St. Louis City Juvenile Detention Center recently had its seventh annual Hip Hop Poetry Project presented by Prison Performing Arts and the Family Court–Juvenile Division.
This annual event helps the juveniles to express themselves. With choreographed dances, poetry and spoken word, the juveniles get to show their vulnerable sides. Some expressed their issues concerning their challenging background, and others talked about the reason they’re in detention.
As family, friends and supporters showed up to the event, the juveniles remained humble and appreciative. While some focused on stealing the spotlight, more focused on expressing themselves to make sure they are heard testifying about the struggles they have faced.
Choreographer and dance instructor Jahna Whitener has been participating with the project for four years now and continues to bring out the talent the juveniles have.
“To see the outcome and their ability to get in front of people and see their confidence, it’s a big step,” Whitener said.
“Students want to come back and volunteer, that’s why I keep coming back.”
However, Whitener knows that some of the juveniles may face challenges of going back down the same path that brought them to the detention center.
“Find something better to do with your time,” Whitener told them.
Writing instructors Valencia Tims and M.K. Stallings have helped the juveniles express themselves in ways that may have been a challenge
“If they’re expressive, then that’s the key. We try to communicate a space or medium for them,” Stallings said.
Tims has run into former students who had backgrounds that seemed hopeless but now are in college striving to success.
“They had a team of people encouraging them. I think that made a difference,” Tims said. “This whole experience is rewarding to me.”
One of the juveniles recited a few poems he wrote. He got more attention by acting like a young Michael Jackson, moonwalking and dancing to MJ’s songs. He felt good knowing that the crowd was cheering for him.
“I wanted to dance and get my words out,” he said.
(The courts do not permit the juvenile offenders to be named.)
Another juvenile wowed the crowd by his flips throughout the dancing portion of the show.
“It was just fun. Everybody supported me, and I felt good about myself for once,” he said.
His response supported something Stallings said about the program.
“This provides them an opportunity to be applauded for what they do, to be affirmed by their parents, members of the community and for them to know they mean something and are valuable,” Stallings said.
“For one night, they’re applauded for what they contributed.”
