California Poets in the Schools understands how critical immediate response is to the Los Angeles arts and culture community. We are also committed to supporting the long-term recovery and healing of impacted students, families and poets. With this in mind, we have pivoted funding to open an immediate service grant pathway to support both Poet-Teachers and students who are living through this unprecedented disaster.
Active Poet-Teachers are invited to apply for an immediate, small service grant to offer poetry creation to K-12 youth impacted by the LA wildfires. Poet-Teachers may collaborate with shelters, schools, childcare centers, libraries, camps etc. to engage impacted youth with pop-up poetry creation experiences, starting now, and continuing as long as our funding lasts. Poets may use the funding right away or schedule poetry residencies in impacted schools at a later date.
So many of us now in California have lived through the devastating toll that such destructive wildfires take on a community. We have witnessed the heavy burden on youth, families and artists, and also how impacted communities come together to heal and emerge stronger over time. Poetry can offer a lifeline of solace and hope, as we all know so well. Experts on trauma affirm that it is a healing experience to be able to give voice to your feelings and be witnessed.
Our hearts are with you, Los Angeles County.
Thank you to all the first responders who are on the front lines and working so hard to save lives and property in the midst of the most difficult conditions.