CARROT WAY

Stories and Poems by the Children of Telling it

FALL 2013

WELCOME TO OUR CELEBRATION! I AM VERY PROUD TO PRESENT THE STORIES, POEMS AND ARTWORK OF THE CHILDREN OF TELLING IT, AGES 6-9, FROM AVALON HOUSING’S CARROT WAY COMMUNITY.

Recognized as an exemplary community-based program designed for vulnerable children and youth grades K-12, Telling It employs innovative approaches to boost scholastic confidence by using the healing aspects of the arts in concert with evidenced-based educational and social work practices. By addressing the core issues that affect a child’s scholastic success, Telling It starts the building blocks of the kind of self-agency that can transform young lives. Founded in 2002, this program establishes a safe and creative environment for vulnerable children and youth; stimulates writing and literacy skills through the creative arts, increasing self-esteem and improving scholastic confidence; and identifies and addresses impediments to personal and academic success for each participant.

Since 2002, Telling It has engaged more than 500 children and youth in Washtenaw County. Telling It collaborates with the University of Michigan’s Residential College, School of Social Work, social service agencies and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. This program is a vehicle for college education by providing academically rigorous engaged learning both inside and outside the classroom. Telling It, in partnership with the U-M’s Residential College course, “Empowering Community through Creative Expression,” offers U-M students field placements that are an extension of the classroom. This four-credit college course introduces both undergraduate and graduate students to the ways in which the creative arts are used to reflect community issues and provide platforms for problem-solving and personal transformation.

Telling It was recognized in 2009 by former Governor Jennifer Granholm as one of three finalists in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Campus and Community Partnership awards. This recognition was given because Telling It utilizes a vast array of community resources to create arts programming that is directed entirely at meeting the needs of Washtenaw County’s homeless, poor, and vulnerable youth in order to engage them in school. The program also received recognition as one of 50 semi-finalists out of 320 nominations in the national 2008 Coming Up Taller Awards presented by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities for exemplary programs for out-of-school youth arts and humanities education.

Thank you for attending our Telling It at Carrot Way celebration!

With best wishes,

Deb Gordon-Gurfinkel Telling It Founder and Director

BIG ADVENTUREI think the horn is from a buffalo.

BRAVERYOnce upon a time Alexis went on a ship. She was going on vacation with her family. The ship left the port and Alexis went out to sea. She looked out to sea and could only see the ocean. She saw a narwhal and it looked goofy. The goofy narwhal was playing in the ocean. Alexis wanted to kill the narwhal because it was stupid.

FIVE SENSES POEMI saw lunch.I heard people yelling because it was too noisy.I smelled mac and cheese.I tasted cheese.I touched food.I felt happy because I love mac and cheese.

THE TREASUREThe treasure danced and told silly jokes. The treasure told the jokes to you. The treasure went in a bigger treasure chest and in the bigger treasure chest there was golden stuff. Alexis found the treasure, Alexis found it by digging a lot, she was by herself. Alexis kept it all for herself. She wanted to save it. She keeps them in her backpack, she took it to school, she showed her friends. They all wanted it, but she didn’t give it to them. She then showed her parents. They tried to take it, but she wouldn’t let them. This all happened in a couple of days. She still had some left over. She wanted to keep it for a long time. Alexis likes how shiny they are and how round. They’re cool, they’re shiny shiny.

A TIME WHENI felt happy at Christmas because I got a pink bear.

I was disappointed at my birthday party because I didn’t get the presents I wanted.

I became angry because my sister is mean. She hits me and tells on me. I hit her and throw stuff at her when I am angry.

I was proud of myself at my birthday party because I didn’t hit people when I was disappointed.

I hurt someone’s feelings at lunch recess because I talked too much. It made them sad.

ALEXIS

ALIVIARIDING A SCARY RIDEI saw people look like antsI heard screaming and cussingI smelled fresh airI tasted fresh airI touched the handle barI felt scared and awesome

WHAT I FEELToo CuteYou’re romanticLovestruckElectrifyingReally adorable

WHAT YOU AREBrightUhhh, don’t knowStrong Handsome

BEING BOREDI am tired of being bored.

I am determined to find something fun to do.

When I go home, the funniest thing to do is play the game system, watch TV, and playing outside.

That is what is fun to do when I go home.

A TIME WHENI felt happy when I was born so I could see the world.

