If you’re a student of SPU, you may have seen pastel posters hanging around campus advertising the Pongo Poetry Project’s visit to campus. On April 19th, Sequoia Stagg, an intern at Pongo, came to speak on behalf of the organization and the work they do for incarcerated youths. Their mission is to help break cycles of oppression and trauma by encouraging young people through creative works, specifically poetry.
Pongo was founded by Richard Gold, who in 1976 began working with disabled students in San Francisco. He discovered the healing effect autobiographical poetry had with his students, and he went on to start the Pongo Poetry Project in 1995. Pongo has only grown since them, with three flagship sites and an outreach that has helped youths in nations across the world.
What exactly does Pongo do? As Sequoia demonstrated to SPU students last week, Pongo works with teenagers who have experienced some form of trauma or pain. They interact with a large pool of youths, including schools and juvenile detention systems. Pongo aims to listen to these young peoples’ stories and encourages them to put their often-complicated thoughts into poetry.
Pongo’s work has impacted youth in some incredible ways, and the numbers speak for themselves! According to their website, Pongo has reached over 6,000 individuals through poetry mentorship, and about 26,000 through these services online. Some of the youth-written poetry has been published in about 16 collections, which consequently raises awareness and funds for Pongo. Pongo’s work is widespread! There are 95 projects inspired by Pongo around the globe!
Not only have they reached a large number of youths, but those who have written with Pongo loved their experience! The numbers state that over 95% of writers enjoyed their writing session and walked away feeling proud of their work. This is huge for young people who may have a difficult time recognizing their own progress and creativity. Another notable stat is that 73% of individuals wrote about topics they wouldn’t usually discuss. By giving youth a safe space to open up and unpack previously intimidating experiences, Pongo’s outreach is both effective and impactful in a positive way. More about Pongo’s impact can be found here.
So, now that you’ve heard about this amazing organization, you’re probably thinking, “How can I get involved?” There are three major ways we can all help Pongo keep doing what they do best:
1. Become a poetry mentor!
This is the most hands-on way to become involved with Pongo. By mentoring youth in their poetry, the vision of Pongo lives on and can inspire others. Poetry mentors are committed to weekly sessions during the school year, and complete their own homework, including poetry. Diversity is highly valued among the mentors, as Pongo’s website affirms the excitement BIPOC youth feel when working with mentors who physically resemble them. More about the processes and duties of a poetry mentor can be found here.
2. Start your own project
As stated before, Pongo Poetry Project has reached youth around the globe through its extensive network of “Pongo-inspired projects” in different locations. One way that you can make a difference in the lives of young people is to start a Pongo-inspired project of your own. Personally, I am moved by the idea of giving back to the community I grew up in by advocating for a Pongo-inspired project in my high school.
3. Donate!
Pongo is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, which means it is a nonprofit. Donations from generous people like you help keep things up and running! Donating through the Pongo website is easy and user-friendly and can be done once or on a recurring basis. Monthly donors are recognized through the Pongo Poetry Circle.
Pongo Poetry Project is doing the work to help young individuals slow down and begin to process their experiences—something we can all benefit from! I hope that this organization has inspired you as much as it has me, and that the inspiration sparks your own involvement in your community.