When we at Humanities Amped talk about amplifying hope, we mean something that catches: we mean actions that illuminate joyful possibility, that make it so visible that you can’t help but see it, name it, and pass it on. Amped family, whether you were there in person or in spirit, thank you so much for celebrating with us at our ten-year anniversary party! Your love for Baton Rouge young people, for this community, and for Amped were on full display, and we are so grateful for the way you transformed this event from just a party into a full-fledged family reunion. For an entire decade, through a deep network of community roots, we, together, have been amplifying hope for young people and for educators in Baton Rouge. What a joy it was to dance, to reflect, to laugh, and to celebrate with you. Petrouchka Moise, mother of beloved Amped alum Kaiya Smith, spoke about this work as ripples in water. Although she has transitioned, Kaiya’s impact continues to influence the world we are building together. The same is true for everyone who is a part of this circle. As Anna West reminded us, there is a spot, always, in the circle for each and every person who has been a part of Humanities Amped, and as the circle grows, so does the hope we hold so tightly to. Amplifying hope, as we know well, is hard. “We are a dangerous breed, taught to think critically and taught that we can change the world with nothing but our pen,” Amped alum Jessica Wilson shared in a poem she presented. In her piece, Jessica calls on us to “turn up the volume,” to never forget that “we are ONE conversation in rooms they’ve tried to mute us in.” This anniversary celebration marks the launch of our annual Amplify Hope giving campaign. At the event, we were able to raise $5,600 toward our $20,000 goal, and we are asking you to help us keep the volume turned up. Here are several important ways you can continue to support: Make a Donation This work is sustained through your generous financial support. Head to our support page to make a donation by credit card, bank draft, or PayPal. Checks made payable to Humanities Amped can be mailed to 7350 Jefferson Hwy Ste. 485 PMB 130 Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Become a Monthly Donor Head to our support page to help us reach our goal of 30 new monthly donors. Buy an Amplify Hope Shirt or Tote Proceeds from this campaign, designed to celebrate the spread of hope in Baton Rouge, will directly impact the young people and educators we work with! Like and Share As we post about our work on social media, please like and share to extend the reach of our visibility. Let Others Know If you believe in the work of Humanities Amped, please tell folks! Hope for young people and educators in Baton Rouge needs to be shared. Your cool new Amplify Hope shirt is a great way to get the conversation started. Here’s to looking back with gratitude, and looking forward with joyful anticipation. We are so proud to be in this with you–let’s continue to amplify hope together. What's New at Humanities AmpedThe Humanities Amped-led Tara High Poetry Team heads to the 3rd Annual EBR High School Poetry Competition TODAY! Capitol Park Museum, 6:00PM.
Check out Amped Executive Director Dexter Jackson and Development & Communications Director Emma Gist’s interview on WAFB!
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Dear Friends of Humanities Amped, Our hands are incredibly full at Humanities Amped during this season of the year. Our recent Family Literacy Night was a great success, and now we’re looking forward to the Amped Kickback to celebrate our 10-year anniversary on March 22nd (tickets here). With everything going on, we are never too busy to reflect, and so for that reason, I asked Dr. Anna West to gather a group of people to reflect on the legacy of Destiny Cooper, whom we love and miss dearly. The tenth anniversary would not be complete without a celebration of her. I can’t wait to see you there. Sincerely, Dexter N. Jackson Humanities Amped, Executive Director Honoring Destiny Cooper’s Impact on the Beloved Community of Humanities AmpedThis year, as Humanities Amped began to envision ways to celebrate our big tenth anniversary, I honestly felt a little scared. Why? Because ten years marks the anniversary of a lunch I had with Destiny Cooper in January 2024. It didn’t have a name yet, but we walked away that day with a vision and a promise that would change the course of our lives. Destiny had been my friend and collaborator for nearly a decade after we met each other in her classroom at Northdale Alternative School where I used to lead weekly poetry workshops. We’ve stood alongside one another over the years in countless workshops and classrooms, at youth poetry open mics smiling and nodding as young people used pens and pencils to craft new worlds from words. We were part of a tribe of people who inherently believed in the magic of language to summon better things, people who could see the genius in young people, even when they didn’t yet see it in themselves. There was a deep feeling of family between us, and that was the foundation for the friendship and dreaming that created Humanities Amped. Destiny is known across our community as a visionary educator and mentor, beloved for her steadfastness, wisdom, and immense capacity for joy. It’s been two years now, give or take, since we lost her, and it’s a chapter that has been hard to talk about for many reasons. I won’t go into it in depth here, partly because it is not my story to tell and partly out of respect for Destiny and her