What is Success?
Manuel Perez, Age 17
What is success?
Is it the big mansion and the shiny sports cars?
Is it the millions in the bank and the shirt and tie?
Or is it finding yourself?
Is it reaching a goal that you long struggled for?
Is it doing what you want without caring about what others will say?
Breaking the barrier of society that wants you to
Walk a fine line without stepping out.
A line set by the followers and not the leaders.
Success is being the owner of your thoughts and values
Which you guard with your sharp sword,
Without letting society push you to fit in.
Think of a time you felt invisible. Maybe you were picked last in gym class, or your input in a group setting was ignored and overlooked. Think of the power and validation you found when you finally became visible. That feeling is what AfA is about!
When a youth like Manuel writes a poem about success, he isn’t just responding to a prompt. He is sharing a part of himself, a part which deserves to be seen, heard and respected. Whether through a workshop at school or on the streets for First Friday, AfA’s young artists demonstrate the power in finding your voice. At AfA, we remember what it feels like to be picked first, and we watch as youth experience that confirmation for the first time.
But it takes a team, a group to stand together and listen, to acknowledge, empower and show our youth that someone is on their team. If we are going to continue to create space for youth, we need you. Donating money for us to buy notebooks, bring in a guest speaker or fund a workshop is an investment in our youth and the importance of their voice. It shows them that someone is on their team. And as many of us can remember from school or gym class, there is no better feeling.
Our youth have shared a part of themselves with their community, and with you as our supporters and donors. Give back this holiday season, and let them know they are being heard.
If you want to make a real and tangible impact in the lives of Denver youth today, here are some ways you can show our youth how much you believe in them:
- A one-time gift of $2,000 will support a year’s worth of weekly 2-hour workshops for a struggling young person.
- A one-time gift of $5,000 will provide the cost of an 8-workshop program for 20 youth ($15/hr. per young person), which would include operating costs as well as program expenses.
- 12 monthly donations of $100 or a one-time gift of $1,400 provides one-month’s rent (ooh, if 12 people did that…)
- A one-time gift of $250 allows us to publish the youth poems from one 8-week session.
- A one-time gift of $100 buys writing materials for two workshops.
- A one-time donation of $50 allows us to bring a guest poet/artist to one workshop to inspire and encourage the youth in our programs.
The Power of Your Support
/in Creativity/by AfAAdminManuel Perez, Age 17
What is success?
Is it the big mansion and the shiny sports cars?
Is it the millions in the bank and the shirt and tie?
Or is it finding yourself?
Is it reaching a goal that you long struggled for?
Is it doing what you want without caring about what others will say?
Breaking the barrier of society that wants you to
Walk a fine line without stepping out.
A line set by the followers and not the leaders.
Success is being the owner of your thoughts and values
Which you guard with your sharp sword,
Without letting society push you to fit in.
Think of a time you felt invisible. Maybe you were picked last in gym class, or your input in a group setting was ignored and overlooked. Think of the power and validation you found when you finally became visible. That feeling is what AfA is about!
When a youth like Manuel writes a poem about success, he isn’t just responding to a prompt. He is sharing a part of himself, a part which deserves to be seen, heard and respected. Whether through a workshop at school or on the streets for First Friday, AfA’s young artists demonstrate the power in finding your voice. At AfA, we remember what it feels like to be picked first, and we watch as youth experience that confirmation for the first time.
But it takes a team, a group to stand together and listen, to acknowledge, empower and show our youth that someone is on their team. If we are going to continue to create space for youth, we need you. Donating money for us to buy notebooks, bring in a guest speaker or fund a workshop is an investment in our youth and the importance of their voice. It shows them that someone is on their team. And as many of us can remember from school or gym class, there is no better feeling.
Our youth have shared a part of themselves with their community, and with you as our supporters and donors. Give back this holiday season, and let them know they are being heard.
If you want to make a real and tangible impact in the lives of Denver youth today, here are some ways you can show our youth how much you believe in them:
Coffee Hour with Catherine
/in Meetings/by AfAAdminMeet and Greet with Catherine O’Neill Thorn, Executive Director of Art from Ashes, who’ll be available for questions and conversation [almost] every Saturday from 1-2 pm*
*Just in case there’s a cancellation due to inclement weather, illness or travel, please email director [at] artfromashes.org for confirmation (but use the typical email format… the word “at” is there because of hackers… grr…) or check our Facebook page!
Savannah-18
/in Creativity, Poems/by AfAAdminI get that you just want to impress
and not admit that you’re a mess.
