Program / Event Details

Proof of Life: A Poetry Writing Intensive

A Writing Workshop for High School Students in Baltimore City

Overview
“Proof of Life” is a writing intensive that explores poetry as a way of bearing witness to the life we live. The term, often used in hostage or precarious situations to confirm that someone is alive and well, becomes a reminder of the healing power of community, the earth, and the arts. Students discover how poetry expresses life, living, and the many ways we give proof of life, with ritual making at the center of their practice.

What Students Will Experience

• Immersive, hands-on poetry-making activity
• Grounding exercises that open and close each activity, building genuine community
• Ritual-making practices that shape and inspire their writing
• Exploration of poetry as an expression of life and a form of witness
• Creation of artistic broadsides featuring their own poetry during the final days

Learning Outcomes
Students will:

• Develop their poetry writing through guided, hands-on practice
• Understand ritual making as a foundation of a poet’s creative practice
• Build a supportive community through shared grounding and writing experiences
• Connect poetry to wellness, community, and the earth
• Turn their poems into finished broadsides they can share

Residency Details

• Audience: High school students
• Location: Baltimore City schools
• Length: 1-4 days
• Format: Writing intensive with hands-on activities
• Final Product: Artistic broadsides featuring student poetry
• Booking: Reserve through Arts Every Day

Ready to bring Proof of Life to your school? Reserve this program through the Arts Every Day directory.