The Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation and its program
The Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation Program instills self-confidence, self-expression, and character development while cultivating creativity and learning. The NCM Foundation through its program will also open the minds of students to the many ways that poetry can be used in therapeutic development and empowerment, while teaching them the educational benefits and structure of poetry. Furthermore we expand their existing thoughts and beliefs which allow the students to become open-minded in other facets in education. The NCM program assists them in becoming healthy, educated, multidimensional students, who in turn become healthy, educated, multidimensional adults within society.
The NCM program addresses the lack of a consistent and positive investment in our youth by teaching proactive and effective ways for students to combat the sometimes negative influence of the media, society, music, peers and all other forms of negative stimulus up to and including the youth themselves. We do this because we understand that a positive investment in our youth today virtually insures a brighter tomorrow. We do this because proactive positive attention greatly lessons the need for negative attention later. We do this because failing youth are the consequence of a society that has failed them. When we ask what has happened to our youth? We need only to look to ourselves and there the answer will be.
As of 2007 we have worked with over 3,500 students in such organizations as Lincoln elementary, N. Davis jr. high, North Davis Preparatory Academy, Kaysville jr. high, The Academy at Solstice, the Boys and Girls Club, Uintah elementary, the YWCA, the YMCA, Safe Harbor Woman’s Shelter, Decker Lake Juvenile Facility, The STAMPEDE after school program, amongst others.
Using our 7 Blocks of Knowledge Program, NCM illustrates that regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, or background all people are important and should be respected and appreciated as a basic rule and not a luxury. All of this contained within the colorfully distracting package of poetry, music, and other forms of creative expression.
Thank you
Amir A.H. Jackson
Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation, Founder
www.NurturetheCreativeMind.com
amirjackson@NurturetheCreativeMind.com
This book was made possible in large part due to the support and participation of the Academy at Solstice. We at the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation would like to show our appreciation by taking a moment to recognize them, not just for their support, but also for their great work and efforts in instilling hope that the tomorrows will be brighter for today’s youth:
The Academy at Solstice
The mission of The Academy at Solstice is to provide an academic environment where young ladies can thrive and learn despite the struggles that they may face socially or emotionally. We aim to help our students develop passion about learning, to identify and utilize their strengths to achieve their academic and career goals, and to open their eyes and hearts to all the learning the world has to offer, and to all the talents they have to offer the world.
Poems by “HanZ”
Author’s Notes:
My name is HanZ, pronounced Hanzie. At least that’s what my friends call me. I have always been a superficial poet, following iambic pentameter, you know finding those perfect words that rhymed. My typical topics were trees, the sky, and any surface cliché. That was before I had anything of real substance to write about. That was before I knew real pain. I still hurt from past abuse, but that pain is nothing compared to the hope I feel now. I have been in treatment for 5 months now and I have never looked forward to my future more. As I heal, I continue to pursue my passions in science, piano composition, and just living life. Yes, I am STILL here.
