Identity & Social Justice at Sixth Street

Every week we do creative writing here at Sixth Street that covers topics such as identity, social issues, and gratitude. For a recent prompt, we explored how the world might look different if we were in charge!

Check out some of our young writer's poetry below!!

And if you're interested in hearing more, this Wednesday we'll be participating in the East Village Arts Festival at Tompkins Square Library! Come by at 5 PM to hear our after schoolers share their poetry!

Douniya (age 8)
I praise my family who keeps me warm. 
I praise to my mom for her work to let us have money.
I praise to my sister for that one day mom was one a vacation, she took care of me and my brother.
I praise to my brother Saf for when we are alone and mom forgets to make food
He makes eggs and soup and let’s us share. 
And finally I praise, and I say again,
I praise my dads- my brother’s dad and my sister’s dad
Just for being there
And last but literally not least Me!
For working hard and trying to go to bed on time
To follow rules and be nice.
I praise to me. 

Tatiana (age 13)
I’m from loud music and sagging pants,
I am from pride and pizza
I’m from spitting bars and noisy classroom,
I’m from trying to bring up your grades and aspiring to be great
I’m from late nights out and always being awake
I’m from diversity and mystery,
Finding clues everywhere as to who I am
Like solving a puzzle that someone
Scattered the pieces to,
I’m from small people who do big things
I’m from thrift shops and street art
I’m from the big apple,
everyone trying to take a bite


Asha (age 6) 
In my world I wish there were buildings for people
That that they don’t have to sleep outside
I wish we had superpowers

I wish everyday, you can eat candy
I wish I had a roof at my mom’s house
I wish that fighting never happened

I wish my iPad would get fixed.
I wish that everybody had superpowers.
I wish everyone body to the beach everyday.

I wish that everyone could play on my iPad
I wish it would be cool if we had a dream
That was in real life.
I wish that I was a mermaid.

Jack (age 6) 
In my world we eat mac and cheese
Play, eat everyday
I love to be with my mom and dad
I would make it so Donald Trump
Would be nice to ladies.

Mila (age 6)
We have a right to air.
We have a right to clean air.
We need air to breathe.
We need clean air to live.
If we don’t have clean air it’s not good.
If we don’t have air we can get sick.
We need air to be healthy.