Poetry Out Loud contest

This is such a wonderful competition, however, undocumented students are ineligible. I am working at Brooklyn International HS this semester (maternity leave replacement) and my students are thrilled about poetry. Now I'm stuck. I want my students to have the opportunity to read, think about, discuss and recite poetry, but many of my students are ineligible for this contest. Poetry Out Loud not only boosts my students enthusiasm for the written word, it improves their pronunciation and presentation skills (which they desperately need to improve!!!).

Yesterday I spent several hours searching for scholarships and contest opportunities my students WOULD BE eligible for. I didn't come up with much. My students are refugees, migrant workers, and escaped victims of oppression. They came (or were sent) to the U.S. for a "better life." Many are separated from their families, have experienced atrocities beyond belief, and were the ones that "made it." Now what? Are they relegated to lives of working at McDonald's, a laundry, or washing dishes??? They all deserve to go to college. Thank goodness CUNY takes undocumented kids. But what about those who can't afford it? What about those who need to get away from the city? What about those who need something more?

And to think, this all started with a poetry contest.