I know ‘cause I can see the tears your soul disappears.
Beauty’s pain and beauty’s in everything
but we are just here to learn—
don’t forget to breathe.
If need be lean on me
and don’t forget what makes you, you.
It’s crazy but you don’t have to know exactly who you are
your friends will help with that part.
Feeling unnoticed is how you go
and it hurts ‘cause we all know.
You’re not alone with all your pain
forget the world just whip it all away.
You deserve it ‘cause it’s not about the surface
yes, you’re still perfect and always worth it.
So let me be your mirror so you can see a little clearer.
‘Cause you’re beautiful and you don’t even know.
2017 Calendar!
/in News/by AfAAdminOver the last 13 years, Art from Ashes has seen more than 10,000 youth come through our creative expression workshops throughout Colorado. We have collected several thousand poems that express life situations and vulnerable emotions, written in only three minutes. Their words often reflect the pain and suffering many have experienced in their young lives, and also expose the power and wisdom they’ve gained through their art. From these compelling poems, we had the difficult task of selecting only a few pieces that illustrate the incredible transformation our youth experience as a result of our creative empowerment program, Phoenix Rising.
In 2
016, Art from Ashes collaborated with 13 distinguished visual artists in the Colorado community to produce this calendar. We asked the artists to create imagery that epitomized the powerful poetry written by these youth.
We would love to thank you for your donation of $25 or higher with this beautiful calendar. The donation will go towards the Drawing on Air youth empowerment program.
You can donate through ColoradoGives.org or through PayPal or by mail: Art from Ashes • 1310 West 10th Ave. • Denver, CO 80204
Or stop by the office and say hi! We’d love to thank you in person and show you our new space at the corner of 10th and Navajo.
Stay tuned for an art gallery opening at our new space on the corner of Navajo and 10th Avenue featuring some of the artists and our youth poets!
Chantel – MHYC
/in Creativity, Poems/by AfAAdminAnd mug me or say something smart
They judge me off of my exterior
Not knowing who I am
And what I’m really about
After getting to know me
I become someone
They will never want to let go
I want to know where I am going to take my children
And how we will get there
I want to know why there are so many
Sick twisted funkin’ nasty ass people
Who hurt others
I want to know why parents bail on their children
I want to know why God hasn’t allowed me to be taken
The many times I could have been
I want to know why I never got to know my father
And why he even left
I am ME!
I am Chantel
I don’t give a fuck about all the he says she say bullshit
Because I am not only a wonderful mother
But I am an awesome parent
I am the future for my children and their children
I am who I want to be
I will not let my past define me
Because I no longer live there
I am here today and will do the best
And give better to my children
All Day Moving
/in Events/by AfAAdminIf you can donate a few hours to help out, please sign up here! (There are multiple days/shifts from which to choose.)
Volunteer Orientation
/in Events, Meetings/by AfAAdminIf you’ve filled out a volunteer application [here] and contacted our volunteer coordinator [here], please join us from 10 to 11.30 a.m. for an orientation!
Eric Lippke Massage
/in Events/by AfAAdminGet a foot massage with , a certified massage therapist.
Make an appointment with Art from Ashes first, and then stop by and get off your feet! The $15 cost will go to Art from Ashes.
Results
/in News/by AfAAdminOur surveys show our results. We provide more than poetry workshops, Art from Ashes shows young people that through the power of their creative genius, all things are possible in their lives.
Download a pdf of our 2015 evaluation results
AfA’s pre and post surveys, conducted on youth in the Phoenix Rising program since 2009, show that the workshops develop youth connections to their communities and produce in youth a deeper belief in themselves and their potential, leading to improved social and emotional skills and behavior.
In 2015, surveys demonstrated
AfA’s youth empowerment programs are fundamental to providing the self-value and motivation necessary for youth to take advantage of educational opportunities, job and career counseling, drug and alcohol rehab, and mental health services.
The value of the program is regularly recognized by the community it serves, as evidenced by this recent testimonial: “I can’t thank you enough…The work that you do is helping to transform our school and inspire our students more than you may know.”
— Brian Sleevi, creative writing teacher at The New America School in Thornton, Colorado.
AfA’s evaluation results are integrated into ongoing curriculum design enhancement and program implementation, improved staff training, and communication of program results to community partners and funders.
AfA’s surveys include space for personal testimonials about the program. When asked what change, if any, they saw in their life as a result of this program, youth responses included: