Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, Special Guest
Asian Arts Initiative Open Mic Night
Friday, November 20, 7:30pm
1219 Vine Street
Chinatown
Admission: $5-10 sliding scale.
Tonight, Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai
November 20th, 2009Mighty Quote of the Day
November 19th, 2009
“MFA programs and the people in them have a responsibility to develop readers, to create reading programs in their communities at the middle and high school level.”
—Junot Diaz, National Council of Teachers of English Convention, Philadelphia, Nov. 19
Know Your Mighty Writers: Tiaira Rodgers
November 19th, 2009
School: W.G. Smith School (19th & Wharton)
Grade: 8th
Mighty Writers: “I’m here at least three days a week and I’m in three different workshops—”Youradelphia,” “Pen and Pad” and “Hidden Stories.”
Hobbies: “Playing basketball and watching TV.”
If I could change one thing about school: “I’d separate the good kids from the bad kids in different classrooms. A lot of adults say they feel bad for the good kids.”
Other activities: “The Sea Pearch Science program at Drexel. Last year my group won a third place trophy for our notebook project.”
Writing, fun or work?: “Depends on what I’m doing. Writing free verse poetry is fun, and I like cursive handwriting. I try to go for a good presentation.”
Favorite books: “I like the Jonas Brothers’ books. I have a crush on Nick Jonas.”
College?: “Yes. I want to study any field that lets me help the elderly. My cousin has sickle cell; I did the six mile walk, and now I want to do more.”
Favorite vacation: “Last summer I went to Las Vegas for my cousin’s wedding. Las Vegas has good shopping, and it really is the city that never sleeps.”
If I ran the world: “I’d help stop violence by banning guns.”
Tip on friendship: “Be yourself. If you can’t be yourself around someone, you know they’re not your friend.”
Tiaira lives in the Mighty Writers’ neighborhood and is involved in multiple projects and workshops. Known as a problem-solver, she works well independently yet gladly assumes the mentor role when requested.
Interview by Christina Rissell
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Know Your Mighty Writers
Kahlaa Cannady & Christian Precise
Temple’s Great Idea
November 19th, 2009
“The idea is not to skim the cream from the Philadelphia student body, like a magnet, but rather have it open to students who have the potential to succeed in college but perhaps whose potential hasn’t been manifested so far.”
Rest of the story, by Susan Snyder, Philadelphia Inquirer, here.
Mighty Song of the Day
November 18th, 2009Late Autumn in Philadelphia
November 18th, 2009
Dino, Sunday, At Mighty Writers!
November 17th, 2009
Whoa, hold on—not THAT Dino…
… THIS dino…
That’s right, this Sunday we’ll be all about dinosaurs
at Mighty Writers.
Visiting us will be dinosaur expert Don “Dino” Lessem.
“Dino” will answer all your questions, including:
How big did they get?
What colors were they?
Were they all dumb as doughnuts?
And where did they all go?
Dinosaur Fun Sun., Nov. 22, 1-2:30p.m.
For 5-to-9-year-olds.
Call 267.239.0899
Or email Rachel Loeper at rloeper@mightywriters.org
“One Pregnancy Is Too Many”
November 17th, 2009
Girls High Principal Cassandra Ruffin with students.
“Girls High, at Broad and Olney, was built in 1957. It’s a time warp, a movie set. The lighting’s brutal. The sound system bleats. The paint, ancient, though it’s being freshened after more than two decades. The newest computers? Three years old. Only eight classrooms have interactive boards. All three fall teams made the playoffs, though the athletic director concedes ‘there is no athletic budget.’”
Inquirer columnist Karen Heller gives readers an insightful peek into a longtime Philadelphia institution here.
Photo/Sharon Gekoski-Kimmel
