What's on Their Minds

The Power of Prose... and Poetry
We invite you to follow the links below to read selected pieces of writing generated by Inside Out participants during our creative writing workshops.

Poetry:

Nature Writing:
The nature poems and paragraphs were written while looking at a photograph of a beautiful place in the outdoors.

Original plays and performance pieces:

The Alternative, Neighborhood Arts Project participants

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Beginnings..., by School Project participants, Clay Middle School, Winter 2001

Ensembles of participants create group poems; for instance, the following piece was created on the very first day of the 2001 Inside Out School Project at Clay Middle School...

Beginnings...
Are the start of something new,
Are something you never did before,
Make me feel excited,
Make me feel like letting loose,
Make me proud,
Make me laugh,
Make me nervous,
Make me all open with expression,
Make me feel happy,
Kinda make me feel all right,
Make me free to be me,
Are extraordinary,
Are exciting,
Are the beginning of what we are here for,
Are for making friendships,
Make me smile,
Make you laugh,
Make me happy,
Are a great chance to meet great people,
Make me laugh,
Make me feel wonderful,
Are amazing,
Are surprising,
Are the end of the end,
Make me feel nervous,
Make me feel hungry,
Make me feel full,
Male me feel excited,
Make me shy,
Make me feel welcome,
Make me proud and so excited,
Make me proud of who I am,
A new start of what you want to do,
Make me feel courage,
Make me feel real nice,
Make me anxious,
Make me kinda shy,
Get me very, very hyper,
Get me nervous but then I find out it’s okay
‘cause there’s nothing to be nervous about,
it’s the beginning,
It’s where we start.

Inside Out School Project
Henry Clay Middle School
February 5th, 2001

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I Can, by Neighborhood Arts Project participants, Fall 2001

At 3:30 p.m. on September 18, a multidisciplinary team of artists met with 20 middle school students for an after-school workshop. A week earlier four jetliners had ripped a hole in the country’s heart and everyone was still feeling raw. The two-hour theater workshop focused on emotions – the scenes were raucous and heavy and funny and each participant hopped offstage a little lighter. At 5:30, it was time to go home, but no one left. Everyone sat in a circle, adults and kids, and talked about what they were feeling and how to make positive use of those feelings in their community. One of the artists transcribed as the circle created a group poem.

I Can

I could show more appreciation to friends . . . and strangers.
I can tell people not to worry, that it will be ok,
And to be happy with what they have right now.
I can look people in the eye and smile.
I can pray.
I can donate all the clothes I have, but will never wear.
I can visualize world peace.
I can meet new people.
I can be more kind to more people.
I can let people know, who don’t know me,
That I’m their friend, not their enemy.
I can dedicate my time to people who need help and things.
I can donate blood.
I can talk about it, so they can have somebody to talk to.
I can walk through the world with greater appreciation for every moment and share that with all I pass.
If we all lean on each other, we can never fall down.

by Us (Inside Out participants in the Neighborhood Arts Project)

Respect, by Neighborhood Arts Project participants, Spring 2002

One of our exercises, Reflect Respect, is all about defining “respect,” not just with words, but movement and sound, too – and through exploring how it feels to be respected, disrespected, and to have self-respect. The workshop culminates with kids presenting performance art pieces illustrating the feelings generated by the subject and, finally, everyone creates a group poem...

Respect
by Us

Respect means to me when people listen and take my advice
Um... Listen
Happy
Respect means to me…happiness
Treat me how I want to be treated
Being paid attention to
When people listen to me
An opportunity to teach and learn
Glad
Given the time to be heard
Sharing Space
Feel glad inside
People being creative together
When my parents listen to me
When you talk to other people and they listen to you about your problem
When my brother listens to me
Being listened to
Respect means being held up by a pure heart
To be proud and truthful
To have the right.

By Neighborhood Arts Project, Spring 2002

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New Beginnings, by the students of John Adams Middle School, Fall 1999

New Beginnings
New beginnings make me feel...
very excited and happy to be back at Adams
Make me feel good,
Happy and weird,
New beginnings make me feel... goofy,
Very excited,
It's like progress... nervous and excited,
Funny,
Happy,
Dorky,
Excited... and ambitious.
New beginnings make me feel...
nervous and excited
but happy to be here,
Very happy,
It's like there's a chance to start again,
Nervous and shy,
Happy and nervous,
Nervous and excited...
It makes me feel like
I'm going around in circles!!

Inside Out
Bridges/Adams
October 11th, 1999

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Home Invasion, by Anthony W., Inside Out Youth Artist Mentor

Home Invasion
I’m promoting love and peace; we all see the consequences of hatred
Look what happened in the east, the acts of a savage beast.
Some cowards ran planes into the twin towers and other buildings,
I can only imagine those affected feelings. What was solved by killing?
This hit right at home,
A second time I don’t want to go through it, Bin Laden you really blew it.
We’re all created equal, let’s come together as gods, forget a sequel.
It’s sad to me, people being murdered for their race, religion or nationality,
We need not hate and bust slugs, it’s better to love and give hugs.
Let’s do it!!!!!!!
- by Anthony W. (Inside Out Youth Artist Mentor)

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Pizza Planet, by Cris Villalobos, Inside Out Mentor

Pizza Planet
I was like a devil inside a young boy’s body.
So many times did I envision explosions and destruction of this nation. I didn’t like it here and everyone seemed cruel.
I was stereotyping EVERYONE, either because of your race,
religion, sexuality or other background.

The only thing that kept my chin up was my dreams.
I wanted to become an actor.
When Inside Out came to my school
I joined only because I thought it was “acting”.
It turned out that it involved all types of art and people.
Before the thought of quitting even crossed my mind
I was already having so much fun with total
Strangers I could’ve easily misjudged.

This reminds me of a pizza.
All the pieces of a pizza are different from one another.
Just like pizza pieces come together to make one warm pizza,
We should all gather together to make one warm and friendly planet.

- by Cris Villalobos – Inside Out Mentor

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Untitled, by Aracely Lopez, Inside Out participant

Without even thinking,
You just fall in love.
You think with your heart,
And not your mind.

- excerpt from a poem by Aracely Lopez, Inside Out participant

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Life
By Sadie Garcia, June 8, 2002

Drugs
Violence
Abuse
When Will it Stop
Will it Ever Stop?
This world so full of... hate
So many people pretending to be something they’re not.
Stop!
Let’s try to be a family
To be together
Stop the drugs, violence, abuse
So we could feel more safe more
Free
Free from all that harm
If you stop and look very close
You’ll Realize that that’s how
Life is.
By Neighborhood Arts Project, Spring 2002

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What Respect Means to Me..., by the students of John Adams Middle School

It makes me feel peaceful
It makes me feel happy
Because it makes me feel happy
Oh, so I can feel good
Respect…respect is important to me because it brings people together in a good way
Mmmm... because it’s important... to get attention
It makes me feel like a good person
Because without it there’s a lot of violence in the world
Makes me feel proud
It makes me feel happy because it’s better for the other people
It keeps people peaceful
Comfortable
It makes people live a better life
Respect is important to me because it demonstrates that I’m a great person
It helps the community
It transcends all differences
It makes me feel comfortable
We need respect for... to make new friends
It makes me feel excited
It makes me feel peaceful
It makes me feel comfortable when being respected
Generous
Respect means to me…bringing out the best in me and others
Respect is important for me because it helps people get along
It shows others you care for them
It makes me feel good.... feel happy
It makes me feel full of light
Happy
Understanding and appreciated
It fills my heart
Respect makes me feel like other people like to be treated.

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The Towers Are Like Flowers
By Nicole Hitner – Neighborhood Arts Project participant

I don’t think I’ll
ever understand it.
Nature.
It’s so unlike the human race,
Negatively.
It makes me shiver to know
It’s smaller than me.
It,
A flower,
Deserves to be larger. My shadow towers...
Towers.
That’s the biggest puzzle of all.
How can something beautiful,
A rose,
Come from something ugly,
Dirt.
The Towers,
The War,
The Lives,
The Loss.
It will never be beautiful.
Never.

Nature Writing - My Island, by Olga R.

This paper I am going to write is about an Island.
It is called ‘My Island’.
I said this place is in South Africa by the ocean.
The season in this place is summer.
It is hot and windy but the wind is hot.
In this picture it looks like it is around 9:30 am.
Theres lots of things like sand, water, palms.
The water is moving around, the sand blowing to other parts, the palms moving around.
In this place I feel nice, cool and I feel like if I was in charge of this Island.
I feel that I am laying down in the sand and I am making my necklace and clothes.
I said I got to this place when I was three years old and fell into a boat and landed in this beautiful Island.

