“The Festival gave me a new outlook on poetry. Poetry is an outlet for escape and it gives the world meaning.”
-Yasmine, 12th Grade
“The highlight for me was being able to listen to and understand poems, because they were more current than poems I’ve read in the past. They were more relevant to me.”
-Mason, 11th Grade
Isn’t that what we want for all High School students? To consider different perspectives? To be inspired by their educational experiences? To be curious and hungry learners?
The Dodge Poetry Program is committed to giving High School students these kinds of experiences—through our High School Mini Festivals and through High School Student Day at the Festival. We’d like you to consider a donation to the Dodge Poetry Program, to support this important work.
“[The] poetry had a profound connection to my culture and myself.”
-Starkwan, 10th Grade
“The highlight of the day for me was listening to a poem about the Jersey Shore…. It pleased me to see different races and ideas being portrayed in the poems.”
-Nicole, 10th Grade
As you may know, we just announced that the Festival will return to Newark in Autumn 2012. We’re already thinking about High School Student Day, which brings together thousands of students from schools in New Jersey and beyond. (Schools from as far away as Florida and Wisconsin regularly attend.) In order to make it easy for schools to participate, High School Student Day is free for students and their chaperones.
As one of the leaders in changing the way poetry is encountered, experienced and perceived, The Dodge Poetry Program is steadfast in its’ commitment to Students and Teachers. Since the first Festival in 1986:
- Over 45,000 students and 18,000 teachers have attended the Festival at no charge.
- More than 600 poets have read at the Festival or at a New Jersey High School as part of our Poetry in the Schools Program.
- Thousands of teachers have discussed poetry during our Clearing the Spring, Tending the Fountain sessions.
- Nearly 30,000 high school students encountered living poets at one of our Poetry in the Schools events.
At this critical time in our planning, we ask you to support the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Program as a Friend of the Festival. Friends of the Festival contributions are tax deductible and help us continue this extraordinary work. Click here to see all the ways your support makes a difference.
Photos courtesy of Lauren Rutten Photography
For more information about the Dodge Poetry Festival and programs, visit www.dodgepoetry.org
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