family, but the long and short of it is that she experienced a mental health crisis in 2022, and her loved ones have not seen or heard from her for nearly two years. It’s heartbreaking, unbelievable, and something we are all still processing. As we talked about our tenth anniversary, we knew we needed to lift Destiny’s name and life up. Humanities Amped grew from her heart and hands. We have a time-honored tradition at Amped called “loveseat,” a protocol for celebrating each person, and so in that spirit we gathered a handful of her former students and colleagues in early March to talk about what we love about Destiny to share them with you here. Present for the loveseat were former students Collie Mansion and Evan Jupiter, Amped class of 2019 at McKinley High School as well as Destiny’s former colleagues: Malcolm Reed, Amelia Hammond, Sam Biddick, Suredrika Harrison, and Emma Gist. I asked questions and Emma took notes. t one point in the dialogue, Malcolm Reed explains so astutely how Destiny’s vision has become ours collectively. As Humanities Amped steps into its second decade, we seek to honor her vision in ways that are both deeply personal and public. We need space for our sorrow even as we look toward this anniversary with joy and gratitude. As Destiny would often remind us, what we do is a practice of hope. Please enjoy the conversation below, which is edited for clarity and brevity, about our beloved teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend, Destiny, aka Mrs. Cooper, aka “Coop.” With love, Anna West, PhD Amped Educator Edited Transcript from a Loveseat for Mrs. Cooper, February 2024 Anna: What attribute or quality did Destiny model that you try to emulate in your life? Collie: Literally everything, the whole composition of Humanities Amped [is what I emulate]. I can’t choose just one thing because I’m composed of everything that [the Humanities Amped] class was. I live my life daily with that. I listen to a bunch of podcasts, read a bunch of books, and it’s all tailored around the things we dealt with in class: evolution, growth, community, camaraderie. I’m forever grateful. We could get on here and talk about Destiny Cooper every day, it’s just that important. Suredrika: She taught me how to relax and be myself, to know that I’ve actually got it and I can do it. Evan: One thing that Mrs. Cooper instilled into me was effort. Honestly, I remember Mrs. Cooper trying so hard with some of my classmates. They would joke around as kids, not knowing any better. But the effort that I saw her make, especially at that time when we weren’t taking it seriously, she still believed in us. That gives me motivation that I now use in my everyday life. If she didn’t give up on us; that makes me think, why should I give up? Amelia: She didn’t give up on people. She truly believed that if I can show this person that this is worthy, even if they shut me down two or three times, I’m not going to give up. She brought genuine nurturing and caring of others. And she knew just what to do in really hard situations. Malcolm: When I first visited an Amped classroom, I was like, “This is how you teach? I want to do that!” Sam: The difference between responding and reacting, that’s one thing I got from her. Emma: For me it’s the focus that she had on integrity. The idea that if that remains intact, the rest of the world can crumble around you, but integrity is something you can always stand on. Anna: What did you see as Destiny’s vision for education? For Humanities Amped Amelia: It feel like it always has to be prefaced with saying, “This is going to sound crazy but…” because nobody really believes until you see it in action. The idea is having students at the center of education, which is the point of education. Community-based learning. Being rooted in the community is so much of it. Having the students become the teachers, which is so cool to see that really happening. That idea seems like something that people say, “Oh, well that might work for you, but it can’t work here, not for me.” And Destiny always had a way of convincing people with, “Yes it can, let me show you.” It could work for everybody. It could be everywhere, and it should be. Sam: One of her [many] sayings was, “Teach the student not the lesson.” The content is important obviously, but you have to meet people where they are, and you have to have that connection. You have to have a relationship there. Suredrika: When Destiny started working with my class the kids were concerned at first, they were like, “Who is this new person in our class, Ms. Harrison?” But after a while they got really involved. A moment [that stands out] was when one of our students passed. I didn’t know what to do. The students found out that morning. I have never had to deal with so many young kids with a loss. Destiny was supposed to come in that day and she asked me, “What should we do?” I didn’t know. So when she came in she told the class, “If you want to talk I’m here; if you don’t want to talk, I’ll be here.” And so then some of them started talking to her. She made our kids feel comfortable, and they were able to tell her how they felt. She was able to help them feel better. It helped me in the moment too because I didn’t know what to do, and she really helped me. Malcolm: Our visions were so aligned. When I saw what you all were doing with your class, I said I don’t want to be stuck with the same old curriculum, I wanted to be creative and inventive like that. And not giving students permission to fail. There were students we had to really work with, and