Nature Writing - White, Blue and Cold, by Evelyn Garcia

Here I am sitting down next to the freeze river.
I could hear the blowing wind cold and mean.
I could see the snow white and bright,
with the trees standing still.
And the sky bright and blue.
Being here it makes me feel happy and cold.

Nature Writing - Great to be in the Snow, by Ryan Turner

I am looking at a snowy tree that has no leaf
and I see the tall dirty house.
I see the white and icy snow.
The mountains are big with lots of snow.
It feels great to be here in the snow.
I like to live in the snow.

This place makes me feel like I'm in my back yard
because I see big green and yellow trees.
I also like to lay down and look up at the sky.
But what I like most is to go outside in the springtime
at three o'clock and draw
and be with my family.

Nature Writing - Living in Big Bear

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Original plays and performance pieces - The Alternative, by Neighborhood Arts Project participants

About halfway through our programs, after working together for several months, it’s time for the kids to take the lead. So, the artists step back a bit and provide the space, structure and support for the kids to begin creating their original plays and performance pieces.

We offer several different templates for creating the pieces and each Inside Out artist that will be directing brings their own particular strengths to the play they will be working on. The kids have a brainstorming session where they all throw out ideas for themes and each group votes on what their play is going to be about. We don’t censor any ideas, but we do insist on G rated language. We also don’t force happy endings, but, and this is very important, we challenge the kids to generate solutions and positive messages regarding the subjects they choose to address.

A cast at our Neighborhood Arts Project created the following piece. Most of the kids had had firsthand experience with gang activities and several had witnessed and/or lost relatives to gang violence. The spine of the performance was a sequence of emotions (in left column) that were shouted out in unison throughout the performance.

THE ALTERNATIVE
A Group Performance Piece
Created and performed at the Inside Out Neighborhood Arts Project Part 1 - Reality

FEAR	I don’t like gangs ‘cause they shoot and kill for fun (All) I saw a guy get shot. (Chris) I almost got shot myself (Erik) Where I live, in a bad bad neighborhood, there was a big silver hole in the wall (Shannon) I thought this was a good neighborhood (Trina) Boom Boom Boom (All)
HOPE	I don’t want to be near a gang (Memo) I know I have better friends. (All)
SHOCK	I was at my brother’s friend’s house, and these Crips did a drive by. My brother’s friend pulled out a 9 millimeter (Danny) Bap Bap Bap Bap And they drove away. (All) My whole family’s in a gang. (Erik)
SCARED	Bloods are Red, Crips are Blue. Don’t go near a gang, or they’ll shoot you. (All)
NERVOUS	Imagine this, walking down the street, in a Crip neighborhood (Mauricio) You turn the block, then you’re in a Blood neighborhood (Chris) That’s Hard. (All)
SADNESS	My family moved out here from North Carolina We went to the store, some guys asked my cousin “Where are you from?” He said, “Nowhere”. When we got back to the house, they shot him, 13 times (Trina) Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Once for every year of his life. (All) He pushed me out of the way, so I wouldn’t get shot Then there’s payback, (Trina) It never ends.(All)
INTIMIDATED	Where are YOU from? (All)
HOPEFUL	What is the difference between Bloods and Crips anyway? They’re all people. (Natalia)
FEAR	I live in a Crip neighborhood The reason they shoot is someone intrudes in their neighborhood And they’re wearing the wrong color In a way for them it is right. They have to defend their territory (Group 2)
SHOCK/MAD	It’s stupid, I don’t see why people get shot Just cause they’re wearing a different color You used to be able to wear whatever you wanted at my school Then this kid was walking down the street wearing the wrong color So they shot him That’s why we have to wear uniforms (Group 1) You can’t wear bandanas (Danny) They said you can’t wear different colored shoelaces (Amy) It’s more about what you stand for (Shannon) Where you’re from (Nasya) Where are YOU from? (All)
BEWILDERMENT	It’s not about you, it’s not about that (Nasya) What about the people that get shot (Natalia) What about the babies, the innocent people? (Nasya) I hate those people that come up to you and say, “Are you Blood or Crip”? I say, “I’m nothing”. (Chris) Oakwood is not even the hardest You live in South Central or Watts – then...(Erik) It’s as hard to get out as it is to get in They kill you (Memo) They don’t kill you, they jump you out (Shannon) Yeah, they jump you out, harder, try to do damage to you You gotta know how to fight (Mauricio)
TRUTH	I think it’s stupid Maybe if we were all colorblind, it wouldn’t be a problem (Chris) Where are YOU from? (All)

