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Photograph courtesy of the 7th Grade Poetry Foundation
Janae Wilson, a former student of Gateway Michael School, reads her poetry.
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Photograph courtesy of the 7th Grade Poetry Foundation
St. Louis Poet Laureate Michael Castro works with students at a 7GP event at The Book House in Maplewood.
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There is no place for judgmental red pens or harsh standardized tests in The 7th Grade Poetry Foundation. There is no right or wrong, pass or fail—just truth, as seen through the eyes of a 13-year-old.
On April 13 at the Missouri History Museum, The 7th Grade Poetry Foundation celebrates the brutally honest and eye-opening words of 104 seventh graders from schools nationwide. The foundation and its founder, Aaron Williams, invited 40,000 7th grade students to participate in a poetry competition as a way of teaching them the basics of poetry, and allowing them the freedom that they so desperately need to thrive and grow as individuals. The winners are paid $25, and published in the organization’s annual poetry anthology. This event marks the launch of this unique collection of winning poetry, Poetry on Our Terms, and will include readings of the poems, an awards celebration, and a book signing. Sixty-nine of the winning poets are from Illinois and Missouri schools, and will be present and acknowledged for their work.
We spoke to several individuals who truly understand the impact of the organization.
Aaron Williams, founder of The Seventh Grade Poetry Foundation, describes his dedication to changing lives through poetry. He says, “Many of these kids are struggling with just being who they are. This is such an important time in their lives, and our program offers them personal affirmation, public exposure, and the chance to realize that they are not alone. One of our main goals has been to form a community. All types of kids from all types of ethnic, economical, and social backgrounds are able to relate to one another and heal with their poetry.”
He adds that the program’s work is very different from the standard education system’s memorization, regurgitation method of teaching. “We call it a ‘write of passage’; we give them a blank piece of paper and a pen and let them make the decision. Why not let kids write about what they want? Oftentimes, the poem bursts out of them, when the parents and teachers didn’t even know these kids had a poem inside them. Two-thirds of teachers are actually surprised by who wins. We really want to change the culture in writing and in schools, because writing should be fun, and is meant to be shared. Anyone can write a good poem…and everyone deserves that opportunity.”
When discussing what the poetry anthology offers readers, Williams describes it as an “experience.” “The book is designed to be like walking through a museum, each piece being appreciated before moving to the next,” he says, adding that the poems are subtly tethered together in the order that they are presented, whether it be with theme, style, or voice, and that to “skip a room” would be to miss out on part of what makes the collection so unique and interesting.
The 7th Grade Poetry Foundation will be taking a step back this coming year to evaluate some of the interesting findings of their program. Through extensive surveying, they have gathered information that they hope to have analyzed before moving forward with the program. The nonprofit will be contributing all of its efforts and resources over the next year to improving the program for the future.
Michael Castro, the first appointed Poet Laureate of St. Louis, offers his thoughts on the foundation through his experiences of having consulted on their educational materials, writing the forward to Poetry on Our Terms, and attending their events. “I’ve talked with the student poets, their parents and teachers, and seen the joy and empowerment being honored for their poetry brings the young writers,” he says. “I’m convinced the 7th Grade Poetry program has important positive impacts. Not only does it have academic value, sensitizing students to language’s nuances and powers, it also in many cases plays a crucial rule in enhancing self-esteem and development. Coming together with other student poetry champions at 7th Grade Poetry’s annual reading and book launch creates a special community, friendships with kindred spirits, in many cases previously lacking, and sets the stage for future successes.”
Lewis Reed, president of the Board of Alderman for the city of St. Louis, will be an award presenter at the event, and has strong feelings about the importance of The 7th Grade Poetry Foundation. “The impact is almost immeasurable. When you hear some of these poems, two things happen. Firstly, you realize how much these kids are taking in, most are dealing with deeply emotional things, and it is incredible how well they are able to express their struggles in their poetry. Secondly, you appreciate the opportunity that these kids were given to not only become published authors—a chance that few adults even get, but to participate in a truly enriching educational experience. Losing The 7th Grade Poetry Foundation would be a big loss; it is one of those programs that we shouldn’t walk away from. We need to find a way to continue it.”
Nicole Wasielewski is a Language Arts teacher at LaSalle Springs Middle School, and describes her school’s experiences with The 7th Grade Poetry Foundation. “This has been an incredible experience for our entire seventh grade student body,” she says. “It gave students the opportunity to be creative, and submit their creative works for publishing. The winner of our seventh grade contest at LaSalle Springs Middle School was someone with an amazing amount of talent who was thrilled to be able to be published, something she wasn’t sure she would be able to do. Her entire poem addressed the fears she had with publication, and in the end, she conquered those fears. What an incredible gift for not just her, but every student who entered and has been recognized.”
The Poetry on Our Terms event will be held on April 13, is free and open to the public, and will include start times of 4:45pm and 6:45pm at The St. Louis History Museum as well as livestreaming at 7GP.org.