I think they figured we would eventually give up. What I learned from Destiny was that “we don’t have no quit in us, “ we’re going to keep fighting and keep pushing. It really resonates with me what Amelia said about how other teachers will say they can’t do it. Literally in my observations teachers see me doing things I learned from Amped and they tell me, “You can do that, but I can’t do that.” And I don’t know why. Because everytime I get observed, they say, “I love that.” Well, just look at me. I am teaching AP now. The kids love it. It works. What we started at McKinley, I never thought it would be at St. Amant High School where I teach now, nor did anyone else. We had a Black History Month program at St. Amant the other night. I’m going to repeat that. A Black History Month program at St. Amant! Because it’s important. When I was on that stage I was thinking about the letter that Destiny wrote to me after the first Black History Month program I did at McKinley. She told me that she saw something great in me, she encouraged me. And I was up there the other night just wishing that she could see me, but also acknowledging that I carry her with me everywhere I go. The whole vision of Amped, that was Destiny’s, but I want to say now is that I’m trying with every part of me to live it in my own life and my own career, to live that vision, and to be what Destiny saw me as. Collie: She was all about giving us a space to say what we needed to say, and then a space to take action, because what’s saying anything if no action is taken? She really gave us a voice in a stifled environment. The Alton Sterling situation was such an elephant in the room, and she just had the guts to initiate that and give us a platform to be able to speak. I forever keep that with me. I realize now that so much of your childhood is still with you as an adult, and I can see that now and how I carry that with me. Anna: How are you carrying Destiny’s vision forward in your life? Collie: Coop’s vision is a vision for all people. It’s about achieving alchemy in your own life. It’s like, you’re supposed to search your soul. You’re supposed to understand what’s your purpose. She shined her light on us to show us that we could shine ours. Daily, we [me and Evan] are giving our glory to God, we’re praying, we’re reading, we have conversations about things like that all the time. It’s about growing and grooming ourselves as men and planting seeds for the people behind us. Sam: I have beef with a lot of institutional settings and now I work in the institution of the law. If I can do a little bit to help a defendant get not such a terrible sentence - I can’t fix it all, but sometimes I have a little bit of room to make it slightly better. So, just that idea that you’ve gotta meet people where they’re at. I’ve also been passing on the little nuggets I’ve learned about teaching from her. And I’m trying to emulate Destiny in how I pass it on. Scaffolding, that’s what she did with me, just giving people what they are ready to get. You gotta meet people where they’re at. That’s for sure. Collie: I use scaffolding too. That’s a great reference. Anna: And how she was always teaching, too. The way Destiny would offer those things with so much humility, she would just offer it, for anyone and anywhere, like a gift. I still try to channel that all the time. Not a day goes by without me saying words that were her words. Words that come out of my mouth, they belong to her. I say so many of the things that she would say to people. Emma: Yes, and the apprenticeship model of learning that Destiny did so well. She was always asking people what they wanted to learn and how they wanted to grow. I wanted to be an instructional coach and she taught me how to do that. It’s just this way of saying that every path is open to every person and we’re going to do whatever we can to help you do that, and not just in the classroom. Amelia: It’s the core and foundation of my pedagogy; it’s so fundamental to what I believe, the core of who I am as a teacher. Destiny humanized students in a way that I don’t think they had really felt with a lot of teachers before. It’s like, “I trust you..” The way that she gave students responsibility and set a bar for them where it motivated them to do that thing they wanted to do, but didn’t know they could. There are not a lot of people out there who are willing to do that, to say they are not just students, they are not just numbers in a school system. They are humans. And recognizing that is something that I feel really proud of myself for, recognizing people are people first. That is rooted in being taught by you and Destiny. I teach special education students now, and taking risks is important for students to learn. They are learning that it’s okay to be wrong. A lot of students are ingrained with [this notion that] they don’t want to be embarrassed, they don’t want to not know something. And teaching them that that’s a part of being a person, it’s okay to learn. I feel very grateful to have been a student of Destiny’s. There’s infinite wisdom of Destiny Cooper, the things she taught me as a teacher, I’m using them every single day, there’s a touch of Destiny, there’s a touch of Humanities Amped in all of it. Spring 2023 Community Night: A Night of Untold Stories!The evening of Monday, April 24th, was one for the books as the students from Amped Studio and YALL came together to conclude their spring semester at Humanities Amped Community Night Showcase and Family Table event. With their works centered around the theme