Make Up Your Mind:

Connect, Extend, Challenge

The 2014 Arts Mentorship Academy

Poetry Journal

Dedicated to the six luminaries who inspire us to connect, extend and

challenge ourselves:

Maya AngelouWiley H. Bates

Bill GatesMahatma Gandhi

Frida KhaloMalala Yousafzai

Much thanks to the generous sponsorsof Arts Mentorship Academy 2014

Leonardo Da Vinci Sponsors℘ The Weinberg Foundation℘ Creating Communities℘ Helen J. Serini Foundation℘ Judy Family Foundation℘ Helena Foundation℘ Matt Larson℘ NextGen Giving Circle of CFAAC℘ Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians (AMFM)℘ Anne Arundel County Public Schools℘ Annapolis Rotary℘ Anne Arundel Women Giving Together℘ Arts Council of Anne Arundel County and April Nyman℘ City of Annapolis℘ Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County℘ Anne Arundel County - Maria Casasco and Yevola Peters℘ Inovalon

℘ Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts℘ Olivia Constants Foundation℘ Parole Rotary of Annapolis℘ Severn Savings Bank℘ Vartanian Family Foundation

Picasso Partners℘ ACG Systems℘ Martha Blaxall℘ David and Frances Boyce℘ Centerpoint Church Women’s Group℘ Chick-fil-A, Annapolis Mall℘ Galway Bay℘ Beth Latture℘ Mojo Art and Image℘ Beverly Nash℘ Panda Express, Annapolis Mall℘ The Santin Family and Maximus Properties℘ Seeds4Success/Eastport Girls Club℘ Severn Town Club

It does not take a knight to defeat a dragon.

You do not need to fight with a sword.

You do not need armor to deflect the flames.

All you need is to be yourself.

Savannah Carter

To be brave

is to stand up for yourself,

your beliefs,

and your friends,

no matter what others say.

Even if you are scared

moving forward

despite your fears

takes bravery.

Savannah Carter

Dance

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.

Love recognizes no barriers.

It jumps hurdles,

leaps fences

penetrates walls

to arrive at its destination

full of hope.

Savannah Carter

People connect

through common

reasons, goals, or emotions.

They gather together

for strength

and power for the spirit.

Savannah Carter

Feet what do I need you forwhen I have wings to fly?

I don’t paint dreams or nightmares,I paint my own reality.

I love you more than my own skin.

You deserve the bestthe very best

because you are one of the people in the

worldwho are honest to themselves.

Sophia Demilio

trees

don’tlet anyone

ever tell youyou aren’t special

or unique! You are anamazing, wonderful person

like none other! You’relike a tall, beautiful tree. No tree grows

the exact sameway. Each

one hasit’s own

unique branchesjust like how you

have the thingsthat make you

you!so goahead,

spread your branches.

Zander Nix

Author Unknown

Strong As A Stone

Strong as a stone like a rock.Strong as a stone like the Hulkwith the strongest of fear.Can’t hold backI feel like a challengeJust like Nelson Mandela.

A strong man with freedom helps his peopleof the barsof the jailsails with hate.But with the strong of care and love of his peoples.

Of the people that calls my nameNelson, NelsonSon of an African American manNever gives up on love of his people.

Strong as stone,Can’t be brokenWith the love of my people.

Deja Ashanti Barnett

Count all of your talents,

Hang on to them,

All it takes is a

Little practice.

Love what you have,

Enjoy life,

Never stop improving.

Great things can happen.

Accept challenges.

Camille Wallwork

Love ♥

To love someone in this worldyou must penetrate theirs

and your own barriers.

Unless you encounterthe many defeats that love brings

You may never findyour one and only true love.

Delaney Hatfield

A rainbow is as beautiful as you areRecognize that love has no definition.

Find you destination in your heart.You must not let anyone turn you down.

Unless you want to be let down.

Bryana Bynum

What?

What are the stars?Why do they shine?

What is space?How long does it stretch?

What is the moon?Who lays inside?

What are the birds?Where do they fly?We may not know

Unless we ask.

Sabrina Wallwork

Maya Angelou

Try to let love recognize

you.

Love won’t bedefeated. Love will

work onthose whoneed hope.

-Quionna Barnes

Shalom

means

peace

and

peace

should

be

spread

all

around!

Shalom.

Issac Colbert

The promise that I made to myselfwas to make the world

a better place.To bring peace

love,joy

to all.

Issac Colbert

We did an experiment with rocks.

Each rock is something you do to change the world.

What you do might not be such a challenging task.

But everyone’s rocks together is quite a hand full.

When you throw a rock into water it makes ripples.

The ripples spread to other peopleinspiring them and making them

a better person.

