Inspired By... An Intergenerational Storytelling Project in Partnership with Everyday Boston Inspired By... is an intergenerational story collecting project that trained young people how to interview elders across the city, then turn what they heard into art. Dairon & Leo Here’s the beginning of a poem Dairon wrote to describe his conversation with Leo: "In Boston's heart, where history's deep, lived a man named Leo, with dreams not cheap. Roxbury raised, on streets so bold, in Massachusetts' cold, his story's told. His words, a river, flowing free, a treasure trove story. With hands on wheel, and heart in motion, he served with pride, the DOT devotion." Read More Read More Deysi & Esperanza Deysi created an art piece to represent her conversations with Esperanza. She shares about her inspiration here: “The word Esperanza translates to hope. The word Esperanza is also the name of the person that this piece is inspired by. Esperanza is a woman who has lived through many changes, and periods of growth. She has lived through many different versions of herself, but one thing always constant is the hope she carries for the next day. Esperanza is a strong and beautiful great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and woman." Read More Debby & Maria Here’s the beginning of a poem Debby wrote to describe her conversation with Maria: "When we roam, change unlocks doors to new bonds, new home "Me vine a este país por mi hijo," Maria softly said, Her sacrifice echoed by many, hearts heavy with fear. Chapters start and end" Read More Wael & Ellie Wael created a video with voice to represent his conversation with Ellie. He shares about his inspiration here: “Much like the autobiography, not only does my video talk about Ellie’s life it also uses flowers as Ellie believed that it would bring some happiness to such a story, and I totally agreed. Moreover I wanted this video to feel personal and something truly highlighting Ellie so that was further reasoning to take motivation from the autobiography.” Read More Nabila & Alice Nabila painted a portrait of Alice to represent Alice's vibrancy and what she learned about her during their conversation. Read More Read More Hannah & Beverly Hannah created a visual poem to represent her conversations with Beverly. This is just one of the pages. Read More Lana & Nick Lana met with Nick and captured his wonderful outlook that he, too, is a work of art. Read More Read More Leem & Barbara Leem wrote a poem to represent her interview with Barbara. Her poem includes a beautiful visual component. Read More Sylvia & Liz Sylvia worked with TUN founder, Liz Santiago to write a memoir about Sylvia's time living at 19 Clifford Street in Roxbury, MA. We share the first chapter for your enjoyment. Read More Read More

