When faced with a tragedy, a jumble of complex feelings and questions is brought along with it. A life altering event like this may create an unsettling sense of perception that often leaves one feeling distressed and confused.

Poetry is a productive way to methodically address what is going on with one’s thoughts and feelings. Negativity should never be withheld inside, but released in a constructive way. Writing enables the issue to be explored, broken down, thought out, and expressed into words. Poetry is an outlet that can be used to reach some resolution in a time of need.

See what this commentary is saying about people’s reactions using poetry to the school shootings that occurred in December by clicking the link below.

Poetry in a Time of Tragedy

The Harvard Business Review posted a powerful article that shines light on The Benefits of Poetry for Professionals, (Click link to read more) but describes capabilities that we can all develop and find important. Poetry is a genre that is essential to personal growth and increases one’s potential.

The ability to simplify the complex into something understandable and achievable is a valuable skill on both a business level and a social level. Poetry enhances the ability to put a situation into perspective and then communicate to others how to properly execute and contribute to the needed solution. Studies show that poetry readers generate more creativity, adding a substantial advantage to one’s set of skills. Poetry also enables its readers to bring a greater purpose and meaning to daily life- a priceless talent.

These are all valuable assets for business leaders (and everyone in the world) to possess, made possible by the incredible power of poetry.

7GP’s founder and president, Aaron Williams, is a lifelong lover of poetry and is a poet himself. This November he received recognition and was awarded for his poem “Insight,” selected as a winner in the 2013 Poetry in Motion Contest sponsored by Metro Arts in Transit and the Poetry Society of America.

His poem was 1 out of 11 selected in the bi-state regional contest, creating for the first time broad public recognition for his one of his poetry writings. The poem will be officially published and Aaron will formally present his winning poem at an event at the Regional Arts Commission. In 2013 his poem will be featured on MetroLink trains and MetroBus vehicles and their stops and stations. Aaron also received a cash prize of $50.00, which he immediately donated to The 7th Grade Poetry Foundation to appropriately invest in two winning 7th grade students’ cash prizes for the upcoming 2012-2013 7GP Contest.

Poetry in Motion Contest Winners Announced

Crowd-funding, recruitment, management and leadership of professional film production personnel and interns: these are just some of the activities that a person could be involved with on behalf of 7GP. This person would work with 7GP’s president to hire and lead the professional film crew and editing staff and work with a variety of other people to produce filming related to our activities, especially our major 2013 event.

To get the process started and sign up, click HERE!
You can also learn about the other opportunities we offer by visiting the link above.

If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.

We are in search of volunteers/board members. This person would work with 7GP’s president, our communications staff, and board members to create best practice accounting and budgeting procedures and reporting to the board.  Experience with financial reporting related to grant writing would be a big plus. You’ll become our “numbers” advisor and assist with Excel and PowerPoint presentations and filings.  7GP uses Quicken 2011 for accounting.

Learn more about YOU can do by clicking HERE!

According to more than a decade of studies from the U.S. Dept. of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics, female students have long outperformed male students in reading and writing. Girls substantially outperformed boys on the grade 7 ELA MCAS exam. Boys are underrepresented in the advanced and proficient categories. Further, the percentage of boys in the failing category (9% statewide) is nearly double the percentage of girls (5% statewide). This trend is evident both in terms of the statewide mean as well as the mean in the ten largest urban areas.

In the last two years, 7GP has proven that its program is helping bridge the gender gap, increasing the percentage of male winners generated in our poetry writing contests by 73%. Our educational literary arts program responds to the existing gender inequality by promoting participation of male students. Now we make gender equality a written requirement for any school’s participation.

In the second year of the 7GP program, one school’s 7th grade quarterback won our poetry contest.  Not only did this win give poetry a social boost among all students at that school, it showed the boy with athletic gifts that there were alternative arenas in which to compete and succeed.

The data provided in this review is derived from an independent study performed by The Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy.
Are Boys Making the Grade? Gender Gaps in Achievement and Attainment

7GP has a need for a board member or key volunteer to be directly involved with decisions and activities related to press relations, publicity, social media and communications.  You will work with the 7GP president, communications/social media staff, and key collaborators to create another precedent-setting event proven to be a life-changing evening for many in attendance.  We really need someone experienced with working in the media to help us better deliver our message.

To learn more, visit out official website linked below!

Volunteers / Board Members

With an event growing from a standing-room-only 120-seat venue to a new simulcast-ready 244-seat venue, our filmed and catered event will showcase potentially hundreds of winning 7th grade poets and their poetry. Parents, educators and students from more than 300 invited schools in the region will enter the newly renovated Central Branch of the St. Louis Public Library.

7GP and the person(s) involved with this role will hire and work with an experienced event planner, sponsors, volunteers and others to once again produce a transformative, community-unifying experience for all in attendance.

There are several other areas in which we are offering opportunities. To learn more about what YOU can do, click HERE! 

7GP is looking for volunteers and board members in several areas. 
Help kids and contribute to your community by signing up for this great cause!

See the list of opportunities here!