UCF’s Literary Arts UCF’s Literary Arts PartnershipPartnership

The Dream Center of SanfordThe Dream Center of Sanford Coalition for the HomelessCoalition for the Homeless Stonewall Jackson Middle Stonewall Jackson Middle

SchoolSchool Crooms Academy High SchoolCrooms Academy High School The Center For Drug-Free The Center For Drug-Free

LivingLiving

Harbor House, Adult WomenHarbor House, Adult Women Ivey Lane Elementary SchoolIvey Lane Elementary School Women’s Residential & Women’s Residential &

Counseling CenterCounseling Center PACE Center for GirlsPACE Center for Girls Bannum Place (Halfway Bannum Place (Halfway

House)House)

Coalition for the Homeless Coalition for the Homeless – Children – Children

The flowers I think The flowers I think

have super powers have super powers

like Super man like Super man

but more but more

like my Uncle Dan.like my Uncle Dan.

--Carli, 8--Carli, 8

What We DoWhat We Do

Usually we go in groups to a site and work with aUsually we go in groups to a site and work with a

group of participants, and using craft elements, providegroup of participants, and using craft elements, provide

a writing prompt. Participants write. We write with a writing prompt. Participants write. We write with them.them.

UCF Creative Writing in Community Class, Spring 2004UCF Creative Writing in Community Class, Spring 2004

Force of NatureForce of NatureIf you were something in nature, what would it be and If you were something in nature, what would it be and

what would you do?what would you do?

"I am Ms. Wind. I blow very hard and I warn ya, don’t come near "I am Ms. Wind. I blow very hard and I warn ya, don’t come near or your dead."or your dead."BriannaBrianna

Garry the Killer TornadoGarry the Killer Tornado"There were twenty trees in California. I blew them down at "There were twenty trees in California. I blew them down at

once.“once.“

Sade the Killing DogSade the Killing Dog"When I bite people they scream and when the mail come it is "When I bite people they scream and when the mail come it is

time to chase himtime to chase himI say in my mind, Here I gooooo.I say in my mind, Here I gooooo.

"Watch out here is my hurricane.”"Watch out here is my hurricane.”Antonice Antonice

Coalition for the Homeless—Coalition for the Homeless—AdultsAdultsSomething I have LostSomething I have Lost

The sound of a sweet voice calling to me at night, to eat dinner.The sound of a sweet voice calling to me at night, to eat dinner.The voice of thunder and lightening when needed to get my undivided The voice of thunder and lightening when needed to get my undivided

attention.attention.The smell of pink roses blooming in spring air.The smell of pink roses blooming in spring air.The aroma of fried chicken and corn bread with homemade ice tea.The aroma of fried chicken and corn bread with homemade ice tea.The outburst of crying with great sadness from being upset.The outburst of crying with great sadness from being upset.The strong statements of what and how a woman should carry herself.The strong statements of what and how a woman should carry herself.

--Alisa Johnson, --Alisa Johnson, Coalition resident 2003Coalition resident 2003

Ivey Lane ElementaryIvey Lane Elementary

We collect what participants We collect what participants write,write,

type up the writings, and type up the writings, and return thereturn the

typed and original to the typed and original to the participant.participant.

Writing Buddy—Laurie Writing Buddy—Laurie West (UCF student)West (UCF student)

I feel like we accomplished a lot in our I feel like we accomplished a lot in our hour and fifteen minutes. Wifthy hour and fifteen minutes. Wifthy definitely had less spelling errors in her definitely had less spelling errors in her first draft of this story than she's had in first draft of this story than she's had in the past--I was thrilled with that. the past--I was thrilled with that.

When I was walking her back to class, When I was walking her back to class, she looked up at me and said, "You she looked up at me and said, "You don't come onMondays?” That made don't come onMondays?” That made me want to go every day. me want to go every day.

Reading & CelebrationReading & Celebration

At the conclusion of each of our workshops (whichAt the conclusion of each of our workshops (which

usually run from 10-12 weeks), we host a reading usually run from 10-12 weeks), we host a reading and/orand/orcelebration for the participants.celebration for the participants.