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What is Poetry? Poetry is a type of writing that is hyper-focused on word choices and rhythm, and it often uses rhyme and meter (a set of rules around the number and arrangement of syllables in each line). In poetry, words are strung together to form sounds, images, and ideas that might be too complex or abstract to describe directly. Poetry is sometimes meant to be read off a page, so the way words are arranged visually can vary from what looks like a paragraph to what looks like a list to what looks like a pattern or image. Each choice the poet makes about how they place their words on a page can impact the way the reader reads it. So those choices need to be intentional. Sometimes poetry is meant to be recited out loud by the poet. So how the poem is read or performed is as important as how the poem is written. This kind of poetry can often be heard in Poetry Slams. To help get you started, read on to learn more about different kinds of poetry and see how you can start to write your own. You will find several links to read and/or hear various poems and poets, and find links to other helpful resources, as well as some activities to try! Before You Start There are a few concepts to understand before you read on. We have created videos to help you with these concepts. You can pick and choose the videos you want to explore before you start or during your review of the material. Freewrite is currently available. Videos for brainstorming, prompts and creating word banks are coming, Freewrite: In creative writing, we do a lot of free writing. It's a "free" type of writing that gets your creativity flowing. The following video describes what it is in more detail. Example Poems To start, here’s a list of poems to read or experience that will get your creativity flowing before you start writing your own. A couple of questions to ask yourself for further thinking are included after each link. (Important note: There are no right and wrong answers to these questions! They are simply provided to help deepen your thinking about what you are reading and hearing.) : Dance, dance, dance by Princess Moo: (scroll down to where you see the title, dance, dance, dance ). What did you notice about how the words appear on the page? Did anything surprise you? Why do you think some words are italicized? Why do you think the poet chose not to capitalize her sentences? Hearing That   Joe Arroyo Song at Ibiza Nightclub , 2008 by Elizabeth Acevedo: What did you notice about how the words appear on the page? How did that arrangement impact the way you read the poem? If you could speak to the poet, what questions would you ask? Had My Parents Not Been Separated… by Porsha Olayiwola: In this video, we hear the poet read their poem out loud to us. How did it feel to have the poem read to you instead of reading it yourself? I Wonder What Ricky Martin Is Doing Right Now by Anthony Febo: This time we hear and see and hear the poet perform their poem at a Poetry Slam. How did experiencing the poem like this impact you as the audience? What did you notice about the poet’s body language while he was performing? Did it add to or take away from the poem, in your opinion? Queer Brown Planet by Amanda Torres: Even though the poet is writing in what could be considered science fiction, what real life experiences does she share with her audience? Why do you think she chooses to share real life experiences in this way? What impact, if any, does the audience response have on your experience of the poem? Types of Poems There are many different poetry forms with their own rules and styles. With so many forms, it can be a little intimidating especially if you are new to poetry. So, we suggest you begin with these to get a feel for the possibilities: Rhymed Poetry Rhymed poetry uses a “rhyme scheme” to create a specific rhythm and meter in a poem. Rhyme can be defined as “the repetition of similar sounds at the end of a word.” Rhyme scheme can be defined as “the pattern of rhyming words at the end of each line of a poem.” Watch this video to see how this works in action. Haiku Haiku (俳句 pronounced high-koo) is a short three-line poem that usually follows a 5-7-5 syllable structure. Haiku poetry was originally developed by Japanese poets, and is often inspired by nature, a moment of beauty, or a poignant experience. Haikus are meant to be read in one breath to feel the full affect. For more on haiku and some ideas to get you started, click here . Free Verse Free verse is the name given to poetry that doesn’t use any strict meter or rhyme scheme. Because it has no set meter, poems written in free verse can have lines of any length, from a single word to much longer. Most poets writing today write in free verse. For more on free verse, click here . Try writing at least one of each to get you started. If you want to learn more, you will find a list of types of poetry here . Take your time to read through these types of poems. Find which ones you gravitate toward the most. Find examples of these forms written by poets that you like and read, listen, and take notes. Ask yourself why certain poems and poetry styles attract you? Is it about the words? Message? Rhythm? All of the above??? You can learn a lot about yourself as a writer by reading other writers’ work. Now You Try! Read the following prompts. Pick one and freewrite your response. (Remember, the process of freewriting to a prompt or a topic is a good way to get you started.) Think about how you are feeling right now. Are you happy? Bored? Nervous? Excited? Once you are aware of how you are feeling, write about anything at all in your mind for 3 minutes. This is also known as a freewrite. Then, reread your freewrite after the time is up. Circle stand out words or phrases you wrote and arrange them in a way that makes sense to you. Then turn those words into phrases or sentences to create a poem. Pick a specific moment that stood out to you this week. Create a “Word Bank” full of action words, emotions, nouns, and phrases that describe this moment in as much detail as possible. Arrange the words from your Word Bank in a way that makes sense to you. Then flesh out those words into phrases or sentences to create a poem. Write a poem about what your name means. It can be as long or short as you would like, free verse, rhymed, or haiku, but share the history of your name and what it means to you. Use Random Word Generator . Go to the site, type in the number 5 in the number of words box then click on Generate Random Words to get a list of words. Use as many of those words as you can in a poem. You can look up the meaning of any words you might know know at Dictionary.com . Feeling inspired? Here's another site that has 22 poetry prompts to help you write your next great poem! Want more? Here are a Few Poets To Enjoy Find your favorite poets and pay attention to their process, themes, and style. This can help you develop a process and style that works for you. Here are a list of some poets to look into: Natalie Diaz: Natalie Diaz is the Maxine and Jonathan Marshall Chair in Modern and Contemporary Poetry at Arizona State University. She is Mojave and an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Tribe. Porsha Olayiwola: Black: Writer. Performer. Futurist Marcus Wicker: Marcus Wicker is the author of Silencer, poems that address gun violence and police brutality against African Americans. Adobo-Fish-Sauce : Adobo-Fish-Sauce is an active choice to celebrate in the face of bitterness. It is responding to “Go back to where you come from!” by bringing where they are from right to you. Javier Zamora: Javier Zamora was born in La Herradura, El Salvador in 1990. His work explores how immigration and the civil war have impacted his family. Amanda Torres: Write. Educator. Cultural Organizer Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboa : Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah is a Ghanaian American poet living out the diaspora in Boston (Massachusetts). Elisabet Velasquez: Elisabet Velasquez is a Brooklyn Born Boricua. She is a mother of two. Her poems are an exploration of her life. Eve L. Ewing: Dr. Eve L. Ewing is a sociologist of education and a writer from Chicago. Button Poetry: Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for performance poetry. William Nuʻutupu Giles: William Nuʻutupu Giles is an afakasi Samoan writer and arts educator from Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Native American Poetry and Culture: Explore a multitude of Native American Poets. Denice Frohman : Denice Frohman is a poet, performer, and educator from New York City. These are so many wonderful poets out there, so this is only a small list. Go explore then when you are ready to write your own poems, submit them here! Are you ready to submit a poem? Upload your poems here!

The Moonlit Vine The Moonlit Vine can be a wonderful addition to your English and History curricula. To learn more about the content of the book, visit The Moonlit Vine overview page. To enhance student understanding of the material, you can bring the author, Elizabeth Santiago, to your school for a visit. Here are details around school visits, lectures, workshops and other discussions . Potential Curricular Topics to Accompany The Moonlit Vine To help scaffold integrating the book into your lessons, below are some potential topics, guiding questions, and articles to include in your planning . These are only a few ideas to consider. Topic 1: Who are the Taínos? Background Reading (to begin): Genes of “Extinct” Caribbean Islanders Found in Living People . Science Magazine Researchers Find Cave Art in Uninhabited Caribbean Island . Repeating Islands Abuelas, Ancestors, and Atabey: The Spirit of Taíno Resurgence . Smithsonian National Museum of The American Indian What Became of the Taíno . Smithsonian Magazine Guiding Questions: Taínos are still here! Recent discoveries reveal the truth about the existence of people who were said to have become extinct. What does that say about the power of narrative and which stories and histories are elevated and learned ? Why are the Taíno called Taíno? Why do Puerto Ricans refer to themselves as Bori n queños? What are the Taíno contributions to language, history and culture? Topic 2: The History of Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican Identity Background Reading (to begin): The History of Puerto Rico . Britannica.com Puerto Rico - History and Heritage . Smithsonian Magazine History of Puerto Rico . Frommer's Guiding Questions: How has music, food, religion, and belief systems been influenced by Puerto Rico's African, European and Indigenous cultures? What is the Jones Act of 1917 and what is its relevance to Puerto Rican history and identity? How is Puerto Rican migration to the United States similar or different to other groups who have come to the U.S. to pursue economic stability? Do you want something more in-depth? Check out publisher Lee and Low's Teacher Guide ! School Visits and The Moonlit Vine Specific Workshops In person or virtual school visits, lectures or presentations 1-hour to 90-minute long presentation and book talk $500-$750 In an hour or 90-minutes, there will be an overview of the book and the inspiration for it, selected readings from the book and open discussion. Elizabeth has also met with student creative writing groups to review student projects and discuss writing craft. In person or virtual workshops 90-minute to 3-hour long workshop $500-$1000 Workshops typically include an overview of the book and the inspiration for it, selected readings from the book and open discussion. Building off that, workshop topics include identifying and capturing little known histories, tapping into your story, writing about ancestors and writing about family and community. Covering Travel for In-Person Events Local (within 1-2 hour driving distance of Boston, MA) does not require an overnight stay. No additional coverage for travel needed. Non Local (more than 2 hours from Boston, MA) depends on location, but train or airfare should be covered by requester as well as one night of hotel stay, again, depending on location. Visit Elizabeth's Teaching Books page to learn even more about her and The Moonlit Vine! Reach out to discuss options and schedule a visit! Contact Us

I Will Always Be Muslim and Jewish I've long felt shame that I knew much more about my Muslim heritage than my Jewish side, but this year, I'm diving in. By Dr. Tamara MC Posted August 23, 2021 Click on image to access the memoir

Dairon's Project Conversations Across Time: An Interview with a Compassionate Spirit "I made this poem because his [Leo's] journey resonated with me so deeply. The way he’s changed things for the better is nothing short of incredible. It got me thinking about the ripple effect one person's actions can have, and it sparked a flame of creativity in me. I wanted to capture that essence, that spirit of change, and share it through my words. He shared his struggles and triumphs, and it was like watching a movie unfold so vivid and moving. That's what sparked the idea to write a poem. I felt that the beauty and rhythm of poetry could really do justice to his story. It's a form that allows emotion and imagery to come together. Writing it was a journey in itself. I reflected on every detail he shared, the highs and lows, and I tried to weave those moments into each line. I wanted the poem to be a mirror of his resilience and hope. Choosing poetry felt right because it's a timeless way to express admiration and capture someone's importance." - Dairon In Boston's heart, where history's deep, lived a man named Leo, with dreams not cheap. Roxbury raised, on streets so bold, in Massachusetts' cold, his story's told. His words, a river, flowing free, a treasure trove story. With hands on wheel, and heart in motion, he served with pride, the DOT devotion. But Leo's love, oh, it went far beyond the daily grind, to which he was fond. At his side, a wife so dear, whose art was loved, far and near. Her pieces stunning, a sight to behold, in every brushstroke, a story told. Their home adorned with creations so fine, a testament to talent, a visual shrine. Together they crafted a world of awe, where art and love forever draw. In conversation, time did fly, his life’s journey, under Boston’s sky. A great time had, in interview’s dance, Leo’s story, given voice and chance. Go Back to Inspired By ... 2024 Project List

What is a Memoir? Have you ever had a strange, or funny, or tragic experience in your life? We almost all have, but have you ever thought about actually writing it down? That is what Memoir writers do. They think about times in their lives that stand out to them as particularly challenging or particularly hilarious or particularly unusual and capture those times in writing to share with the world. This is different than an autobiography. Autobiography usually covers your entire life up to the point of writing, while memoir focuses only on a part of your life. If you are writing a memoir, you will often choose an important or interesting part of your life to write about and ignore or briefly summarize the rest. In short, a memoir is a story of a personal life experience or a period in your life that made you who you are today. Why Write a Memoir? When we write down our own stories to share with others it can be very freeing. It’s like getting something off your chest in a very concrete way. When other people read our stories, they often relate because of having similar experiences. Or the opposite can also be true, sometimes they have not experienced anything like what we are sharing, but because someone has written about it in a compelling way, they develop a new understanding and feel empathy. Either way, memoir writing can create community by bringing people together through sharing familiar and unfamiliar experiences. To help get you started writing a memoir, read on to see some memoir idea prompts and topics. You will also find some tips for writing your own memoir and to links to other helpful resources. Memoir Prompts The beauty of a memoir is that it’s your story and it can be about whatever you want it to be about. You can talk about going to school for the first time, losing a friend, welcoming a new family member, experiencing bias or racism, discovering your identity, and on and on. There is no limit on what you can share with others, but you might need some inspiration to get started. Using prompts can really help! Now You Try! Read the following prompts. Pick one and freewrite your response. The process of freewriting (writing whatever comes to mind) to a prompt is a good way to get your story started. The Most Interesting Thing that Ever Happened to You? We all have some event or life experience that have stayed in our memory. We might remember them because they changed us or gave us a new understanding. Look at what you consider the most interesting or influential experience in your life. Why did this event stay with you? Did you learn something from it? Did it liberate you in some way or oppress you? Do you have regrets about it? How did this event define you? How did it impact your view of yourself or others? What Makes You, You? Think about yourself. What’s unique or special about you? If you were going to describe yourself to another person, what would you say? Think not just about how you look, but what makes you, you. When you try to define yourself, what comes to mind? Your family? Your friends? Your job? Your school? Where are you from? How have these people and things influenced who you are today? What, if anything, do they tell you about yourself? Memoir Topics Topics, like prompts, can help trigger ideas for what you want to write about. Click here to see the difference between the two. Brainstorming (jotting down any ideas that come to mind associated with your topic) based on a topic is a good way to get started and begin to get more specific about the theme of your memoir. Using topics can really help! Now You Try! Read the following topics. Pick at least 3 and brainstorm a list of at least 5 ideas that come up for each. Then, take your 5 ideas from one topic and flesh them out by turning them into sentences and then paragraphs. Then see where it takes you from there! Maybe you will be inspired to write more, or maybe you will try again with another topic. Your favorite place Your best or worst day(s) a memorable family member Your most memorable teacher(s) Someone you will always remember Your proudest moment Winter/summer/fall Food Love Sports, music or books Your childhood Your community A reoccurring dream A supernatural experience A spiritual experience How to Tell Your Story VIDEO TO COME Example Memoirs The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore: This is the story of two boys living in Baltimore with similar histories and an identical name. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou : I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Aroma of Orange Pekoe by Jeff Tikari: The life and living; the entertaining and ways of Tea Planters who made a living in those remote plantations of north-east India in the 1950s Age Appropriate by Jen Doll: In this anecdotal essay about a summer vacation spent with family, Doll explores what it means to bring your teenage self along into adulthood. The Price of Black Ambition by Roxanne Gay: In “The Price of Black Ambition,” Roxane Gay speaks on the fact that children of color are often given an inflated sense of “ambition” at a young age. And, despite the exceptional amounts of work people of color put in to move forward in life, their efforts are regularly regarded as less than—their presence in “white” circles is considered a fluke or consequence of required diversity. If you’d like more examples, these two sites off er free b ooks for download: Oboko: Free Memoir & Biography 10 Essential Essay-Length Memoirs You Can Read for Free Other Helpful Examples How to Write a Memoir: Step-byStep Memoir Writing: Ten Easy Steps Are you ready to submit your memoir or a section of it? Upload here!

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Watch this panel discussion that includes Hurricane Maria survivors from Puerto Rico talking about their experiences.

Upcoming Events Writing the Other: A Practical Approach Thu, Mar 12 zoom Authors Nisi Shawl and Elizabeth Santiago teach you to write sensitively and convincingly about characters of diverse backgrounds. RSVP