This proposal focuses on a middle school poetry project that pairs beginning (and predominantly white) education students with middle school (and predominantly African American and Latino/a) youth at a title 1 school in learning about, reading, writing, and performing poetry. Although poetry, as a form of youth empowerment is most relevant to conference strands I (Head) and II (Heart), it also encompasses the language of hands, health, and home. In the context of my program, poetry serves as a synergistic vehicle for supporting academic engagement and success by providing equitable opportunities to learn. Working collaboratively in poetry writing and performance, middle school poets and their university student mentors engage in a creative weaving of cooperative learning through communication and positive identity development.