Public Reading, Guinevere’s Public Reading, Guinevere’s Coffee ShopCoffee Shop

““I love participating in groups and meeting interestingI love participating in groups and meeting interesting

people. The class was more than fun and interesting waypeople. The class was more than fun and interesting way

to spend Tuesday. It’s therapy. I plan to use what I’veto spend Tuesday. It’s therapy. I plan to use what I’ve

learned to help my children and the people I meet.” –learned to help my children and the people I meet.” –Sarah Tik, WRCC resident 2003Sarah Tik, WRCC resident 2003

We’ve partnered with the We’ve partnered with the Center For Drug-Free Living each Center For Drug-Free Living each

Spring since 2004.Spring since 2004. Creative writing Creative writing

providesprovides

a way for communitya way for community

participants to improveparticipants to improve

literacy, learning literacy, learning attitude,attitude,

ability, and self-ability, and self-

sufficiency of sufficiency of vulnerablevulnerable

youth and adults in ouryouth and adults in our

community. community.

Writing Buddy—Kenneth Writing Buddy—Kenneth FLorioFLorio

works with Lanorris and works with Lanorris and Sedarius (because one kid Sedarius (because one kid

wasn’t enough!)wasn’t enough!) First and foremost I just want to let everyone First and foremost I just want to let everyone know that I look forward to Friday because I get know that I look forward to Friday because I get to see these kids. When I look through the to see these kids. When I look through the window into the classroom it seems as though window into the classroom it seems as though the children are having a blast. When I open the children are having a blast. When I open that door and LaNorris' face lights up like a that door and LaNorris' face lights up like a Christmas tree. He immediately turns around to Christmas tree. He immediately turns around to tap his friend Sedarius (who I am also helping tap his friend Sedarius (who I am also helping with writing), then they both run over to give me with writing), then they both run over to give me a high five. a high five.

Spring 2006, the group working at Spring 2006, the group working at the Center won 2the Center won 2ndnd Place in the Place in the

UCF Student UCF Student Service-Learning ShowcaseService-Learning Showcase

Neale Byrnes, Jay Haffner, Joanne Waechter, Neale Byrnes, Jay Haffner, Joanne Waechter,

Jonathon French, and Dr. John SchellJonathon French, and Dr. John Schell

Paradise Paradise by Sonjaby Sonja

My happy place is not heaven orMy happy place is not heaven or

somewhere fun. somewhere fun.

It is somewhereIt is somewhere

calm it is paradise calm it is paradise

It is a place with warm sand It is a place with warm sand

As warm as a As warm as a

Sunny day. Sunny day.

With nice cool waves With nice cool waves

with the calm wind with the calm wind

throu my hair. throu my hair.

With tall palm trees With tall palm trees

with a sent of pine.with a sent of pine.

Drinking in coconuts with littleDrinking in coconuts with little

umbrellas in them. umbrellas in them.

Lieing in a hammock in my Lieing in a hammock in my

bathing suit. bathing suit.

With the beautiful sun with clearWith the beautiful sun with clear

blue water. Also with no parents blue water. Also with no parents around. around.

““Thank you very much for coming Thank you very much for coming and teaching us about poetry. It and teaching us about poetry. It was nice knowing you guys for was nice knowing you guys for such short time but I wish it can such short time but I wish it can be longer. Sonja”be longer. Sonja”

““Thank You Amy for helping me to Thank You Amy for helping me to like writeing and encourageing like writeing and encourageing me to love writeing. Love, me to love writeing. Love, Jennifer”Jennifer”

What do students learn?What do students learn? I learned patience with the children. I learned understanding. I learned patience with the children. I learned understanding.