of "untold stories," student artists took the stage to present their creative projects. After presenting their works, Students were treated to live performances by poets: Toi Whitney Ann, Flo Darese, and Toi the Poetic Beauty who presented their works and lived experiences also centering the theme of untold stories. Through heartfelt verses and soul-stirring performances, they demonstrated how the power leave a lasting impact . The excitement didn't end there! The students of YALL (Youth Apprentice Leadership League) had something special in store. With a shared mission to amplify student voices, they presented their plan to revive the student government association at Tara High School. Their vision is to create a platform for students to be heard and empowered through collaboration and democratic action. The night was a celebration of artistic expression and student advocacy, weaving together the threads of untold stories and the collective desire for a voice. It was a testament to the power of young minds, their ability to inspire, and their unwavering commitment to making a difference. THS Poetry Slam TeamPoetry is alive at Tara High School! Throughout the month of February, students and faculty were invited to submit their original poetry in response to weekly prompts. Students who submitted poems were invited to share their writing at a school-wide open mic on March 15. Tara students, Tara faculty, and Amped staff all took to the mic to share their words with one another. The event concluded with a brief writing workshop based on Mahogany L. Browne's poem "Black Girl Magic" and a second opportunity to share. Jannat Almashhadni, Vilma Yulieth Enamorado Guzman, Elijah Cage, Layla Brown, Aja Cummings, Kaden Smith, Cassidy Carey, and Andrick Bonilla were selected as members of Tara High School’s first Slam Poetry Team. Together with Amped teaching artist Kalivyn Marquix, Anna West, and Tara Literacy Coach Paula LaCour, the students met after school to prepare to perform at EBR’s Second Annual District-Wide Poetry Slam. The Tara team presented two group poems and one individual poem, and had the highest representation of any school at the event. On April 5, the Slam Team took their exceptional work on tour around Tara’s campus. At their final meeting, Kalivyn invited the team to review the goals they had established together on the first day. In response to the questions "What do we want? What do you hope to get out of the Poetry Slam Team?" the students had written respect, being comfortable with each other, help each other with our writing, enhance creativity, have fun, releasing our emotional energy with our words, to grow as a team, creating group experiences, make history, make long lasting friendships, and learn about each other. As Kalivyn read down the list, the team agreed without question: they had met each and every goal. At Humanities Amped, we are proud to make creative, supportive spaces accessible to young people. Check out some of the team’s amazing work below! Cold & Hot |
Her practice focuses on assisting both individuals and families in developing more flexible ways of being in order to live their most authentic life. She strives to instill hope, and help individuals learn to challenge and replace irrational thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes, in order to be free to experience change and freely choose to do what matters in their lives. Most enthusiastic about being a part of an organization that assists young people in realizing their full potential, Ms. Harris believes that when youth feel safe, are engaged, have access to higher learning, and are empowered, their family and community thrives. That is, when the youth, family, and community thrive, the world is changed. |
What are you looking forward to in your new role at Humanities Amped?
I am looking forward to assisting in the work of getting ahead of the curve, providing young people with social emotional tools and systems of support they require and deserve to have flourishing mental/ emotional well-being.
Why does the mission of Humanities Amped matter to you?
Humanities Amped's mission and vision focuses on the whole person, it's a practice. It's not only taught, but lived.
As Community Care Manager, Ms. Harris will plan and implement initiatives to provide social and emotional learning and restorative supports, as well as dynamic leadership opportunities, to the students we serve.
I am looking forward to assisting in the work of getting ahead of the curve, providing young people with social emotional tools and systems of support they require and deserve to have flourishing mental/ emotional well-being.
Why does the mission of Humanities Amped matter to you?
Humanities Amped's mission and vision focuses on the whole person, it's a practice. It's not only taught, but lived.
As Community Care Manager, Ms. Harris will plan and implement initiatives to provide social and emotional learning and restorative supports, as well as dynamic leadership opportunities, to the students we serve.
Our New Home
With great excitement, we would like to share that Tara High School is our new school home. Our district partners have decided that our resources, programs, and expertise will be a strong fit for the needs at Tara High, and we are currently working with the administration to get our programming underway. We have had many wonderfully collaborative and productive meetings with the administrators and teachers at Tara High, and we look forward to continuing our innovative lab school ecosystem at this new site.