Party Scene (rap music in background)
Everyone is dancing. Group of people walk in. They are the Crip hip-hop dancers

Celestino –	Let’s get this crackin’ (groups line up) Are you ready?
Crips -	Yeah!
Celestino –	Are you ready?
Crips -	Yeah!
Celestino –	Let’s go!
(They dance 4 counts of 8, everyone’s happy)
Trina –	What’s brakin?
Celestino –	Loco, what are you doing here?
Trina –	This is my party now.
Shannon –	Well, dance for it then
(They dance 4 counts of 8, everyone’s happy. As they dance, each person takes the stand and everyone else freezes for monologues)

Part II – Monologues – How You Feel

Shannon

I am scared to face them. I act like I don’t see them.

Chris

I think we should be colorblind because we wouldn’t have a problem with gangs.
The gang lifestyle changes their outlook of the real world.
They can’t see reality anymore. All they can see is the gang life.
Gangs are nothing but a waste of time.
I know someone’s brother who was shot 2 times in the same leg.
The first time he almost died, but he still is in a gang and he could be shot again.

Mauricio

Some gangs are good, but most of the time they are bad.
I live in VENICE. There are two gangs, V-13 and VSLC, and they don’t like RED.
The gangs are good because they protect me and my friends.

Erik

I don’t really care about gangs.
Well if people want to be in gangs, well then let them
That’s their decision as long as they don’t bother you, and well
That’s just a way of lfe for them.
I think that there will always be gangs in life
That’s just the way it is.

Nasya

I don’t really care for gangs.
They’re nothing but trouble.
I often wonder why anyone would join a gang.
To seem tough?
Do they think that if they can survive it all they’ll be a hero?
Do they join to feel safe?
Where is there any security
When you have to sleep with a gun next to you?
How does it feel to wake up, roll over
And see, not your lover, but a weapon?
Do people enjoy killing and being killed for colors?
Aren’t colors made for enjoyment?

Trina

I don’t understand why people are in gangs
They want to be in a group
But why be in a group? Why can’t you just be by yourself?
Being by yourself is smart.
You can do for yourself
They can’t pay your bills. Only you can
They can’t get you a job. Only you can.
So it’s better just to do for you.
Don’t do for the homies
Do it for you
If you have a problem with someone, don’t shoot them
Talk it out, but whatever you do
Don’t kill each other

Part III - A Better World

Scene 1 – Jumping In
Three New Kids walk up to the gang. They’re scared to be “jumped in”.
New Kids	Oh No, what’s gonna happen, I’m scared, I don’t know if I can do this.
Gang Kids	Are You Ready? Are You Ready?
Gang Kids pull out the jump rope, start playing and sing, “Teddy Bear Teddy Bear turn around” “Teddy Bear Teddy Bear touch the ground” “Teddy Bear Teddy Bear tie your shoe” “Teddy Bear Teddy Bear how old are you?”
New Kids	They Jump. OK, now we’re in, now what do we do?
Gang Kids	You gotta go on a “drive-by”!
Scene 2 – Drive by
New Kids get in car with two Gang Kids. They drive around stage.
New Kids	So, what do we do?
Gang Kids	We’re goin on the drive by. And you gotta use... This! (flowers) Gives New Kids flowers, helpful phrases, smiles, etc. Two sisters walk down the street, they see the car and get scared. They get down.
Kids	Hi, nice to see you. Have a flower. Be safe. Have a nice day! (They throwflowers)
Sisters	Thanks kids!
Scene 3 – Bangin’
Gang Kids	Now we got some business to take care of. There’s some new people that just moved into our neighborhood, and they’re not wearin our colors. Come on, we got some bangin’ to do.
Kids go to the neighbors’ door, they knock, looking intimidating.
Kids	Open up, we gotta nice welcome present for you
Neighbor	What do you kids want. I don’t want no trouble.
Kids	We brought you something... Apple pie! Welcome to our neighborhood. Glad to have you. Do you need any yard work done. Car wash? See you soon!

Finale

All kids come center, Natalia steps forward.

Natalia

We should think of the good things, like the people we love,
And the people that love us.
No shooting
No drive-bys
No people on the floor
No Crips, No Bloods
No Gangs
It hurts to see people hurting more
Where do you live?
I live where I see laughter
I don’t have Gangs
That’s where I live

ALL

That’s where we want to live.

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What's on Their Minds

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