviews, and poetry readings throughout Words Unlocked. We at CEEAS believe deeply in the power of poetry, and we hope that you will listen to the voices and work of these young writers and hear their truth and beauty.
Many thanks to Tom Pine, Teacher at the Mat-Su Secondary School, and Alexis Kedo, Teacher at the Travis Hill School. We also thank all of the educators, administrators, and supporters at each site for making the Words Unlocked 2017 Podcast Project possible, in particular: Lori Fuller, Juvenile Justice Supervisor at the Mat-Su Youth Facility; Lucy Hope, Administrator of the Mat-Su Secondary School; Linda Wallace, Classroom Tutor at the Mat-Su Secondary School; and Germaine Simon, Director of Juvenile Detention at the Youth Study Center in New Orleans.
We are especially grateful to the poets who allowed us to share their words and voices this year: Deion, James, James, Devyn, Jesse, Shawnie, and L.T. from the Mat-Su Secondary School, with appreciation to Paul for music suggestions; and D’Aundre, Jarvell, Justin, Tirek, and Miqueghele from the Travis Hill School. Thank you!