Amanda Gorman is a young American poet and activist who has inspired countless people with her Inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb.” For the 2021-22 school year, this work was chosen as an Anchorwork for P.S. ARTS’ Program Theme and has been used as a starting point for several classroom projects. Not only have Gorman’s words of wisdom inspired assignments in our schools, but her poetry has also sparked creativity through our Family Art Nights. Family Art Nights are a chance for students and their households to gather virtually and work on an art project together led by P.S. ARTS Staff and Faculty.
A recent Family Art Night project was inspired by Gorman’s words about equality, inclusion, and progress. Not only did it pull concepts from her famous poem “The Hill We Climb” but it also drew inspiration from her children’s book “Change Sings” which celebrates how children can and will bring about positive changes in the world. In this virtual workshop, students and families wrote their own poems that tell a personal story and then connected with others by sharing out their poems to acknowledge the positive change that all participants will make.
As we continue to celebrate Black excellence throughout Black History Month and every day beyond it, it’s important to keep the concepts Gorman discusses at the forefront of our minds. Equity and inclusion are at the heart of P.S. ARTS’ mission, and we strive to continue to make changes in our public schools and communities that create equal opportunities for students. Everyone has a chance to make a difference in their community every day, and we are grateful for the artists like Amanda Gorman that reflect on our society and remind us of this.
