STORYtellers: The Poetry of Character Development
STORYtellers is a poetry and performance-based after-school program facilitated by Leadership Program trainer Lauren Fales that offers the opportunity to build character and literacy in tandem. Participants are exposed weekly to the work of famous poets; the theme of each showcased poem targets the exploration of a certain positive character traits. Participants respond through their own poetic response or visual art piece thus taking ownership over their journey to embody the poem's featured character traits. Upon completion of the writing portion of the club, participants engage in a performance-based curriculum that fosters self-awareness, positive group citizenship, and promotes growth in their literacy levels. Participants perform an original ethnographic theater project based on a script generated from their individual poems as well as original interactive responses to the words of the poets that have been introduced throughout the curriculum. The performance culminates with the students' revelation of their understanding that it is their responsibility to promote the educational power upon their community of revealing your character and telling your story.