The Powers of Poetry Workshop

with Phillip Shabazz

In this workshop, we’ll focus on creative writing, poetry, and public speaking for students. 

The session includes reading, writing, and speaking in which students explore, discover, and write poems. They also participate in a Poetry Slam/Contest, or Public Poetry Reading to celebrate and showcase their work.

The first part of the day is spent getting creative, writing new poems inspired by creative writing prompts that are specifically designed to awaken and revive your inner poet. We’ll then break for a snack (bring a sack) and afterwards, participate in a guided group critique session, where writers can have their poetry critiqued by group members, in a constructive and supportive manner.  During critique, the  instructor, Phillip Shabazz will help each poet hone in on the best possible version of their work.

**This workshop is open to 4th and 5th graders and middle school students!

What’s In It For Participants:

·       Leave the workshop with new ideas, and at least three original poems

·       Reignite your passion for creative writing and poetry

·       Connect with other young writers in your area

·       Find and Hone your voice

·       Receive real-time feedback and suggestions to refine poems  produced in the workshop

·       Receive suggestions on any previously written poetry (3 poems maximum)

What to bring:

A pen, paper, a folder, and 3 poems already written (optional)

A bag lunch

Your passion for poetry, reading & writing

Date: Wednesday, June 18

Registration Closes May 1

Location: Arts Council of Carteret County 1702 Arendell St, Morehead City, NC 28557

(252) 726-7550            www.artscouncilcarteret.org

First Session : 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM

Second Session: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Cost:  $80.00

Minimum Number of Students:  15  Maximum:  20

Educators have called Phillip Shabazz, “One of the most inspiring individuals in the arts.”  He is a poet-in-the-schools of North Carolina and conducts creative writing workshops across the state.

He has taught at over 800 schools, conferences, and community centers.  Currently he is affiliated with the North Carolina Arts Council.  He has also been a visiting writer at many arts councils, colleges and universities including UNC-Chapel Hill, Elon, Winthrop, Warren Wilson, Barton College, East Carolina University, the Writers’ Series at Appalachian State, and Duke University’s third Artist-in-Residence at the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture.  Shabazz is the author of three poetry collections, including “Flames in the Fire: poems” and “When the Grass Was Blue: a novel in verse”.  His poetry has been published in the anthologies, Literary Trails of the North Carolina Piedmont: A Guidebook, and Home is Where: African American Poetry from the Carolinas, and in Crossing the Rift: North Carolina Poets on 9/11 & Its Aftermath.  Some previous publications include Florida Review, Fine Lines, Galway Review, Hamilton Stone Review, Hamline Lit, Mason Street Journal, New Critique, Sky Island Journal, Queen’s Quarterly, and Thimble.