Are you looking . . .

Are you looking for Vision+Voice? Maybe you want to submit a poem? Read a poem? Look at last year’s winning poets? Point your browser to the new home of the K through 12 poetry competition:

https://k12.visionandvoice.org

Why did we move, you ask? Well, we’re growing, both in the number of schools that are included in the Vision+Voice family, but also in the types of projects we’re creating.

My original idea for Vision+Voice was to include all the schools and ISDs in the ACC service area, celebrating the visions and voices in our communities. We’re aiming for that goal, adding schools every week! If you know of a private school, public school, school school, or even home-school school — let them know about us! Our competition is open to any K-12 student in the ACC service area! We want you!

But our vision always included other voices, too. This year, we’re working on an amazing new project with men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. We want vets to have a voice here, and so we’re creating a memoir project. More on that project as it develops!

Visit us again. We’ll let you know more about our new ideas as they develop. And if you have ideas for Vision+Voice, we want to hear from you! Email me at mdaude@austincc.edu.

Finally, to our poets, here’s an old one: Write on.

Matthew Daude Laurents
Dean, Liberal Arts: Humanities and Communications

Welcome back!

Welcome to a new year of Vision+Voice!

The 2018-19 competition is just starting, so get those creative juices flowing and make a poem!

You may have noticed that we’ve moved. Our new home is

https://k12.visionandvoice.org

Why did we move, you ask? Well, we’re growing, both in the number of schools that are included in the Vision+Voice family, but also in the types of projects we’re creating. We’ll let you know more about some of our new ideas as they develop.

Meanwhile, this is the home of our famous K through 12 poetry competition. Selected poems from each grade level will be paired with art by ACC art students to create posters and an anthology. And as in years past, KLRU will be videotaping our poets, and we’ll be celebrating our young authors at the spring reception. (Date is coming soon!)

So, sit back, relax, create, submit, and read some poems!

Thanks to our partners and supporters! We couldn’t do it without you!

Vision+Voice at WEST Austin Studio Tour!

Austin Community College is participating in the WEST Austin Studio Tour and we are thrilled to announce that Vision+Voice will be a part of the fun. Please stop by our Highland Campus to tour our new arts facilities – you may see something you’d like to write a poem about!

May 12 & 13, 19 & 20 (two weekends)   11am-6pm

ACC Highland Campus, building 4000

  • Student Art Sale
  • Student and Faculty Art Exhibits
  • Studio Tours
  • Open Dance Class
  • Film Screening
  • Drama Exhibit
  • Vision+Voice Poster Exhibit and Video Screening

free & open to the public

 

A special treat

Each year since the beginning of Vision+Voice five years ago, I have looked forward to the reception. We unveil the posters that unite our V+V poets’ work with ACC art student creations. We hand out the coveted anthology of the year’s poems. We’re treated to our poets reading their poems, to congratulations and addresses by dignitaries like Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Cruz, thank-you’s to parents and teachers. And we have really, really good food.

Right to left (I think): Dr. Cruz, Brad Richard, me, Polly Monear (the Executioner), and of course, Dr. Joker Rhodes. There’s one in every crowd.

This year’s reception was especially lovely, with a return appearance by Brad Richard, whose reflections on the V+V poems brought tears to my eyes. (And I wasn’t the only one.) Brad has done so much for poetry that it’s hard to know where to begin a thank-you note. Maybe this will be a start?

As I told Dr. Rhodes at the reception, a great idea without a great team to make it come true is a day-dream. I have so many people to thank for making Vision+Voice the blaring celebration it is. Where to start? Of course there’s our poets and artists, whose visions and voices are everything. There’s our creative writing students, who read and relish each and every poem on the way to selection. There are countless teachers on whose work our work depends. (If you’re reading this, thank a teacher!) There are parents who support kids to dream, and then dream bigger.

But there’s also my team, past and present, hanging posters and arranging anthologies, and watching the kids faces when they see themselves on the Big Screen. You are amazing.

One of the gifts all of you give me is that I get to walk around, laugh with people, cry at Brad’s reflections, take in the visions and voices, and eat great food. (The cajun edge to the wings was amazing — but then again, you can’t go wrong with Sharrion,  Travis, and Chef Coi.)

Original art by Alchemy, author of “Whale,” V+V 2017-18

And then, there’s Alchemy, one of our poets. Picture me, with little or no actual responsibility except to take in the joy you see on every V+V poet’s face.

So, there I am, loving everything about this evening, wading through poetry and poets, people with plates and proud parents — and Alchemy hands me this original work of art.

Thanks, Alchemy!

And there’s you, Polly. What can I say. You slay me.

Join us for V+V again in the fall!

Follow me!
http://dean.acclahc.org
http://www.facebook.com/acclahc/
@LAHCDean

Get Ready to Celebrate!

I hope you’re all planning to attend our VERY BIG PARTY on April 13th. Please bring your friends and family to enjoy the festivities, and don’t forget to invite your teacher!

The program will feature speakers from ACC, and will include KLRU-produced videos of students reading their poems. Our Master of Ceremonies for the evening is Brad Richard – an award-winning poet and educator who is coming all the way from New Orleans just for this event.