Sara Andrews

Talent is when you have something special.But if you keep your talent in,

people won’t knowhow special you are.

When you show them your talentthey will know

how special you are.And they might even

become a friend.

Keliss Levone

I will open my mindto love inspiration.

Hope to findThe clearing of friendship

and peace of mind.Peace of art

Peace of hopePeace of kindness

Peace of friendshipof the word.

Travel the riversHoping for love

But what you findIs not what you saw in your mind.

But yet you’re satisfiedWith what stands before.

Mallory Shannahan

Nothing will work unless you do.

Nothing will work unless you try.

Nothing will work

Unless you do it.

Olamide Makinde

To be a good dancerI must jump hurdles.

To make my dreams come trueI may have defeats,

But I can’t be defeated.Nothing brings me down

Unless I let it.

Kaiyah Johnson

To be a performer,You have to have a

Destination of hope and dreams.

We may struggle and sometimes fall.

But hopeful,No one or nothing will stop you

From believing in yourselfAnd your dreams.

Victoria Holt

SilenceHelps othersAllowing others to share personalitiesLive, love, laughOpen heartedMaking you feel calm.

Victoria Holt

CriticalHardAwesomeLife ChangingLifeExcitingNeutralGriefExcellent

Sara Andrews

Life has many components.

In life you should love to learnAnd learn to love.

Life can be cold.Like cheese that’s 10 years old

grown with mold.

In life you should care,Live wanting to keep your hair.

Life can be hot,Live learning what’s right and what’s not.

In life, you should appreciate,that’s the only key to get through life’s gate.

Jaasiel Elaman

Jewelry people describe it has bling

Jewelry I describe it has culture

It is one thing that a lady must haveIt shines in the night time under the moon.

Denaye Pritchett

When I grow up, with my talentI will share it with the world.

I think my talent is singingSo I will share songs with people

And teach them how joyful it is to learnand share other talents.

Talent isn’t something to compete about.Everyone is different in their own way.

Everyone has a talent,Even if you don’t know what it is.

You have one.And it’s unique.

Tora Chikara

TallYoung

JoyAthleticHelpful

Tyjah Brown

Will I have a tragedy like Hamlet?Or will I go mad like Ophelia?

Maybe Il’l end up like CinderellaHaving a perfect ending.

Who knows how my life ends,But one thing I know is that I won’t know where I’ll endBut I know where I’ll start.

I’ll start by beginning the change.

Ta’Nia Ulmer

reality

Reality isn’t an emotion.It’s one to live

one to come alive in.Real is what one should

Be with itself.Be true to who you are

It’s your reality.Live it how you please.

Be yourselfWhether it involves being “weird”

It’s still who you are.This world may judge you

But at least you can sayYou died being real to yourself.

Ta’Nia Ulmer

Slowly but surely I’ll take these stepsThe path that I am destined for.

Everybody knows where they’re going.Everybody but me.

I’m the odd man out.My path is fogged and hidden from me.

The way is slow and so unclear.But yet I’ll try to make it.

Don’t lose your way, I tell myself.Don’t trip, don’t speak,

Just keep walking.I’ve heard there’s a mountain to climb,

That’s bigger than all the others.

I’ve heard it’s dangerous,But I don’t care.

Some may say one should avoid itBut I’ll climb it to the top.I’ll use all of my strength,

And when I feel I can’t do it anymore,I’ll take the last step.

Jessica Diggs

I could not hold temptation any more.

My mind could not control my foot.Tippity-tap-tapping on the floor.

My hand beat oh so gracefully on the drum.

Never before have I had so much fun.

Jimmy Gabriel

Design your ownArtistic loveNever give upCreate your dreamsExpect the best.

Camille Wallwork

Stand for what you loveHave a heart and soulInspire othersNever give in to a dull brainEffort will make you shine.

Camille Wallwork

What you seeWhat is not

Extravagant and amazingShy and melancholy

A little pictureA happy childWe are all oneNot one in fileBut in a place

A place that’s ours

HomeIt’s a place or a thing

Or a feelingmy home is family

My home is my brotherMy home is for my loved ones.

Jasmine Charles

The “Perfect” Family

Look in the mirrorAnd what do you see?

The future that you wantOr the one that they want you to have?

Devonte Bell

Now if you had to choose,What would you want?

The left:Where you work all dayJust so your gold-digger of a wifeCan spend it on herselfAnd be miserable.

Or

The right:Where you can have multiple stories published,And a caring husbandThat can make you happyAnd be happy with you.

Your choice.

Devonte Bell

Follow your Dream

Follow your dreamNever give upNever settle

Keep moving forwardAnd you will succeed.

Angel Colbert

Cover art: Title: Portrait of Wiley H. Bates

Medium: Magazine clippings and acrylic on wood