Jan 25 2009
The Rebel Poets
The Rebel Poets attest to the power of the spoken and written word to transform the lives of urban youth. From their humble roots as struggling students in a neglected, under-resourced Bronx high school in New York to their gradual emergence as powerful writers and spoken word performers who have presented their original poetry to audiences across New York and the United States, as well as in international forums, the Rebel Poets now perform for the first time in nuestra isla de encanto, Borikén, Puerto Rico.
On February 21, 2008, from 4:00-5:00 p.m., Ramon DeJesus, Arline Hernandez, Ronald Jay, and Amanda Maisonet, representing The Rebel Poets and Power Writers collective, will perform spoken word poetry at the University of Puerto Rico’s Mayaguez Campus, in the Anfiteatro Figueroa Chapel. This component of the conference will be free of cost and open to the public.
- Earlier in the day, (from 1:00-2:45 p.m.) the Rebel Poets will facilitate a Power Writing workshop with their mentor and master teacher, Joseph Ubiles, for all conference participants (this component of the conference is open to registered participants only).
- The Rebel Poets will also perform and facilitate Power Writing workshops at two local high schools on Friday, February 20th as a part of the College Access Challenge Grant Program.
- From 8:30-10:30 p.m. the Rebel Poets will perform and write with high school students at the Escuela Superior Vocacional Dr. Pedro Perea in Mayagüez thanks to the coordinating efforts of English teacher Evelyn Irizarry.
- From 1:00-3:00, the Rebel Poets will perform and write with high school students at the Escuela Superior Monserrate León de Irizarry in Boquerón thanks to the support of Director Rafael del Toro.
Please link to the below video to see a younger generation of Rebel Poets respond to President Obama’s recent inauguration speech.