We will have a great buffet of tapas-style food designed by our chef and served by students in ACC’s Hospitality Program. There will be a red-carpet with paparazzi including students from ACC’s Professional Photography Department, and a video crew will be there to document and live-stream the program.

All Vision+Voice honorees will get a goody bag with special treats — including the 2018 Vision+Voice Anthology and a certificate of achievement. Of course, we will have lots of this year’s poetry posters to give away.

See you soon!
– Polly

Doors open at 7pm, the program starts at 7:30pm.
ACC Eastview Campus, 3401 Webberville Road, Room 8500

Park in any student or faculty spot in Lot G or Lot E.

V+V POETS: KLRU Wants to Tape YOUR Poem!

You are a superstar – come tape your poem!

We are very fortunate that KLRU (our local PBS station) has been a supporter of Vision+Voice since we started in 2013. They generously offer up their talent, time, and facilities to tape the winning and honorable mention poets reading their poems. The videos will be premiered at the Vision+Voice Award Reception on April 13th, and are then posted online at KLRU and here on the Vision+Voice website. This year, our judges have selected 50 winning and honorable mention poems, and we want to tape ALL of them.


The taping is scheduled for March 26 & 27, from 11am–1pm & 2pm–6pm each day. 
Each poem takes between 5 -15 minutes to tape, and I will do my best to arrange the schedule to meet your request.

Poets: you do not need to memorize your poems! I will have the poems printed for you.

This is a great way to showcase the excellent work of this year’s poets, and I hope you will all take advantage of this generous offer from KLRU.
Here are the 2017 videos so you can see how cool this is!

 

The time-slots are filling up quickly, please contact me to schedule your taping: pmonear@austincc.edu.

 

See you soon!

Polly Monear, Vision+Voice Team
Austin Community College

 

2017-18 Winners

WOW – So many great poems this year!

Poets, you have made selecting this year’s winners both difficult and enjoyable. Thank you for participating and congratulations on your achievement.

Here are the winners and honorable mention poems for the 2018 Vision+Voice Poetry Contest:

KINDERGARTEN

Winner                          Robot by Rowan F

Honorable Mention          Whale by Alchemy D

Honorable Mention          Feelings by Malik S

 

FIRST GRADE

Winner                          Guess It! by Valerie W

Honorable Mention          Albert Pujols by Zinn T

Honorable Mention          The Unicorn’s Journey to France by Maple W

Honorable Mention         El Atardecer  by Ines G

 

SECOND GRADE

Winner                          Deep Down by Ellidy J

Honorable Mention          Skip, Dance by Sven G

Honorable Mention          Best Valentine by Riley M

Honorable Mention          Books by Grace B

 

THIRD GRADE

Winner                          Chlorine by Orla T

Honorable Mention          Wind by Olivia R

Honorable Mention          In a Chihuahua’s Eyes by Asa W

Honorable Mention          Where I Come From by Ivy G

Honorable Mention          Books by Clarey W

 

FOURTH GRADE

Winner                          The Howl by Yajaira D

Honorable Mention          The Garden by Lark T

Honorable Mention          Girl by Julianna P

Honorable Mention          Chances by Lyla B

 

FIFTH GRADE

Winner                          Rain Fun by Layla W

Honorable Mention          My Magic Box by Ahmory H

Honorable Mention          Water by Olive A

Honorable Mention        César by Reina S

Honorable Mention          Brave Voices by Martha N

 

SIXTH GRADE

Winner                          Poem by Kole M

Honorable Mention          Driving in the Dark by Katherine K

Honorable Mention          I Dropped My Pencil by Grace S

Honorable Mention          Things to Remember by Nicole P

 

SEVENTH GRADE

Winner                          The Red Flowers by Elizabeth R

Honorable Mention          Compose a Symphony by Alexander N

Honorable Mention          Today’s Fight by Claire M

 

EIGHTH GRADE

Winner                          Requiem for a Friendship by Sarah A

Honorable Mention          Thoughts by Abigail L

Honorable Mention          Rhyming by Davis K

Honorable Mention          Life in Poverty by Javier M

Honorable Mention          Like Elephants by Meagan L

 

NINTH GRADE

Winner                          Wings by Teresa R

Honorable Mention          Water by Nia O

 

TENTH GRADE

Winner                          Ocean Love by Sara V

Honorable Mention          My Scrawny Nightmare by Talia H

Honorable Mention          angels in new england by Inayah M

 

ELEVENTH GRADE

Winner                          Condemned by Payton B

Honorable Mention          My Family Comes From the Sea by Logan D

Honorable Mention          Suburbia by Amy S

Honorable Mention          If childhood had a flavor, by Amy S

 

TWELFTH GRADE

Winner                          This is What the Moon Thinks About by Saylor H

Honorable Mention          Pain by Kevin B

Honorable Mention          Autobahn by Justine L

Honorable Mention          Mauve Azaleas by Saylor H

Honorable Mention          Into the Frill by Nate S

 

Congratulations to everyone!
We look forward to seeing you all at the Award Reception on April 13th (details coming soon).

  • The V+V Team