On Saturday, September 17th, we onboarded a group of thoughtful and compassionate multilingual volunteers who will be supporting English language learners at Tara, which has the second highest population of English learners in the district. In addition to learning their way around the school campus and practicing trauma-informed responses to various student needs, the new volunteers explored the idea of accompaniment as a grounding approach to their work with students and teachers. “To accompany someone,” writes Staughton Lynd, “is to go somewhere with [them…], to be present on a journey.” Humanities Amped places volunteers in classrooms to come alongside English Language Learners, some of whom are newcomers to the United States, to build trusting relationships and offer academic support. We are calling this project the Adelante Initiative, and we excited for our volunteers to begin this forward-moving work with students in classrooms in the coming weeks!
On Saturday, September 17th, we onboarded a group of thoughtful and compassionate multilingual volunteers who will be supporting English language learners at Tara, which has the second highest population of English learners in the district. In addition to learning their way around the school campus and practicing trauma-informed responses to various student needs, the new volunteers explored the idea of accompaniment as a grounding approach to their work with students and teachers. “To accompany someone,” writes Staughton Lynd, “is to go somewhere with [them…], to be present on a journey.” Humanities Amped places volunteers in classrooms to come alongside English Language Learners, some of whom are newcomers to the United States, to build trusting relationships and offer academic support. We are calling this project the Adelante Initiative, and we excited for our volunteers to begin this forward-moving work with students in classrooms in the coming weeks!
It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Broadmoor, where we have spent the last year building beloved community with our Amped students and teachers. Our goal is to continue these relationships even as we transition to a new campus, and we have ongoing plans to introduce community programming that will serve our entire Amped community moving forward. In the coming months, we will keep all of you updated as we roll out new programs and initiatives at Tara High and in the wider Baton Rouge community, and, as always, we thank you for your support as we embark on this new partnership together.
Tara High School is excited to announce its partnership with Humanities Amped, a community organization with a proven history of improving outcomes for students in East Baton Rouge — Humanities Amped will provide much-needed ESL support for our growing population of English language learners. This partnership is mutually beneficial, but students will benefit the most. Additional resources and support staff will create equity for our students. After school programming will increase, and Humanities Amped will ensure that students on the outer edges of our attendance zone have transportation after school each day. This will afford students opportunities not previously possible.
John Hayman
Principal
Tara High School
John Hayman
Principal
Tara High School
Volunteer to Assist with our Move
We need volunteers to help us move our larger furniture and many books from Broadmoor High School to Tara High School on Wednesday, Sept. 21st.
If you are interested in helping lift heavy things, please sign up at the link. We will meet in the Broadmoor High School parking lot at 2pm on that Wednesday to load the U-Haul. Then, we will drive to Tara High School to unload! We expect to be done no later than 5pm.
Please sign up if you can be available for the whole time (2pm-5pm).
If you are interested in helping lift heavy things, please sign up at the link. We will meet in the Broadmoor High School parking lot at 2pm on that Wednesday to load the U-Haul. Then, we will drive to Tara High School to unload! We expect to be done no later than 5pm.
Please sign up if you can be available for the whole time (2pm-5pm).
What's New at Humanities Amped
Are you part of the Amped Extended family? This includes youth who have been in amped program, friends, and Alumni! Sign up for the Amped Extended Family Fall 2022 Programming here!
At Humanities Amped, youth are working year round to amplify healing justice, radical imagination, and beloved community in their school and communities!
This summer, we hosted a three week long summer program centered around this year's driving question "What does my community need?" Students were encouraged to think of a specific community they belonged to and an important need of that community, engaging in research to learn more. Combining their personal stories, research, and guidance from a teaching artist specializing in their chosen discipline, students then were able to create art pieces, such as songs, informational videos, poems, sculptures, and more, to represent their answer to the driving question.
This summer, we hosted a three week long summer program centered around this year's driving question "What does my community need?" Students were encouraged to think of a specific community they belonged to and an important need of that community, engaging in research to learn more. Combining their personal stories, research, and guidance from a teaching artist specializing in their chosen discipline, students then were able to create art pieces, such as songs, informational videos, poems, sculptures, and more, to represent their answer to the driving question.
