Join PEARLS for Teen Girls at their CHEERS! Fundraiser: Poetry Slam Edition on Nov. 11
Last month, PEARLS for Teen Girls: a non-profit serving Milwaukee girls in 5th through 12th, put out a call for local poets to participate in their CHEERS! Fundraiser: Poetry Slam Edition on Nov. 11, 2020 from 6pm-7pm CST. The event will feature three local young women poets 18 and older that will recite poems focused on the theme of women or girl empowerment. Each of the three finalists will be competing for a monetary prize.
The three finalists are Midalis Delacrus AKA She Speaks Truth, Natalie K. and Michaela Sarenac.
Midalis Delacrus AKA She Speaks Truth (T), Michaela Sarenac (M) and Natalie K. (B). (Pictures provided by PEARLS)
PEARLS Execute Director Gerry Howze—who has been with the organization for over 17 years—said this event is a way to introduce PEARLS to people who didn’t know they have a connection to their work. According to Howze, people see PEARLS as just a pregnancy prevention program, but they’re so much more.
“It’s a really cool, inspiring process to understand who our young people are and what they have to say,” Howze said. She also stated that it’s important to stay productive with the girls even if it’s virtual.
According to a press release, the poetry slam will be a safe and socially distanced event. It will also be lived stream for viewers at home.
“Even in a freaking pandemic, the things that our team have creatively done…like this virtual slam…who does that,” she said.
PEARLS Girl of the Year Charmeka Wells has been with the organization since 10th grade and has nothing but great experiences. Wells came into the program with little to no girl friends, now she has friendships that will last a lifetime.
She believes CHEERS! will be an amazing event because PEARLS has a past of creating fun events.
“PEARLS is amazing. You really have people for life there,” said Wells. “I really enjoy my time with them a lot.”
Howze bases PEARLS’ impact on the youth they serve by the stories the young women share with them and the community. While hosting a virtual open house, during the Q + A portion of the event, an audience member asked what’s the difference between PEARLS and the Girl Scouts. A previous PEARLS girl provided an unscripted and from the heart answer. This young women had experienced both organizations and said the difference between the two is that at PEARLS you learn more about self-development. It was in that moment that Howze really understood the direct influence PEARLS has on their youth.
“The time it would take to invest into getting to know more about the thoughts of, the issues of, the dreams of our young people, could really dismantle the labels and myths of young people, especially girls of color. They are so much more than what they get credit for,” said Howze.
To register for PEARLS CHEERS! Poetry Slam, click here.