Featured Writers

Michelle R. and Raelauna R.

Writing Workshop Participants with Girl Scouts Beyond Bars - Columbia & Santiam River Councils in our workshop for Girl Scouts, ages 5-17, and their mothers/adult female relatives at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, a state prison for women.

Michelle, a 7th grader, and her sister Raelauna, a 5th grader, participated in a writing workshop through the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program this past fall. Write Around Portland facilitated the workshop that gave the girls the opportunity to do some writing together with their mom who is incarcerated at Coffee Creek.

Michelle likes to collect stickers, and Raelauna says one of her favorite hobbies is "to annoy boys." Both girls also enjoy reading. They live together with their dad, stepmom, and younger brother and sister.

Michelle and Raelauna are pictured at right with the anthology in which their writing was published. You can read the girls' poems and interview below:

I am

by Raelauna R.

I am an educated girl

I wonder when I’ll get to college

I hear the sounds of pencils writing

I see kids working

I want to be like others

I am who I want to be

I pretend I’m the smartest girl on earth

I feel the power of my smartness

I touch my paper and feel my writing

I worry I’m not going to go to college

I understand that I’m still in school

I say I’ll be good at math

I dream I’m in college already

I try to do my best

I hope I’ll be smart

I am in 5th grade

Ant

by Michelle R.

I am an ant

I wonder if I will bring enough food

I hear big animals bigger than me that may eat me

I see the food I will bring to The Queen

I want to be proud of what I bring to The Queen

I am a worker to The Queen

I pretend I’m super ant when I work

I feel scared because I’m lost

I touch some weird fur

I worry about what it is

I understand that it might be an animal here to eat me

I say in my mind I need to get away

I dream that I will be welcomed back home

I try to get away

I hope that I will, but don’t

I am dead, I got ate by an anteater

Interview with featured writers Raelauna R. & Michelle R.

Biography writer/Interviewer: Pam Hogeweide, Write Around Portland Volunteer Workshop Facilitator

Tell us about your experience with the Write Around Portland workshop.

Raelauna: I was kind of surprised with the writing that came out of me.

Michelle: It felt good to do the writing.

What did you get out of the workshop?

Michelle: That when I write I can just let everything out.

Raelauna: I learned writing helps you to express yourself and to speak out and be bold.

Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop?

Michelle: No, even though I have two diaries. I mostly read and draw.

Raelauna: Yes, I have written a story before about a lost, little octopus.

How was your experience writing in a group and sharing with others?

Raelauna: I felt nervous about it, but over time, I saw that people liked my writing. And when I got the applause at the [Write Around Portland community] reading, I felt good and confident.

Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others?

Michelle: I would say, “You should go!”

Is there anything else you’d like to say to your readers about your writing?

Michelle and Raelauna: Thank you for reading our writing!


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writers Michelle R. and Raelauna R. Writing Workshop Participants with Girl Scouts Beyond Bars - Columbia & Santiam River Councils in our workshop for Girl Scouts, ages 5-17, and their mothers/adult female relatives at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, a state prison for women. Michelle, a 7th grader, and her sister Raelauna, a 5th grader, participated in a writing workshop through the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program this past fall. Write Around Portland facilitated the workshop that gave the girls the opportunity to do some writing together with their mom who is incarcerated at Coffee Creek. Michelle likes to collect stickers, and Raelauna says one of her favorite hobbies is "to annoy boys." Both girls also enjoy reading. They live together with their dad, stepmom, and younger brother and sister. Michelle and Raelauna are pictured at right with the anthology in which their writing was published. You can read the girls' poems and interview below: I am by Raelauna R. I am an educated girl I wonder when I’ll get to college I hear the sounds of pencils writing I see kids working I want to be like others I am who I want to be I pretend I’m the smartest girl on earth I feel the power of my smartness I touch my paper and feel my writing I worry I’m not going to go to college I understand that I’m still in school I say I’ll be good at math I dream I’m in college already I try to do my best I hope I’ll be smart I am in 5th grade Ant by Michelle R. I am an ant I wonder if I will bring enough food I hear big animals bigger than me that may eat me I see the food I will bring to The Queen I want to be proud of what I bring to The Queen I am a worker to The Queen I pretend I’m super ant when I work I feel scared because I’m lost I touch some weird fur I worry about what it is I understand that it might be an animal here to eat me I say in my mind I need to get away I dream that I will be welcomed back home I try to get away I hope that I will, but don’t I am dead, I got ate by an anteater Interview with featured writers Raelauna R. & Michelle R. Biography writer/Interviewer: Pam Hogeweide, Write Around Portland Volunteer Workshop Facilitator *Tell us about your experience with the Write Around* *Portland* *workshop.* Raelauna: I was kind of surprised with the writing that came out of me. Michelle: It felt good to do the writing. What did you get out of the workshop? Michelle: That when I write I can just let everything out. Raelauna: I learned writing helps you to express yourself and to speak out and be bold. Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop? Michelle: No, even though I have two diaries. I mostly read and draw. Raelauna: Yes, I have written a story before about a lost, little octopus. *How was your experience writing in a group and sharing with others?* Raelauna: I felt nervous about it, but over time, I saw that people liked my writing. And when I got the applause at the [Write Around Portland community] reading, I felt good and confident. Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others? Michelle: I would say, “You should go!” Is there anything else you’d like to say to your readers about your writing? Michelle and Raelauna: Thank you for reading our writing!	"I just believe in myself more." Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a journal, pen, bus tickets, and Anthology. Featured Writers Raelauna R. & Michelle R. Click here to read about past featured writers.
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