United States Poet Laureate Works on Yearlong Project with Chicago Public Schools

CHICAGO – The Poetry Foundation is partnering with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Library of Congress on a signature project with the U.S. Poet Laureate, Juan Felipe Herrera.

For this project, titled “Wordstreet Champions and Brave Builders of the Dream,” Herrera will work with almost forty 9th grade English teachers throughout the 2016-2017 academic year. Developed out of Herrera’s Poet Laureate residency at the Poetry Foundation last spring, “Wordstreet Champions and Brave Builders of the Dream” is an extraordinary opportunity to advance student learning through poetry and connect teachers from across the CPS district with the Laureate and each other. Participating teachers will meet with Herrera four times at the Poetry Foundation throughout the school year, and between sessions they will reimagine how to incorporate poetry into their coursework. Each CPS freshman English class is required to cover poetry as part of their curriculum so this program focuses on 9th grade teachers. At the end of the year, Chicago Public Schools will measure impact for both the participating teachers and their students.

“We are proud to connect CPS teachers with Juan Felipe Herrera—a great poet and teacher who has inspired a love of poetry in so many,” says Henry Bienen, President of the Poetry Foundation. “Who better than the U.S. Poet Laureate to work with teachers across Chicago to enhance their poetry teaching skills for the benefit of students in our city.”

“The CPS partnership with our nation's Poet Laureate is representative of Arts Education at its best!” said LaTanya McDade, Chief Officer of Teaching and Learning at Chicago Public Schools. “This opportunity empowers students to utilize poetry as a means for expression to become creative thinkers, writers and 21st century learners in a time where the skill of innovation is a necessity.”

The project is part of the Poet Laureate’s second-term efforts to champion poetry around the country. His other second-term projects include “The Technicolor Adventures of Catalina Neon,” an illustrated narrative poem featured on the Library of Congress website; and the creation of a West Coast office, the “Laureate Lab—Visual Wordist Studio,” at the library of California State University in Fresno. “Wordstreet Champions and Brave Builders of the Dream” offers the opportunity for the Laureate to impact how poetry is taught at the 3rd largest school district in the country.

Herrera kicked off the project in September by visiting George Washington High School in Hegewisch and Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School in Austin, as well as leading his first session with teachers at the Poetry Foundation. On November 9th, the Laureate will return for the second visit; he is also scheduled to come to Chicago in early February and conclude the project at the end of April, culminating in a performance as part of Poetry Fest at the Harold Washington Library Center on Saturday, April 29th. Between sessions the teachers continue to communicate and serve as resources for one another via Google Classroom.

This residency makes use of the CPS Framework Specialist program. Framework Specialists are a selective professional learning community that creates professional learning resources to support teachers and administrators. Amy Ellifritz, a teacher at Marine Math and Science Academy and a Framework Specialist, is working directly with Juan Felipe Herrera to develop and facilitate this program.

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About the Poetry Foundation

The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs. For more information, please visit poetryfoundation.org.

About Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Public Schools aims to provide a high-quality public education for every child in every neighborhood, that prepares them for success in college, career, and community. 

About the Poetry and Literature Center, Library of Congress

The Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center fosters and enhances the public's appreciation of literature. To this end, the center administers the endowed Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry position, coordinates an annual season of readings, performances, lectures, conferences, and symposia, and sponsors high-profile prizes and fellowships for literary writers. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/poetry/.

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