The London Teenage Poetry SLAM in Chicago

SLAM in Chicago 2010 - appeal

We’re trying to get a small team of representatives for the London SLAM project back to Chicago this year, but as with most people in the arts at the moment, we’ve found the fundraising challenging. Here’s an appeal letter from long-time SLAM poet-coach, Sifundo Msebele:

Dear poets and friends

I hope you are well.

I am writing to you to keep London Teenage Poetry Slam (LTPS) alive. As you are probably aware there has been a LTPS hiatus this year, however the exchange has been scheduled to go ahead with deserving alumni students. Below is a letter of appeal from our co-founder Peter Kahn, to give you a little more detail. 

Peter has been outstanding in terms of financing and supporting this year’s trip and as a result two students are already covered. Still, to make the trip viable there needs to be 3-4 students going (hopefully 4). Jacob Sam-La Rose will and has been donating his time and energy for free. Various funding options have been sought and unsuccessful. So now time is really short as the students should be heading out  November 5th.

The idea is to get people who already have been part of the journey and therefore have an affection/understanding of the impact of the project to donate a small amount towards this year’s exchange.

The request is $40 each (£25 which at the current rate of exchange). Please note that the donation website is in the US so all donations are in dollars.
The equivalent of an evening meal out could have a massive impact not only for the students that go this year but in continuing the legacy of LTPS. All monies go directly to the US host school, Oak Park River Forest High. You can donate via their website by following this link:

http://oprfhs.revtrak.net/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=83&

If you are a position to, please do this immediately rather than adding to a to do list. Let’s make it happen.

All the best,

Sifundo

p.s. When you donate please send me an email (sifundo@hotmail.com) so I can keep track my end, thank you.

OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST HIGH SCHOOL

201 NORTH SCOVILLE AVENUE · OAK PARK, IL  60302-2296

October 9, 2010
 
To Whom It May Concern,
 
I am appealing to head teachers of schools that have participated in the London Teenage Poetry SLAM to see if you are willing to cover the costs of sending one of your SLAM participants, and ensuring he/she has the proper passport/visa so he/she can take part in this incredible opportunity to come to Chicago as a cultural ambassador from the 5th or 6th of November to the 12th or 13th.   We are running out of time to pull this together, so a quick response is imperative.  We have two of the fours slots filled and need to confirm the other slots by Friday, October 15th, if at all possible.
 
As you know, one of the most important components of the London Teenage Poetry SLAM project is the trip to Chicago granted to the highest scoring team.  I am always amazed at how impactful the experience is for the British students/adults, as well as their American counterparts. Among other things, our visitors will get to experience performing for a range of student and adults; exploring a major American city; teaching both young people and adults (at local elementary, middle and/or high schools, as well as at the University of Illinois at Chicago); developing writing and performance skills at an advanced level; and, perhaps most importantly, meeting a range of American students, poets and educators.  It invariably is life-changing.   (See this link for an article about last year’s trip: http://www.austinweeklynews.com/Main.asp?ArticleID=2499&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1.) 
 
This summer, Jacob Sam-La Rose and I discussed a short-term plan to keep the tradition of the British visit to Chicago alive while taking a year’s hiatus from the SLAM itself. In addition to my desire for all parties to benefit from the international interchange this year, I am concerned that if we “break tradition,” it will be quite difficult to return to it in the future.  To cut down on costs this year, I have agreed to waive my coordinating fee.  We normally have 8 students and 5-6 adults.  This year, as a “place-marker,” we are shooting for 4 students and 1-2 adults.  The pledge we are looking for from each school to cover all costs (including 2-3 meals a day, admission fees, transportation and the London poet-educator) is 800 pounds per student (in order to keep the costs low, we are donating quite a bit on our end). 
 
Oak Park and River Forest High School is considered one of the most diverse and educationally progressive high schools in the Midwest, if not the entire United States. We have the largest school-based Spoken Word poetry program in the country and regularly send students to top universities on full scholarships.
 
Thank you for your time and consideration.  Please contact me at pkahn@oprfhs.org with any questions or concerns.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Peter Kahn (London Teenage Poetry SLAM Co-Founder)
English Teacher
Spoken Word Poetry and Black Literature Educator, and Project Coordinator