The youth of Guåhan have been in the forefront of articulating the effects of the military buildup on our islands, our culture and the people of Guåhan. Spoken word, slam poetry provides the vehicle from which this talent, creativity, commitment and love give expression to our opposition to the military buildup and our vision for peace and well-being throughout the world.
from Melvin Won Pat-Borja, co-founder of Sinagan'ta:
Hafa Adai Familia,
I apologize for the mass email, but I am nearing the end of my rope here. As some of you know, I help run a youth writing program on Guam and we are invested in creating opportunities for all teens on the island. This summer we are embarking on an incredible journey as we prepare to compete in the Brave New Voice International Youth Poetry Slam in Los Angeles, California (from July 19-24). This competition gathers 500 of the best youth poets from around the country to promote literacy, public speaking, leadership, and critical thinking. It will be the FIRST TIME that Guam is represented in official competition.
It is going to cost us $12,000 to fund this trip and we are hard pressed to make this money before the festival. Those of you who know me well, know that asking for donations is the bane of my existence, so I am clearly desperate here. We have raised some money so far, but we are still far from our goal. We have a few fundraisers coming up and I would greatly appreciate your support. Our first fundraiser is coming up on Thursday June 10th at "After5" in the Plaza. Tickets are $10 and it starts at 6pm.
We will also be hosting a showcase at the end of this month and another show in July.
If you are interested in supporting this worth cause, you can mail a check made out to me to the address posted bellow.
Melvin Won Pat-Borja
PO BOX 2246
Hagatna, GU 96910
I know that these are hard times and that not all of you have the means to help us find our way to LA, but if you know someone who can. Please feel free to forward this email and my contact information.
We really need your help to make this dream a reality. I hope to see you at our fundraisers.
Thanks for your love and support.
-Mel
