Youth Poetry “All Word and No Play” at Bennett High School April 21 at 7 p.m.
“10 Thousands” Burton with students at Gloria J. Parks.
The “All Word and No Play” workshops and master classes for youth ages 10-18 will be highlighted during a Showcase Performance at Bennett High School, 2885 Main Street, on April 21 at 7 p.m. The curtain goes up on the youths’ spoken word, rap, and original poetry event following instruction and tutoring during March and April from Buffalo’s own Marquis ‘Ten Thousand’ Burton, Benjamin Brindise, and Dayatra Hassan.
“Ten Thousand” is Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton is a prolific Buffalo writer, poet and educator. He has taught poetry workshops at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, University at Buffalo, Sweet Home High School, SUNY Fredonia, and other educational institutions. In 2014 he formed the Nickel City Poetry Slam for upcoming poets and helped to establish “UB Speaks,” the first poetry club at UB.
Ben B. and the young poets.
Brindise is a teaching artist at the Just Buffalo Literary Center. He was voted Buffalo’s Best Poet and Best Local Writer in the 2015Artvoice Best of Buffalo Awards, is the co-founder of the Living Poet Society, and a member of Buffalo’s 2015 and 2016 Pure Ink Poetry National Poetry Slam Team. He is also an author of fiction and poetry and his first chapbook, “I Was a Lid,” is available as an e-book and paperback through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Dayatra Hassan: artist, teacher, counselor.
Hassan is a counselor, mentor, and teacher of adolescents who is currently coordinating the University District CDA’s “Food for Thought” program for teen girls. She also created an educational curriculum for the CHOICES Theatre After-School Program at the Health Sciences Charter High School, 1140 Ellicott St., Buffalo. Hassan has worked as an artist-teacher with the Marcus Garvey Back to School Readiness Project, the Theatre and Poetry in the Park program with CHOICES/Rafi Green Community Center, and the Juneteenth Festival.
Tickets are $3.00 at the door or, buy tickets Monday-Friday at Gloria J. Parks, 3242 Main. For more information, 716-832-1010.
The workshops and showcase sponsors include the University District Community Development Association (UDCDA) and Just Buffalo Literary Center. Support has been provided by the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, AT&T, the NYS Office of Child and Family Services, and the Erie County Youth Bureau.
The University District Community Development Association (UDCDA) is a non-profit agency offering youth, teen, and senior service programs at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center, 3242 Main Street and community and housing development services at Kensington Bailey Neighborhood Housing Services, 995 Kensington Avenue.