I learned new languages of “baby talk”. I learned to laugh at I learned new languages of “baby talk”. I learned to laugh at myself and to laugh with the children. I learned that it is myself and to laugh with the children. I learned that it is difficult to cut a circle out when your fingers don’t fit the difficult to cut a circle out when your fingers don’t fit the scissor properly. I learned that playing with a book is scissor properly. I learned that playing with a book is apparently more fun than sitting quietly and listening to the apparently more fun than sitting quietly and listening to the words being read. The children taught me humility. The words being read. The children taught me humility. The children taught me to be more accepting. Through my life, I children taught me to be more accepting. Through my life, I have had my own personal imperfections. One of those was have had my own personal imperfections. One of those was excessive pride to the point of being pompous. I guess I could excessive pride to the point of being pompous. I guess I could say the children grounded me. When a three year old girl say the children grounded me. When a three year old girl says, “Mr. Craig, are you coming back next week?” and then says, “Mr. Craig, are you coming back next week?” and then gives me a hug I can not forget, I know something is different gives me a hug I can not forget, I know something is different in me. Where these children come from matters not for the in me. Where these children come from matters not for the time I sit with them. I wish I could give more and next time I sit with them. I wish I could give more and next semester I plan on working my schedule a bit differently so semester I plan on working my schedule a bit differently so that I might get even more time with them. I can only hope to that I might get even more time with them. I can only hope to see them all still playing and not exactly listening to their see them all still playing and not exactly listening to their teachers in the spring. teachers in the spring.

"Thank you for everything, for sharing this "Thank you for everything, for sharing this precious talent of yours with us. I don't even know precious talent of yours with us. I don't even know what to say. Just THANK YOU a lot! I really what to say. Just THANK YOU a lot! I really enjoyed it. Love always, Maria." enjoyed it. Love always, Maria."

"We'll miss you!" "We'll miss you!" "If my poems and quotes showed everything I felt, "If my poems and quotes showed everything I felt,

maybe, they'd say things that I didn't." maybe, they'd say things that I didn't."

““I love to make I love to make storey’sstorey’s

and write my and write my imaginationimagination

too.” – Vanessa Hill, too.” – Vanessa Hill, 11,11,

Coalition for the Coalition for the Homeless,Homeless,

20042004

A Story Begins with a A Story Begins with a ProblemProblem

Jove’s problem is he don’t like Jove’s problem is he don’t like

pie. Everybody askes him whypie. Everybody askes him why

He don’t like pie and he He don’t like pie and he alwaysalways

says I’ve never had it before itsays I’ve never had it before it

Might tast diskuting. One day Might tast diskuting. One day atat

school at lunch there whereschool at lunch there where

having pie he was the last one having pie he was the last one inin

line and everybody got pie. Soline and everybody got pie. So

Jovess got pie too so he tried itJovess got pie too so he tried it

and he liked it. and he liked it.

– – Anthony Rodgers, Anthony Rodgers, 10, Coalition for the 10, Coalition for the Homeless, 2004Homeless, 2004

WRCC—Children WRCC—Children

Creative Cultivation Group, Spring 2005, Creative Cultivation Group, Spring 2005, Won Third Place. SGA Scholarship Award Won Third Place. SGA Scholarship Award for Service-Learning Project ($1000). for Service-Learning Project ($1000). April 2006April 2006

Reading & Celebration—Reading & Celebration—20052005

The Giving TreeThe Giving Tree

If you were the Giving If you were the Giving Tree what would you Tree what would you give?give? If you could ask the Giving Tree If you could ask the Giving Tree

for something what would you for something what would you ask for?ask for?

More from Kenneth…More from Kenneth… When I leave I give them simple homework When I leave I give them simple homework

assignments that they can finish either in assignments that they can finish either in their free time or over the weekend. What their free time or over the weekend. What is most encouraging for me is that they are is most encouraging for me is that they are extremely motivated and have tons of extremely motivated and have tons of energy.energy.

There are at least 3-4 other children in There are at least 3-4 other children in Mrs. McNeals class who bug me for a Mrs. McNeals class who bug me for a mentor every second I am there. Anyone mentor every second I am there. Anyone who is interested contact Professor who is interested contact Professor Thaxton. Thaxton.

SuperheroSuperhero““T.J. Brilliant is so strong ifT.J. Brilliant is so strong ifsomeone shoot him it is onlysomeone shoot him it is onlygoing to fall like a leaf. He going to fall like a leaf. He

cancancut a bag open without cut a bag open without

touchingtouchingit.”it.” Terrance Terrance

SladeSlade

““My superhero name isMy superhero name isKittenwoman. She just Kittenwoman. She just

wakeswakesup and saves people.”up and saves people.”

Wifthy JosephWifthy Joseph

Ivey Lane Field Trip to UCFIvey Lane Field Trip to UCFUCF Knights for Ivey Lane UCF Knights for Ivey Lane

KnightsKnightsSpring 2006Spring 2006

Get InvolvedGet Involved

Assist at Dream Center in Sanford, Assist at Dream Center in Sanford, Mondays 3:30-4:30Mondays 3:30-4:30

Assist at Ivey Lane, Mrs. McNeal’s 4Assist at Ivey Lane, Mrs. McNeal’s 4thth grade class, Tuesdays 12:15-1:15grade class, Tuesdays 12:15-1:15

Assist at Ivey Lane, Mrs. Taylor’s 4Assist at Ivey Lane, Mrs. Taylor’s 4thth grade class, Tuesdays 1:15-2:15grade class, Tuesdays 1:15-2:15

Become a Writing Buddy at Ivey Lane Become a Writing Buddy at Ivey Lane to a 4to a 4thth grader chosen especially for grader chosen especially for you (any day; any time: M-F 8:30-you (any day; any time: M-F 8:30-3:00)3:00)

One Day EventsOne Day EventsHelp WantedHelp Wanted

November 11 & 18. 9-12 a.m. Help November 11 & 18. 9-12 a.m. Help children create art, writing, skits for children create art, writing, skits for Juneteenth.Juneteenth.

November 29. 5:00 p.m. November 29. 5:00 p.m.

Writing PAIL Writing PAIL

(Writing Project at Ivey Lane) (Writing Project at Ivey Lane)

Celebration/ReadingCelebration/Reading

If I Could Change the If I Could Change the World…World…

It will be doing a good job in school. Because It will be doing a good job in school. Because I’m not doing so well in class. My family would I’m not doing so well in class. My family would do it. I have a lot of things I didn’t do very do it. I have a lot of things I didn’t do very right. It was in kindergarten, 2nd grade, 4th right. It was in kindergarten, 2nd grade, 4th grade and 3rd grade. Every day I try hard. But grade and 3rd grade. Every day I try hard. But something always stopping me. What else something always stopping me. What else could I do to make this change happen truly? I could I do to make this change happen truly? I will find the answer and do good! I wish I was will find the answer and do good! I wish I was good really good. I could listen but nothing was good really good. I could listen but nothing was stopping me but myself. I could do good any stopping me but myself. I could do good any time. It doesn’t matter how good you are it time. It doesn’t matter how good you are it matters how smartmatters how smartyou truly are.you truly are.

--Charlie Williams, 10, 2006--Charlie Williams, 10, 2006

How to Change the How to Change the World…World…

Dream for PresidentDream for President

I will change your life. I will improve the world byI will change your life. I will improve the world by

making a building where 15 year-olds and up willmaking a building where 15 year-olds and up will

be able to work at. And I will convince parents tobe able to work at. And I will convince parents to

make there kids where any tipe of clothing tomake there kids where any tipe of clothing to

school.school.

I will let the 15 and up work at a building that theyI will let the 15 and up work at a building that they

can make 15 dollars an hour and the job is easy.can make 15 dollars an hour and the job is easy.Dream Carter, 4Dream Carter, 4thth

grade ILEgrade ILE

If you could change the If you could change the world what would you do?world what would you do?

Your Answer Here.Your Answer Here.

Contact:Contact:

ms. crazy terryms. crazy terry

aka: terry thaxtonaka: terry thaxton

tthaxton@mail.ucf.edutthaxton@mail.ucf.edu

www.english.ucf.edu/outreachwww.english.ucf.edu/outreach