By Alan Headbloom, Feel Like You Belong
Marcel “Fable” Price talks of his challenging youth, a teacher who saw promise in him, and the redemptive power of poetry. As Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he uses his platform to empower area youth, call out public policies that marginalize brown and black people, and advocate for mental health services.
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
If you would like to get some insight as to what area teenagers are facing today, then you might want tot head to the Kent District Library’s Teen Poetry Slam set for Thursday, April 26.
The third year for the event, which is at the KDL Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, the students use the written word to cover an array of topics, according to KDL Teen Paraprofessional Greg Lewis.
“It’s a gamut of subject matter,” Lewis said. “It’s from walks in beautiful nature to sharing their story and what struggles they are going through.”
Oh, and there is aways a couple poems on broken hearts, he said.
“We are just glad that they are sharing,” Lewis said.
The purpose of the Find Your Voice poetry slam — as the name implies — is to give area teenagers an opportunity to share their voice. The event is hosted by The Diatribe, a non-profit organization that uses poetry as a catalyst to empower youth, combat bullying, inspire students to speak up for each other, strengthen public speaking skills and open their eyes to the struggles of their peers.
Marcel ‘Fable’ Price, a member of the Diatribe, looks forward to the Poetry Slam every year. “It’s not the competition part of it, but the part where kids from all over the county stand on stage cheering each other on. Students from different backgrounds, experiences and of all different ethnicities lifting each other up — listening to the stories of their peers. Seeing the looks of accomplishment, joy and pride on these students’ faces is what we absolutely enjoy the most.”
To be part of the slam, students had to have submitted a poem in the KDL’s 15th annual poetry contest earlier this year. The contest had more than 300 poems entered by more than 200 students from all over the county. All who submitted were invited to participate in the slam. New this year, the slam will be divided into two categories — 6th-8th grade students will go first, followed by students in grades 9-12. Local poets and dignitaries will serve as judges and winners will receive a gift card to Meijer.
“Last year, the house was full and there wasn’t an empty seat in the place,” Lewis said. In the end, it isn’t about winning, Lewis said, adding it is like Marcel said, seeing the students support each other and cheer each other on.
The Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch of Kent District Library presents its third annual Teen Poetry Slam at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 26. Recent submitters to KDL’s Teen Poetry Contest will share their poems. The library is located at 4950 Breton Ave. SE.
