Re: new social networking site for teens and poetry across g

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Wonderful site! I just shared this with my students and over
break they are going to post some poetry on it.

Thank you,

Maria

On 3/17/11, Alexander White wrote:
> I live in LA and teach at the Brentwood School. I teach
> English and Global Studies. I wanted to let you know I
> launched a social networking site for teens around the
> world to connect through poetry. It's called One Billion
> Poets --
>
> www.onebillionpoets.com
>
> The goal is for teens around the world to post and discuss
> poetry related to the teenage experience in the 21st
> century (their hopes, dreams, burdens, joys, etc.) I am
> calling it one billion b/c there are about 1 billion teens
> in the world, so I believe that that means there are
> potentially one billion teen poets. Below, I am copying the
> about us page.
>
> It's not for profit, and all the teachers have to do is
> show the kids the site.
>
> I am very excited as it's been only a few days and people
> from 14 countries and 27 states in The US have been on
> site. I already have members from South Africa, England,
> Hong Kong, and the Bahamas. I have posted on numerous
> education and librarian listservs. It's been great as kids
> I don't know from the Bronx are connecting with each other.
>
> I hope you enjoy and that you let your students know and
> encourage them to join. Please share with your colleagues
> and teacher friends all over.
>
> Thank you so much.
>
> Best, Alex Trivas
>
> Approximately one billion people in the world are
> teenagers. Therefore, there are approximately one billion
> teenage poets in the world, young adults who can inspire
> and shape the world through their writing. Teenagers are
> often labeled as disaffected, disgruntled, and disengaged.
> However, we see numerous teens around the around the world
> striving to effect positive change. And frankly, if you are
> feeling a bit disaffected, that's okay too. The world is
> complex and tough, and it can be doubly so for teens. One
> elixir for the disillusionment and frustrations we face is
> the potency of poetry. Focusing on the four following
> prompts: Where I'm From, What I Carry, Why I Laugh, and
> What I Wish, One Billion Poets invites all aspiring poets
> to connect with each other and to share and reflect on each
> other's poems. We hope you will all see that although we
> certainly come from very diverse backgrounds-- sometimes
> extraordinarily different-- we all share many of the same
> dreams, burdens, loves, hopes, and emotions. Whether you
> live in Tunisia or Detroit, Moscow or Mexico City, we
> believe you all have something salient and beautiful to say
> about the teenage experience in the 21st century.
 

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