St. Ethelreda Students’ Works Published in Binkabi Anti-Violence Book

Twenty-two St. Ethelreda students who spent their summer participating in a creative workshop can now add "poet" to their names. The four week workshop prepared students from St. Ethelreda and two other faith-based schools to write poems on the topic of violence from their point of view by examining the prevalence of violence in the community, acting out skits and reciting violence-themed works of other writers.

The poems were published in a book called Binkabi which derived its name from an Andrika symbol from Ghana's Akan language that symbolizes peace and harmony. Binkabi’s core message is about stopping violence and is expressed within the context of the students’ faith-based education and values.

Management Planning Institute (MPI), a multi-service agency for adults and youth headed by President Dr. George Smith sponsored the workshop that was part of its Fine Arts Summer Program which also included two other workshops in Tap Dancing and African Drumming. The workshop was taught by creative writing instructor Useni Eugene Perkins who led the students in an anti-violence pledge and the recital of his poem Rise Black Youth before each workshop.

The students were recently presented their copies of the book on Spirit Day during the Catholic Schools Week celebration.