Write Out, a program of the National Writing Project and the National Park Service, welcomes the poet-Ranger team of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument: Alabama State Poet Laureate Ashley Jones, Magic City Festival Earth Poet Nabila Lovelace, and Park Ranger Kat Gardiner. They share their work with youth and other community members exploring the intersections of poetry, prose and place.

Related links/resources:

Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/bicr/index.htm

Podcast - Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov): https://www.nps.gov/bicr/learn/photosmultimedia/podcast.htm

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 - Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov): https://www.nps.gov/bicr/learn/education/the-watsons-go-to-birmingham-1963.htm

Ashley M Jones Poetry: https://ashleymjonespoetry.com/

Magic City Poetry Festival: https://www.magiccitypoetryfestival.org/

Nabila Lovelace: https://nabilalovelace.com/

“One-Way Ticket” by Langston Hughes: https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/ows/seminars/tcentury/gmigration/Hughes_OneWayTicket.pdf

Junior Ranger Booklet: https://writeout.nwp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BICR_Jr_Ranger_Book_2022_pages_with_bleeds.pdf

For more inspirations and prompts for writing outside, visit http://writeout.nwp.org/

Intersections Of Poetry, Prose, and Place: A Visit with Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument

NWP’s The Write Time will “Write Out” this month by welcoming poet and author Nikki Grimes discussing her new children’s book, A Walk in the Woods. She is interviewed by elementary school teacher and poet Willeena Booker and Park Ranger Maryann Zujewski.

Nikki Grimes: https://www.nikkigrimes.com/
A Walk in the Woods: https://bookshop.org/a/17775/9780823449651

About Our Guests

New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes is the recipient of the 2022 CSK Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the ALAN Award for significant contributions to young adult literature, the Children's Literature Legacy Medal, and the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. The author of Coretta Scott King Award-winner Bronx Masquerade, and five Coretta Scott King Author Honors, her most recent titles include the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults title Between the Lines, companion to Bronx Masquerade, NCTE Notable Words With Wings, the much acclaimed Garvey's Choice, One Last Word, Printz Honor and Sibert Honor Ordinary Hazards, ALA Notables Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance and Southwest Sunrise, Kirkus Best Books Bedtime for Sweet Creatures and Playtime for Restless Rascals, and Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice. Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California.

Willeena Booker is an inspiring educator, powerful poet, and passionate advocate of social justice. Willeena's poetry celebrates Black Identity, diversity, and equality. Willeena writes poetry for adults as well as young readers and loves using her poetry as a catalyst for change.

Maryann Zujewski has worked for the National Park Service for over 30 years. She is currently the Education Program Manager for the Northeast Region of the National Park Service providing support and assistance to the 83 parks in states from Maine to Virginia in their efforts to provide equitable and inclusive place-based learning experiences.

More information about Write Out: https://writeout.nwp.org

The Write Time with Write Out, Featuring Nikki Grimes, Willeena Booker, and Maryann Zujewski

Join The Write Time featuring Kate Messner, Write Out Author Ambassador and author of award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, and The Brilliant Deep as well as books for older readers like Breakout and her forthcoming novel in verse, The Trouble with Heroes.

Kate is interviewed by San Diego Area Writing Project Director and early elementary educator, Kim Douillard.

Learn more about Write Out at https://writeout.nwp.org

The Write Time with Write Out Author Ambassador Kate Messner and Educator Kim Douillard

Born in Louisville, Mississippi, Jermaine Thompson learned language from big-armed women who greased their skillets with gossip and from full-bellied men who cursed and prayed with the same fervor. Jermaine earned his MFA in poetry from the University of Missouri Kansas City in 2018, and he currently teaches 9th–12th grade Humanities at Build Up Community School in Birmingham, AL.

Jermaine is interviewed by Connecticut teacher and Writing Project teacher-leader, Rich Novack.

The Write Time with Write Out Poet Ambassador Jermaine Thompson and Educator Rich Novack

NWP Radio is a podcast of the National Writing Project that features a wide array of guests discussing education-related topics like teaching writing, Connected Learning, Writing Project site development, out-of-school education, science and writing, maker ed, and more.

New tracks tagged #writeout