I was disappointed when my brother hit me in the face.

I became angry when my dad did not come pick me up on the weekend.

I was proud of myself when I found out where my little brother went.

I hurt someone’s feelings by calling someone ugly and stupid.

HOW TO OVERCOME BAD DREAMSOne night I had a bad dream and it was scary. My dream was about somebody that I really liked and they mutated. The only way I overcame that fear was to think about happy, and funny things. I started to watch happy, and funny TV shows and movies. I looked at happy things. That is how I overcame my scariest fear and I never think about that scary thing ever again.

CAMERON

DAVELLThe dark king had some people with him because there were kids at the park, and he said not to play at the park. I think maybe he used them for slaves. They didn’t want to do anymore, and they tried to run away so he killed them.

I stood up and told the truth. I told the truth while I was at school. I felt very brave when I did this five days ago. Then I fell. Afterwards, I went home and got great things. At home I ate ice cream, cookies, ice cream and jello!

The Zombie Rainbow. It is a place where zombies go and be brave. If you try to go there they will try to kill you. The sun flickers on and off, there is lightning, and there are clouds that never leave. There is a ride that all zombies go on when they are tired of their life.

A TIME WHENI felt happy when I got a girlfriend. She makes me feel good about myself. We hang out and play together.

I was disappointed when she dumped me. It made me feel sad and disappointed. Then we talked.

I became angry when she broke up with me again. It affected my work.

DAVON

THE TREASURE HUNT: MYSTERY OF THE LOST CHILDREN!I think the children were playing outside then they ran because there were robbers trying to rob them. The robbers came and killed the little boy so the girl made a female skull to put in the treasure chest with the boy’s skull so if the robbers came back they would think that she was also dead. I also think that the girl ran away. She then got older, got married, and had children of her own. The girl went back to the burial site where the treasure chest was and on the way she found a crown and some jewels. She put the crown and jewels into the treasure chest with the boy and girl skull. She also put a plate into the treasure chest because it was the boy’s favorite plate, she wanted to have good luck, and she wanted to remember the boy forever.

The robbers were really mean and mad at the world. The robbers thought that the boy and girl had money and that they were rich. So the robbers killed the little boy and tried to kill the little girl also but she ran. The girl chose to decorate the crown because of the celebration that was happening when the little boy was killed. When the robbers were shooting at the boy and girl they shoot a deer horn off and the girl came back and picked it up and put it into the treasure chest too. She also put in a warm blanket that belonged to her but it was the boy’s favorite blanket.

BEING BRAVEOne time I was dared by some friends to eat a bunch of mold. My friend had done it and we were trying to see who can eat the most. I ate the moldy food, got a headache, but it did not make me sick. It tasted so nasty and smelled really bad. I won the mold eating contest because I was brave enough to eat the most molds. If I was asked to do it again I would. I was about eight years old when this happened.

SAW, HEARD, SMELLED, TASTED, TOUCHED, & FELT POEMI saw MUD,I heard BUGS!! I smelled POOP,I tasted SOUP!!I touched BEARS,I felt SCARED!!

A LEGEND AND A MOPToday we played a game about treasure maps and pirates. I wrote about a map and a legend and it was awesome! There were whales, islands, footsteps, and an X! I made a compass on it and it was awesome, we put designs on it and now we are writing a story. Lebron made a compass out of sticks, metal, money, and soup tops. I crumbled it and put fake dust on it so it looked old. I liked presenting it and making it.

DIAMONDA TIME WHENI felt happy when I saw a girl needing help pulling out carrots. I said can I help you and she said sure. I pulled all the carrots out. I helped her make chicken noodle carrot soup.

I was disappointed when my little sister Brandy ate my incredible shiny pink, red, yellow, blue lollipop.

I became angry when I was at school and my incredible best friend told me that she did not want to play with me.

I was proud of myself when someone took their braid down and I braided it back.

I hurt someone’s feelings by dropping the water on the floor by accident.

SKELETONI have the skeleton.You can see I have it.What is the difference from my head and this skeleton?Is it big?Is it small?Is it happy?Is it sad?What do you think?

KAYLNThe brother and sister went into the woods and and found a big tree. Then when they cut all the trees down they built a tree house in the tree house they took shelter because they were afraid of what was out in the open. Something bad happened to the brother and sister that would hurt them forever. The brother and sister fell thru the tree house floor which made them fall into the trunk of the tree. When they fell they hit there head and passed out. When there dad came back he could find his kids. The only thing left was the big tree at carrot way.

