Projects

“Where I Am From” A Biopoem By Amber Hendren

I am from white linen pants

And coconut whipped cream from trader joe’s.

I am from the Land of Enchantment, La Tierra del Encanto,

And the Land of Entrapment.

I am from sorbet sunsets, watermelon mountains, whipping winds and

Juniper allergies.

I am from Luminarias on Christmas Eve

My Mom’s quilts and my Dad’s fried okra.

I am from the love of the arts and

Music flowing through my veins.

From “you are the apple of my eye” and

“Play us another song!

Hey! Can you play Jump by Van Halen?”

I’m from God is Love. Love Heals All.

You are the Love that illumines the entire Universe.

I’m from the border where the great river divides two worlds.

Menudo and bolillos for breakfast and

Cornbread, black eyed peas and meatloaf for dinner.

From the hands of Gramma Pratt teaching me Beethoven,

And Grandma Elsie showing me how to make banana pudding.

I am from a wooden box in my closet next to shoes I can no longer wear.

And on my dresser next to a drawing of vistas of New Mexico

Craig made for me.

SOPHOMORES / THE WISE FOOLS

A Survival Guide for Teaching 10th Graders

ENLIGHTENMENT CAFÉ

The Enlightenment Café is inspired by the World Café model, a collaborative dialogue process that transforms classrooms into lively cafés of ideas. Students gather around tables named after different philosophers of the Enlightenment / Age of Reason.

Instead of passively receiving information, participants co-create meaning, serving up knowledge together in an atmosphere of curiosity, dialogue, and discovery.