{"id":83021,"date":"2019-04-01T12:25:25","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T16:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/join-hrc-and-our-nations-youth-as-we-celebrate-national-poetry-month-with-poetry-and-equality\/"},"modified":"2019-04-01T12:25:25","modified_gmt":"2019-04-01T16:25:25","slug":"join-hrc-and-our-nations-youth-as-we-celebrate-national-poetry-month-with-poetry-and-equality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/join-hrc-and-our-nations-youth-as-we-celebrate-national-poetry-month-with-poetry-and-equality\/","title":{"rendered":"Join HRC And Our Nation\u2019s Youth As We Celebrate National Poetry Month With Poetry and Equality"},"content":{"rendered":"

Join HRC And Our Nation\u2019s Youth As We Celebrate National Poetry Month With Poetry and Equality<\/b>
\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe art is utterly important. It is one of the things that could save us.\u201d — Mary Oliver<\/em><\/p>\n

This year, to celebrate National Poetry Month, HRC asked young people nationwide to write poems about what equality means to them, and to share them with us — and you. And they didn’t disappoint. From rhyming poems to free verse, they opened their hearts about equality, their hopes and dreams for a better world, the heroes who inspire them, and so much more! \u00a0<\/p>\n

Founded in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, poets and communities coming together to celebrate poetry\u2019s essential place in our lives.<\/p>\n

HRC Foundation\u2019s Welcoming Schools program<\/a> has harnessed the power of poetry in our lesson plans to help children share and explore issues they are passionate about, to make connections around social justice and to build inclusive communities by learning about and celebrating one another.<\/p>\n

This month, we are excited to share on our website and social media platforms some of these poems and others written by incredible young people.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Differences by AD<\/strong><\/p>\n

It does not \u00a0matter if you are different
\nbecause we are all people
\nno matter the color
\nthe gender
\nwe need to treat the people well
\nno matter what
\nDON\u2019T HATE
\n\u00a0it\u2019s ok to be different<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout April, we will also be sharing LGBTQ poets who inspire us, and the ways in which poetry can be an agent for social change.<\/p>\n

We hope you\u2019ll join us as we celebrate the talent, the humor, the compassion and the open hearts of our nation\u2019s young people who understand that love is love is love is love and that it\u2019s amazing to be just who you are. \u00a0As acclaimed LGBTQ poet and advocate Audre Lorde wrote, poetry \u201clays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before.\u201d These children are the future of our country and our world, and it\u2019s a future of love, hope, and welcome.<\/p>\n

As you read with us, if you feel so inspired, write and share something of your own! As Michelle Obama says, \u201cYou don’t have to be a renowned artist like Q-Tip to try your hand at poetry. You don’t need any special equipment – that’s the beauty of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more about HRC Foundation\u2019s work improving school climate, and to read one of our lesson plans, you can visit www.welcomingschools.org\/resources\/lesson-plans<\/a>.<\/p>\n

HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools<\/em><\/a> is the nation’s premier professional development program providing training and resources to elementary school educators to:<\/em><\/p>\n