Teaching artists Celeste Payne (visual arts), Brittany Marshall (performing arts), and Ryan Murray & Andrew Kuo (musical arts), and Amped alumni volunteer, Taylen Roberts, worked with our student-artists to draft a plan and offer support in bringing their ideas for their art projects to life!
"Heal the World/Heal Yourself" Mini-Conference
Midway through the first two weeks of the summer program, students participated in a mini-conference. At the "Heal Yourself, Heal the World" mini-conference, students attended workshops on mindfulness, emotional awareness, and self-management strategies led by Wanda Kuo, Tonja Myles, and Emanuel Boo Milton. The day ended with a featured poetry set of both student and staff poets, followed by a poetry workshop and readback. Students and staff wrote about what they envision and imagine for our communities and our world.
ARTS-BASED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SHOWCASE
The big premiere has finally arrived! Community members, family, and friends were invited to witness the amazing work that the Amped youth worked on addressing needs of their communities!
To end off the celebration, Ms. George led us in our closing, Family Table, where we sat together, ate pizza, reflected on the program, and praised one another!
YALL Week featuring Tyler E. Brewster of Peer Connect!
During the third and final week of our summer program, YALL (Youth Apprentice Leadership League) students participated in activities to imagine what leadership looks like on their campus and create a plan to showcase their leadership in and outside of the Amped space!
Restorative Justice educator and practitioner Tyler E. Brewster of Peer Connect joined us during this week to help us explore the heart of restorative justice. In our time with Tyler we deepened our community connections, expanded our understanding of restorative justice, and reflected both on places where we are successfully using restorative justice practices as well as where we can continue to grow. The training provided students with new tools that can be utilized as they step into their new academic school year as leaders!
Restorative Justice educator and practitioner Tyler E. Brewster of Peer Connect joined us during this week to help us explore the heart of restorative justice. In our time with Tyler we deepened our community connections, expanded our understanding of restorative justice, and reflected both on places where we are successfully using restorative justice practices as well as where we can continue to grow. The training provided students with new tools that can be utilized as they step into their new academic school year as leaders!
About Amped Summer Studio one student shared, "This was one of the best experiences I've ever had. I've never had such a strong connection to a group of people." Another student shared, "Humanities Amped was like the hole in my life that was finally filled. I am a very anxious person. Humanities Amped encouraged communication in a way that was not at all forceful. This made me wanna talk to people, and surprisingly I made friends."
At Humanities Amped, we believe that young people are problem solvers, not problems to be solved. When we give students space and permission to ask big questions about issues that matters to them inside of a supportive and uplifting community, they see themselves as the powerful change agents they are. We celebrate the work and learning of our young people this summer, and look forward to what's next! ●
At Humanities Amped, we believe that young people are problem solvers, not problems to be solved. When we give students space and permission to ask big questions about issues that matters to them inside of a supportive and uplifting community, they see themselves as the powerful change agents they are. We celebrate the work and learning of our young people this summer, and look forward to what's next! ●
As we do every year, we are taking a shared hiatus from June 30th - July 27th.
Our team at Humanities Amped is invested in long-term, sustainable care. And we know that begins right where we are, in our own lives. Showing up for ourselves means being intentional about slowing down and resting. It’s how we re-ground ourselves and build our capacity to show up for the long run.
It’s never an easy choice to care for ourselves. There is always so much to do, and for those of us whose work is caring for our community, we often feel like it is never enough. And yet we know that if we want to show up wholeheartedly, we must invest in our own restoration.
We hope to come back to you filled with energy, insight, and imagination. You, dear ones, deserve nothing less than our best selves!
See you in late July. :)
Love,
The Amped Team
Our team at Humanities Amped is invested in long-term, sustainable care. And we know that begins right where we are, in our own lives. Showing up for ourselves means being intentional about slowing down and resting. It’s how we re-ground ourselves and build our capacity to show up for the long run.
It’s never an easy choice to care for ourselves. There is always so much to do, and for those of us whose work is caring for our community, we often feel like it is never enough. And yet we know that if we want to show up wholeheartedly, we must invest in our own restoration.
We hope to come back to you filled with energy, insight, and imagination. You, dear ones, deserve nothing less than our best selves!
See you in late July. :)
Love,
The Amped Team
What a beautiful time we spent together at our first Community Night at Broadmoor High School! On the evening of May 3rd, the students of Amped Studio Afterschool were joined by friends, family, and community members for a celebratory showcase of their work and accomplishments.
