A Shout About The Canvas.

Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off

We wanted to take a moment to highlight a fantastic community organization called The Canvas, a teen arts center right here in Saint Paul! Check out their website for upcoming events, free classes, and sweet ways to use creativity outside of school. This way when you’re not at The Lab, you’re still keeping it real with art.

click the link below to go to the canvas website.

http://www.canvas651.com

Sep

26

What For?

Filed Under Mary's Blog | Comments Off

I wrote the following poem last week. I was sitting in our New Volunteer Orientation, and I had given our guests a quick writing exercise to consider. Something on which to reflect as they gathered at the Writer’s table. I asked them to think and write briefly about why they came here, to The Lab. What for? For what were they hoping? What is their purpose? This poem is what I wrote as I sat with the group. Nothing spectacular, I’m sure, as poetry goes. But definitely, a true statement about my answer to the big question. I am on a mission.

I came here to inspire hope
Encourage you to foster hope
to these youth who don’t often say ”yes”
but more often say, “NOPE!”

I came here to set the bar of expectations high
shining light on progress and beauty, instead
of on the negative labels, sterotypes and consternation.

I came here to open doors
for you and for youth
to bridge the gap that divides

Fill us all instead,
with pride.

Sep

16

Stepping Through The Door @ The Lab!

Filed Under Mentor Blog, Uncategorized | Comments Off

As we welcomed our new Team to The LAB on September 7th, we of course, used the inspiration of poetry to kick off our welcome/orientation meeting. We were inspired by an Adrienne Rich poem, called Prospective Immigrant Please Take Note. Here it is. Let it raise your own questions about how you are stepping through the myriad of doors in your own life.

Either you will
go through this door
or you will not go through.

If you go through
there is always the risk
of remembering your name.

Things look at you doubly
and you must look back
and let them happen.

If you do not go through
it is possible
to live worthily

to maintain your attitudes
to hold your position
to die bravely

but much will blind you,
much will evade you,
at what cost who knows?

The door itself
makes no promises.
It is only a door.

After hearing this poem, each of us reflected on this door we all have stepped through at The Lab – as interns, as VISTAs, as social workers and as Creative Arts Specialist. As this new school year began, we took some time to write our own door poems. Here are the poems and the thoughts on the minds of the 11 Lab Team members launching ourselves into such good work at The Lab. Scroll to the next blog post to hear the audio versions of this poem! Enjoy.

Door Poem/Haiku, by Charlie
I step through this door
Hoping the other side has
More doors to open.
Read more

Sep

15

As I Step Through The Door

Filed Under Mentor Blog, podcasts, poetry | Comments Off

There is no art on earth more beautiful than the art of people from different backgrounds, nationalities, beliefs and cultures coming together to paint one beautiful picture for the uplifting of us all through “OUR” children. The Lab has been blessed to receive a new team of dedicated, passionate, and caring individuals who have come together to further the vision of children operating at their best by exploring potential. “As I Walk Through the Door” is collective audio poem featuring the entire Lab team. It paints a poetic picture of how they feel about coming to the Lab. Our hopes, dreams, thoughts and aspirations. A beautiful picture indeed! Welcome the LAB! ~ Glo