Exactly As You Are: The Poet as Healer and Navigator for 9-12th grade

This workshop asks young writers to explore the role of the poet, their skills, and their intuition in building resilient, honest, and interconnected futures for ourselves, our communities, and our planet. Participants will experience ideas, poetry, and art from environmentalist Brigitte Baptiste, poet Kemi Alabi, iconic singer Nina Simone, and others. Students will also generate their own work and engage in peer-to-peer feedback. This workshop is rooted in openness, curiosity, and wonder, and is built to meet participants exactly where they're at, regardless of skill or experience.

This workshop is for students in 9-12th grade and will take place online using Zoom.

Scholarships are available by application. Questions? Please email youth@hugohouse.org.

Robin Reid Drake

Robin Reid Drake is a Chicago-based writer from the American South. They place power in poetic processes to bring transformative change in individuals & communities. They hold an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and have received several awards and residencies for their writing. They currently teach writing at 826CHI as well.