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Join Speaking Volumes 2022 on September 28th! Our third annual fall celebration will feature Ross Gay as the guest of honor and the voices and stories of the youth Pongo serves.

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Pongo is recruiting for project leaders and volunteer writing mentors. Apply today to join Pongo’s work of engaging youth in writing heartfelt poetry!

Pongo Poetry Project’s mission is to engage youth in writing poetry to inspire healing and growth.

WHAT'S PONGO

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Express yourself. Write With Us!

PONGO WRITING FOR TEENS

Here you can WRITE FROM THE HEART about who you are as a person. You don’t have to be an experienced writer to create Pongo poetry. We appreciate the importance of what you have to say. Honesty is the quality we value most.

TEEN POETRY COLLECTION
While feeling grateful has many benefits, for Pongo youth poets approaching gratitude authentically can present a challenge. Yet, when given the opportunity, the majority have been eager to do so
In honor of Indigenous People's Day, 2021Non-Natives can learn many things from Native Peoples. "Navarre's" poem is a powerful example of this: Totem Poleby "Navarre" a Native American resident of King
SOMETIMES, I WONDER, written by a young person at CFJC. Sometimes I wonder, is trouble part of life, or is it just something you get into one day? But I know this:
MY HAIR, written by Amori, age 13. In the middle of 4th grade, I decided to cut my hair. My mom shaved it to half an inch, I felt like people were going
VULNERABILITY IS A STRENGTH, written by Naomi, age 13. Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness, It is a sign of power. Vulnerability can be your anchor or your wings, You can let it
THIS IS ME, written by a young person at CSTC, age 12. I am painting my self-portrait. For this work I have chosen the colors of black, for the dark times and yellow
COLD NIGHTS ON I-90, written by a young man at CSTC, age 17. As I look out the frost-covered window, of the half-working rickety car, I wonder How did I get here?
ROSE TO ROSEBUSH, written by a young person at CFJC, age 17. A rose can grow up from under, a stampede of shoes made of all different sizes, so long as it’s will
FOR COUNSELORS & TEACHERS

We provide resources and community support to help you facilitate healing through poetry for distressed youth.

Read overview of Pongo’s methods and learn about Pongo’s outcomes.

Find Pongo Trainings near you.

Get support from the Pongo community. Join one of the Pongo-inspired Projects: Programs on the Pongo Model.

Get a book on Pongo’s Method: “Writing with At-Risk Youth” by our founder, Richard Gold.

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VIEW TEACHING RESOURCES

PONGO BOOKSTORE
The Story of My Heart Pongo Poetry from Child Study and Treatment Center soft cover 5.5 x 8.5 inches 170 pages. © June 2021 $25
Pongo Poetry from King County Juvenile Detention soft cover 5.5 x 8.5 inches 98 pages. © December 2020 $20.00
Writing by teenagers in King County juvenile detention soft cover 5.5 x 8.5 inches 112 pages. © December 2015 $15
Writing by teenagers in King County Juvenile Detention soft cover 5.5 x 8.5 inches 92 pages. © August 2011 $15
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