The evening began with an awards ceremony to uplift members of the Amped community for their remarkable dedication and service. For her collaborative support of the Amplified ELA Classrooms project, BHS English teacher Mrs. Candita Sims was awarded the Susan Weinstein Greenhouse Award. Amped staff member and alum Tareil George was awarded the Bobby Thompson Humble Hero of Social Justice award. George’s heart for the students at Broadmoor is on full display in all her work, whether she’s leading culture keeping after school or facilitating poetry workshops in classrooms. Finally, the Kaiya Smith True Blue Senior Award went to Amped Studio student and YALL member Quynn Lewis. Quynn has demonstrated a deep love for the Amped community this year, which he pairs with a practical commitment to problem-solving. Quynn has been an integral member of YALL (the Youth Apprentice Leadership League), always willing to jump in to meet a need even when it means trying something new.
Following the awards ceremony, the community night attendants chose between two youth-led civic engagement workshops: What is Consent? and Conflict Prevention and Resolution. The workshops were followed by presentations and interactive workshops led by students in the art-engagement groups.
Students in the visual arts group, who worked with teaching artist Celeste Payne, showed off their drawing and digital design work. Jamal Smith led a drawing workshop in which participants practiced drawing a human face.
Students in the music group, led by Ryan Murray, showcased songs they had written and performed and hosted a jam session.
Students in the performance group, led by Anna Campbell, reflected on their experience working on a student-drafted play during the semester. They also presented an improv performance in the courtyard.
In true Amped fashion, the evening ended in reflection. Students shared gratitude for each other and for those who gathered to celebrate their work. Amped supporter Boo Milton reflected on Amped’s history, saying that what was once only a dream has become a reality. “I feel like I’m in the future,” he said. “I’m inside the dream.”
Thank you for living this dream with us! We are so thankful for our dedicated partners at Broadmoor High School, EBRPSS, and throughout the community. Our work with students at Broadmoor High School is only possible because of your support. As we close out this school year, we are looking ahead with gratefulness and joyful anticipation for what’s next.
Join us in welcoming the newest member of our Amped staff, Ashanta Gleason. Ashanta, or Ms. G as she's known to the students in Amped Studio After School, may have just joined our staff this semester, but as a Humanities Amped and McKinley Senior High School alumn, her connection to this community runs deep. During her time with Humanities Amped as a student, she developed a passion for civic and community engagement, public speaking, and empowering youth. You may remember her outstanding research and action project from 2019, Bringing Black Male Teachers to Education. |
Ashanta now serves as one of our Alumni Program Leaders who works in our classrooms and the after school Amped Studio, assisting current students reach their goals through the culture and teachings of the program. Ashanta accredits the Amped program as she believes it is a primary factor that inspired her to start a community service organization, Filled with Love Project, that is devoted to connecting and providing assistance to the community, and has motivated her to work with many organizations geared towards the upward development of the youth community in Baton Rouge. She thanks the program for all it has done and for giving her and all of her peers the tools needed to grow beyond high school. In addition to working as an Amped Alumni Program Leader, Ashanta now studies History at Southern University and A&M College.
What do you most enjoy about your role at Humanities Amped, and what are you looking forward to?
I am constantly looking forward to seeing myself in youth that I come across and giving them the exact encouragement I craved when I was in their shoes. The ability to be able to be there and lift them up during their personal, professional, and academic endeavors is what brings me the most joy in my role at Humanities Amped.
I am constantly looking forward to seeing myself in youth that I come across and giving them the exact encouragement I craved when I was in their shoes. The ability to be able to be there and lift them up during their personal, professional, and academic endeavors is what brings me the most joy in my role at Humanities Amped.
Why does the mission of Humanities Amped matter to you?
The mission of Humanities Amped is so valuable to me as it highlights the main things that I recognize that youth are hindered from in “normal” spaces in society. After experiencing this mission as a student of the program, I realize how much of a powerful impact it has on a growing child as it grants experiences that youth may have never witnessed. This empowers students to welcome and accept that radical imagination, beloved community, and healing justice are things that are possible even beyond the walls of Humanities Amped.
The mission of Humanities Amped is so valuable to me as it highlights the main things that I recognize that youth are hindered from in “normal” spaces in society. After experiencing this mission as a student of the program, I realize how much of a powerful impact it has on a growing child as it grants experiences that youth may have never witnessed. This empowers students to welcome and accept that radical imagination, beloved community, and healing justice are things that are possible even beyond the walls of Humanities Amped.