I AMI am earthI am seasI am beauty I am meI am jadedI am thoughtfulI am proudI am kaylnI am me

MISSING CHILDRENMaybe they hid in a tree and waited for bears, deers, etc.

They also cut wood off the tree and made spears.

And after they killed the deer and bear, they would go cut the skin of the deer and bear and make clothing.

And they roasted deer and bear meat.The end.TREASURE CHESTOnce upon a time, there was a hidden treasure chest. It would be found at the bottom of the reef. There were 3 divers. They were named Keon, Cam, and Art. Their boss told them to get the chest. The divers said “what” at the same time!!! So they got their diving suit and got a shovel.

KEON

LABRONTHE CARROT WAY TREEThe tree was the kid’s favorite tree. The kid’s dad got injured, he can’t no more. The tree was very big and special. The Gace Pokemon it can control Gace, it held the kid’s dad.The End

THE CHILL ING, DARK ADVENTURE There was a boy and a girl. They were kidnapped and we found two skulls by the lake. Our team went on a long journey. We had to go through a lake, the woods and kids kept getting hurt because they thought that they

were going to get caught and get their bones carved and clean. He cut the meat off their bones to eat with his family. After they ate they cleaned the blood from their clothes and called the police. When they got cleaned up they brushed their teeth and pretended that nothing happened. Next the moms cried because their children went missing. The police found bones and blood throughout the woods and they also found guts scattered throughout the woods. The End

MARVELOUS MomAction Respect VolumeExcellentLionsOctopus Umbrella Sharks

BASHFUL BasketballAsSharks HushFullUrchin Labron

A TIME WHENI felt happy the time I was happy was when I went to Liam’s birthday because he is my best friend. Another time I was happy was when I was a pokemon trainer.

I was disappointed the time I let my mom down I kept getting in trouble in school. I became angry when my little brother kept on taking my toys. He always takes them. I was proud of myself when I went to the summer program and got a medal.

I hurt someone’s feelings when I hurt Munira’s feelings when I stormed out of the room.

THE DANCING KUNG FU CHICKENS I saw a big crowd and I got scared. I told my partner that I was scared. I heard all of the people yelling. I smelled popcorn, pizza and chicken. I tasted the stack and fries. I touched the ground and something moved. I felt a chill go up my feathers. (Has pictures of the dancing chickens)On Search for Treasure

There were two kids named Labron and Davon and they were trying to find a pirate booty. One day they went on a loooooooong journey and then they finally found the map. They also found the legend of the grim reaper on the map. When they saw the legend of the grim reaper they saw Murphy and Liam and together they all tried to find the treasure chest. On the path they took to find the treasure chest, they saw the grim reaper and he tried to swap their souls with an old man, cow, chicken and uncle grandpa. Then, they split up and ran. Liam used his pokie ball, “Pikachu” and “Scraggy” to fight off the grim reaper. Then the grim reaper fell on the floor but he split into two and then Labron and Liam caught both Grim Reapers in the pokie balls and turned him good. Then they found the trea-sure chest and yelled AAAARRRRGGGGEEEEEMMMMAAADDDIIIESSSS! Next, Labron and Davon went to Liams house. Liam and Labron went to Davon’s house then Liam and Davon went to Labrons house and then they all shared the treasure with their familes. The End!

A TIME WHENI felt happy at my friends birthday sleepover I was happy because I was having fun scaring my friends.

I was disappointed that we had to watch Elmo.

I became angry when my mom tricked me.

I was proud of myself when I get good grades.

I hurt someone’s feelings by telling on someone.

BEFORE OUR ADVENTUREThere were 10 men who had something against the family. The kids went out playing. 5 men saw them, blew the horn to get the other half. They came out the woods to get them. They went deep in the woods and cut their heads off. The kids tried to fight back. Maybe the five men and the moms were good friends and they stop being good friends. They used the jewels on her shirt so the parents can recognize the girl.

THE MISSING KIDSOn the first day of telling it we went on a scary adventure. I was scared then Natasha snapped me out of it. So I went on the adventure. The tunnel that we went through has a mud man. But I was brave to go through the tunnel. Now when I see a tunnel that is dark I can go through it.

