Creative Writing Pedagogy for Community Transformation
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Research Questions
How do youth at St. John's Secondary School view themselves and their lives within a changing, forested landscape?
To what extent can creative writing pedagogy improve access to a grassroots community development organizations' educational and environmental resources?
How might poetry drive transformation within multilingual communities living in a rapidly-changing natural environment?
Process & Methods
Creation & implementation of a digital arboretum which honors & documents indigenous forestry knowledge & folk medicine
Improvement of access to on-site arboretum through mentorship & education
Invitation of local youth to participate in integration of digital arboretum with the arts through twice-weekly creative writing workshop
Outcome & Ongoing Work
"I left Wendo in November 2021, after six months of overall work and three months with the Creative Writing students. Our farewell included delicious chai and keki to celebrate the students who had continued the program since its inception in September. Our students reflected on their experience that day. One said he'd learned to be honest with himself through writing and reflection. Another said she'd developed a greater admiration for the beauty of the trees in our beloved Bahati community. Another told me that he'd noticed his English improving. I was grateful that my work had meant something to my students and friends, but even more pleased two months later, when I re-connected with Uncle Charles and Kichwatah over WhatsApp, all the way from Chicago. I learned that after my departure, the Wendo community has continued its mentorship with the students at St. John's. Our project to use Creative Writing pedagogy as a means for community transformation only lasted a few months, but even now, Wendo continues to carry out ministry with these students who I came to call friends."
— Charles Hermesmann
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