Central Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, July 17, 2001

ONE YEAR OF POETRY AND PICTURE-MAKING PRODUCES A ST. JAMES POETRY BOOK

The afterschool program at the St. James Computer Resource Center closed out the school year with a book signing party. The afterschool program began there three years ago when Kim (Gazelle) McNeal came aboard as Center Manager. She brought to the program a heavy focus on arts, literacy, and drama. McNeal's vision for the program was inspired by the wealth of creative energy among community members who support St. James. With a full performance stage, an art room with a pottery kiln, a dark room, and creative children eager to perform, a thriving arts center has emerged.

This year, McNeal's desire to acknowledge the artwork and poetry of afterschool participants performed and exhibited at monthly poetry slams resulted in the effort to publish a book. With the help of staff from all thirteen Computer Resource Centers The Poetry Book was realized. The children who contributed are between the ages of 6 and 14. Each poem and drawing is a testament to the nurturing environment provided by the afterschool coordinators and St. James staff: Glennceria Prince, Darlene Mitchell, Gregory Kortright, Duane Wenston, and Rose Rodriguez. Susan (Shaka) Lee provided the layout and design for The Poetry Book.

Special thanks from program participants for making the St. James such a success go out to: Parks Commissioner, Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern; Robert (Iceman) Garafola, Deputy Commissioner; Iris (Almond Joy) Rodriguez-Rosa, Chief of Bronx; Kim McNeal; Ariel (Kodiak) Behr, Director of the Computer Resource Centers; Eric (Saybrook) Peterson, Director of Manhattan Special Events; and Debbie (Polyester) Weiss, Citywide Afterschool Coordinator.

By Andrew (Chevre) Gray

WHERE PARKS AND HIGH TECHNOLOGY INTERSECT

The Young Women's Technology class at St. John's Recreation Center runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and select Saturdays for three hours. Visit the class and not a single student will stir at 7:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m. comes and goes and no one makes a motion to leave. 8:00 p.m. the young women are still plugging away at their contributions to a young women's technology website, Girls Holla. When completed, the site will include an artist's statement, a shout out, and a digital collage by each participant. Says one young woman, "It's been cool. I always wondered how pictures got on the net." The class is designed to offer young women an outlet for self-expression as well as a foundation of technical knowledge. "Now I get to have all my views on how things are, on the website." Of the computer resource center she says, "you can usually find me in here." Another student concurs. "This is my second-actually, this is my first home."

The computer room, located on the second floor of the recreation center is pristine and well-equipped. With twelve computers and one color laser printer, it offers the young women superior technology and the resources to become expert with it. Teacher Glenda Springer instructs students without ever touching their computers. She encourages them to find their own answers, and make good use of the Help function. "If you don't know the answer to a question, you have a zillion ways to figure it out." She's taught her students to use Word and Photoshop. They've learned to blend, layer, size and re-size, the professional skills afforded them by a professional program. One of Springer's goals is to use computer instruction to create new possibilities for her students. "I give you the tools, but I want you, the student, to really think about what you're doing with them." For one student that means communication: "you put whatever you want on the site, what you like to do, you express how you feel." For another, it's summer employment. Based on the skills she's gained at St. John's, Springer's eldest student will intern this summer with the youth-run, Harlem-based website, Harlemline.

MOUSE and Arthur Anderson teamed up to establish the young women's technology program. MOUSE is a nonprofit that develops educational technology programs for New York City public schools and community centers. They also link students with professionals from the local high-tech industry. With Ariel Behr, they developed the course curriculum that was piloted this year at Parks.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Tuesday, July 19, 1988)

SUMMERSTAGE HOSTS "LATIN JAZZ HOTTER THAN JULY"
AND "BLUES DOWNHOME AND UPTOWN" IN CENTRAL PARK

Solo acoustic guitar and a hard-hitting Texas R&B band are featured in an exciting double bill of traditional and contemporary blues as Pennsylvanian Moses Rascoe and Johnny Copeland, the "Texas Twister," perform as part of SummerStage's Saturday afternoon Blues series on July 30.

A retired truck driver who only last year began touring on the folk/blues circuit, 70-year-old Moses Rascoe has received wide recognition for his subtle, finger-picked approach to the country blues. His debut album on the Flying Fish label features many traditional tunes like "Frankie & Johnny" and "John Henry," performed with "an understated, elegant touch," according to Rolling Stone.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"I've never met anyone who has entered the technological realm and not come out of it happier, enhanced and more fulfilled."

Douglas Coupland (b. 1961)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center