POETRY (And PROSE) COMPETITION and AWARDS CEREMONY
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ILLINOIS TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DEMOCRATS NEWSLETTER 2015 LITERARY EDITION Tenth News Special Edition Community Connection 5th ANNUAL POETRY (and PROSE) COMPETITION AND AWARDS CEREMONY Literary Edition Volume IV Our 2015 Poetry + Prose Competition Winners First Prize, Poetry First Prize, Prose La’Kendra Mayfield, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, Samantha Bahena, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, “1619” “Finding Her,” Second Prize, Poetry Second Prize, Prose Rosario Ocampo, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, Raimondi Tomeni, Zion-Benton High School, “Once Upon a Time” “Misery Row” Third Prize, Poetry Third Prize, Prose Daniel Gomez, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, Luis Pacheco, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, “The Few Perks of Humanity” “Pepe’s Story” Honorable Mention, Poetry Honorable Mention, Prose Gustavo Baca, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, Marjanae Maggett, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, “Hope is...” “Hope for Society” Honorable Mention, Poetry Honorable Mention, Prose Iris Sanchez, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, Oswaldo Bahena, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, “Hope for Tomorrow” “Talents” Honorable Mention, Poetry Honorable Mention, Prose Lisette Hernandez, Waukegan High School, Jennifer Aguilar, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, “Hope for My Mom” “A Pretty Boring Vase” 2 Table of Contents Winners .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Hope Inspires High School Authors ............................................................................................ 4 1619 by La’Kendra Mayfield .......................................................................................................................... 5 A Pretty Boring Vase by Jennifer Aguilar .................................................................................................. 6 The Few Perks of Humanty by Daniel Gomez ............................................................................ 8 Finding Her by Samantha Bahena .................................................................................................. 9 Hope for My Mom by Lisette Hernandez .............................................................................................12 Hope for Society by Marjanae Maggett ................................................................................................13 Hope for Tomorrow by Iris Sanchez ......................................................................................................14 Hope is… by Gustavo Baca ........................................................................................................................15 Misery Row by Raimondi Tomeni ..............................................................................................................16 Once Upon a Time by Rosario Ocampo ................................................................................................18 Pepe’s Story by Luis Pacheco ......................................................................................................................19 Talents by Summer Sadler ...........................................................................................................................20 Slam Photos ....................................................................................................................................................21 Our Judges .......................................................................................................................................................22 More Slam Photos ........................................................................................................................................24 About Tenth Dems/About Community Connection ......................................................................27 3 Hope Inspires High School Authors in Community Connection Writing Competition by Carol Hillsberg “Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.” Jonas Salk Prompted to explore the theme “Hope,” in March students College, has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize for from three high schools in north Lake County created poetry and fiction. In addition, she is a literacy tutor at and submitted stories, essays, and poems to the Fifth the Waukegan Library. Nina Geater, a Waukegan resident, Annual Community Connection Writing Competition. The has been writing and performing poetry since middle culminating event—Awards Night—took place Tuesday, school. She volunteers with the Waukegan Park District, April 14 at the Ramada Inn in Waukegan. Tenth Dems teaching a poetry class for youth. Heather Juanita Crain, volunteers decorated the meeting room for the evening, a writer, performance poet, and visual artist, is a member and brightly colored renditions of the word “Hope” served of the Karcher Artspace community in Waukegan. She has as a cheery backdrop. mentored poets and hosted poetry open mics in Lake Students from Waukegan High School, Christo Rey St. County for over four years, and is currently working on her Martin de Porres High School, and Zion Benton High first book of poems and essays for publication. School submitted nearly 300 original works of poetry and In addition, Elizabeth Bloom Albert served as “originality prose. Twelve prizes were awarded, six for poetry and six judge,” that is, she reviewed all of the submissions to for prose. In each category, the first place winner received ensure they were original works of the students. Elizabeth $100, second place received $75, and third place received is a professional writer whose work has appeared in a $50. In addition, there were three Honorable Mention number of literary magazines. Notably, Elizabeth counts as awards in each category, which also included cash prizes. one of her greatest achievements the founding of this very The four competition judges, all of whom are published writing competition, for which she served as Chair in 2011 writers, worked diligently to select the best among all and 2012. the entries. In the interest of fairness, none of the works It was an excellent evening as nearly a dozen student read by the judges included information about the author. writers, as well as each of the five volunteer judges, read All students’ works were identified by a number, with the their original works aloud. There were laughs, tears, and identification key retained by volunteers who kept it far smiles, but, most of all, hope. With the talent and character from the judges—an exercise in blind justice. displayed on Tuesday night, this generation inspired all This year’s panel of judges was headed by Jacqueline Nicole present with the hope that the future will be bright. Harris, who has judged this competition in prior years. The program began with a welcome by Hon. Mary Ross Jackie is a writer, performance poet, and Shimer College Cunningham, Lake County Board Member, District 9, who graduate from North Chicago who works from home while brought Hon. Lauren Beth Gash, Tenth Dems Founding trying to get out and give back to her community whenever Chair, Democratic State Committeewoman, and Illinois possible. Her books can be found on Amazon and www. Human Rights Commissioner to the podium to introduce createspace.com. the evening’s emcee, Angelo Kyle. In addition to serving The other three judges also brought stellar qualifications to as a Pastor at Restoration Ministries, Rev. Kyle, works at their task. Lois Barr, a professor of Spanish at Lake Forest the Office of Regional Economic Development for the continued on page 23 4 {{{ “1619” }}} {{{ }}} {{{ I don’t see a difference between the whites and blacks. }}} {{{ Only the way you cut your eyes and }}} {{{ Speak harsh words. You take away }}} {{{ our pride and ability to stand. Bring out }}} {{{ the coffins we have another one }}} {{{ }}} dead here tonight. {{{ }}} Will I see another night full with stars? {{{ }}} Or just darkness? {{{ }}} We can stand together as one {{{ }}} just like we are seen in God’s eyes. {{{ }}} Bury your hatred and grow {{{ }}} a bright new flower. {{{ }}} May one day come that we can {{{ }}} {{{ walk side by side and have }}} {{{ a good time. }}} {{{ No need for separate bathrooms and schools. }}} {{{ Then I wake up and realize }}} {{{ I’m still hoping. }}} {{{ }}} La’Kendra Mayfield {{{ Cristo Rey Saint Martin High School }}} {{{ }}} 5 {{{ }}} “A Pretty Boring Vase” {{{ }}} {{{ }}} It was never my intention. The clay simply felt moody and frowned as its knees clumped to {{{ }}} the ground. A tall vase that screamed to be seen. That was my intention. I wanted something {{{ pretty and simple. Something that didn’t make you question the piece as we were to avoid }}} any interrogation of any sort. Oh, that’s nice. And then you’d walk away. {{{ }}} It was a rainy Monday morning. Outside the roads were drowning pleading for help and I {{{ was there, looking at the posters taped on the grey smooth wall. }}} {{{ Room 101. The doors looked just so inviting, quite vicious at times. }}} The only instructions given to us came with a greeting and almost mocking smile. Good {{{ morning guys, today you all are to start pottery pieces and that was it. }}} {{{ Now I was the one drowning in my thoughts and ideas, not the roads. I felt angry and }}} determined, and frustrated and capable, and with the desire of an exhilarating cherry {{{ }}} smoothie. Restarting a piece fifty times is no fun. Nope. {{{