LANYA

THE LONG LONG SLIDEI saw a green slideI heard the green slide was longI smelled feetI tasted chocolate milkI touched the slippery green slideI felt scared

QUIVER QUIVER Quiver Quiver go away shiverYou’re so clever to make me shiverI’m so lonely that I’m shyBye bye shy, no more shy

HAPPINESS HAPPINESSHappiness happiness stayHappiness happiness never go awayHappiness happiness I’m so glad that I get to see Natasha

LIAMHOW VULPIX GOT ITS EYE PATCHThe Pokémon pirate crew suddenly found a Pokémon treasure chest. Vulpix opened up the treasure chest and there were Pokémon evolution stones. All of the Pokémon evolved from the stones. The Vulpix found the eye patch under the stones. Vulpix put it on and he felt like an actual pirate. All the Pokémon cheered for Vulpix. Vulpix felt like a true leader.

A TIME WHENI felt happy: The best time I’ve been happy is when I became a Pokémon trainer because I was so excited I got a Pikachu. But I didn’t get a Reshiram But luckily I can trade Pikachu for a Reshiram.

I was disappointed: One time I’ve been disappointed is when I lost in a pokemon battle with Labron. I don’t really like to lose. I hate saying this but Labron you are my Pokemon rival!

I became angry: A Time I’ve been angry is when Tyler kept on taking my Pikachu. He is still a good friend though.

MARLONHALLOWEEN SCARY MONSTERThe Halloween scary monster is a fat, ugly zombie pumpkinIt has ugly, fat shortsUgly, ugly, uglyFat, fat, fat arms and hands

BRAVEST MAN I METThe bravest man I met has a basketball head with buff legs.He smells, but he is brave and he can go in the deep water and swim and eat a shark.I first met him when he was a little kid.He was very littleHe was so coolHe broke his leg when he was olderHe had very brave shoes

NAJEHTHE MAGICAL TREEOnce there were two kids. Their father got hurt and stopped hunting. So they planted a tree with special powers. The tree shined and used its special powers to give health to the man. They had to wait and then he started to get better and better until... he healed.

THE ADVENTUREThey were gone. No one in the world knew where they were. The police and security looked everywhere but found nothing, just clues. One day Najeh and Michelle went to the woods and found out what happened to them. We heard something strange. All of a sudden they saw a horn. Then we followed the noise and found a gun. We also found strange police tape. Then all of a sudden we found skeletons. That reminded Najeh of the missing kids and then she thought she knew exactly what happened. What happened was the kids were walking and playing in the woods. All of a sudden, a bull came out running towards them. They were speechless and could not move because they were so scared. The bull raced to the kids and stuck its antler in its legs. It was so bloody and no one could look at it because it was gross and scary. Then, left over skeletons were there for years and ages with melted meat. Then, the police heard and came towards them but they were too late. They took them to the hospital and then... they did lots of tests on them but eventually DUN DUN DUN.... it took time and time but they finally slowly weakly got up wondering what are they doing? What happened? And then they told them the story and they were finally okay.

A TIME I WAS BRAVEFor my 8th birthday I got a present from my grandma’s friend. I got a small lava lamp. Usually I slept with a big lamp because I was afraid of the dark. But then I decided to do something brave. That brave thing was sleeping with only my lava lamp on. Now I am not afraid of the dark like before.

JUNGLE JAVAI saw darkness and greenI heard footsteps and talkingI smelled sweatI tasted hot Doritos from beforeI touched something slipperyI felt dizzy and scared

READINGRefreshed Energy After Dancing In Night Rising Light Great, fun, love

APPRECIATION AND APPLAUSEAvalon Housing volunteers Bri, Caroline, Elaine and KatrieceAvalon Housing staff Kennetha and PriscillaAvalon Housing social worker LaurenUniversity of Michigan student interns Hannah, Michelle, Munira, Murphy and NatashaTelling It Program Coordinator Emily Marshall

STANDING OVATION FOR THE ARTISTS Graphic Designer Alexander LeeMusician Matt SantanaPhotographer Leisa ThompsonStoryteller Laura Raynor

FUNDING AND SUPPORTAvalon HousingUniversity of Michigan

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACTDeb Gordon-GurfinkelTelling It Founder & Director(734) 649-3118dmgordon@umich.edu