About the Course
First taught in 1998, Poetry in Service to Schools and the Community is a hybrid of a poetry-writing workshop, a training ground for poets-in-the-schools in elementary, middle and secondary school settings, and a service project based in schools and community-based programs. Two assumptions inform the course: first, a university classroom can successfully integrate a service project-- one that depends upon the ability of students to quickly and comprehensively assimilate knowledge and understanding about a wide range of poetry, and upon their generosity of spirit, intellect and imagination in translating such knowledge elsewhere, to younger students who need it as much as they do; second, college and university students can both administer and implement a statewide poets-in-the-schools program more typically and traditionally staffed in other states by "professional" poets and teachers.

This is a class in poetry writing and reading, but the transmission of knowledge and awareness from one place to another is its essence, its essential artistic and civic gesture. Poetry is a powerful medium, a line to sacred places, a mode toward transformation and intellectual, emotional and spiritual awareness. Many classrooms are in need of what it can bring. "When you get it right,/ you pass it on," says Gary Snyder. This is the class's undertaking.

Poetry in Service to Schools and the Community grew out of a conviction that arts-based, studio or workshop courses at Brown could and should integrate community outreach into their curricula. To date, the course has engaged close to a hundred Brown students and their fellow learner-teacher-mentor, as well as 700 or so Providence elementary, middle, high school and community center students. Here is a list of those schools and contacts.

Course syllabi

About River of Words
Founded in 1996 by Rick Benjamin, River of Words-- Rhode Island is a community-based program which is currently funded as a Learn & Serve America project through the Rhode Island Service Alliance. It engages Brown and RISD students in year-long service to high school and elementary school students conducting environmental education workshops through the lens of poetry and the visual arts.

River of Words fosters a trickle-down approach to education: university students work intensively with high school students who in their turn work with elementary school students. Teaching rounds out learning, and a certain mastery of material is arrived at through being of benefit to another, younger learner.

Since its inception, River of Words has engaged many students at Brown and thousands of elementary, middle and high school students in and around Providence in an innovative, creative approach to environmental education.

Description of Web Site
Poetry in the Community is a web site for teachers, students and poets. It is at once a deep and extensive repository of poetry lesson plans developed by students at Brown over the past few years as well as a resource and referral base for students of poetry, whether youngers or elders. The site offers up a series of thresholds, the crossing of which brings up poems and prompts enough to last a school year.