Healing Through Words: Germantown's Poetry Initiative Against Gun Violence

A new public art project in Germantown aims to combat gun violence through the power of poetry. Launched by former Philadelphia poets laureate Yolanda Wisher and Trapeta Mason, the initiative, titled Healing Verse Germantown, will engage the community in creative expression over the next five months.

Key Takeaways

• Project Name: Healing Verse Germantown

• Creators: Yolanda Wisher, Trapeta Mason, Rob Blackson

• Duration: Five months of workshops

• Goal: Curb gun violence through poetry

• Funding: $1 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies

Germantown, a neighborhood with a population of over 41,000, has been grappling with gun violence, recording 42 fatalities last year. This year, the numbers have shown a slight decline, with 19 gun-related deaths reported so far. The project aims to provide a creative outlet for residents, allowing them to express their experiences and emotions through poetry.

During the launch event at the Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library, Chief Public Safety Director Adam Greer emphasized the importance of art in addressing violence. He stated, "It’s poetry. People are talking. People are using their words. They’re communicating. This is important stuff to our young people."

The Healing Verse Initiative

Healing Verse Germantown is an extension of a previous program initiated by Mason during her tenure as poet laureate from 2020 to 2021. The original concept began as a phone line where individuals could listen to local poetry, evolving into a neighborhood workshop in Kensington. The Germantown version is significantly more ambitious, thanks to substantial funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, which supports art projects that address public concerns across the country.

Mason encouraged participants at the launch to engage in writing exercises, using prompts designed to inspire creativity. Some of these prompts included:

• Offering advice to someone facing hardship

• Completing phrases like "I want to remember..." and "I want to heal my...

These prompts were creatively presented on ornately designed cards shaped like birds, t-shirts, and boots, adding a unique touch to the writing process.

Community Engagement and Impact

The initiative aims not only to create public art but also to foster healing within the community. Rob Blackson, the curator, stated, "It’s not just about public art. It’s about public healing. Placing these poems in the heart of Germantown where they’re created allows people to see, in their own words, what poetry and healing mean to them."

Germantown has a rich history of producing talented poets, including four of the city’s seven poets laureate since 2012. Notable figures such as Sonia Sanchez and performance poet Ursula Rucker hail from the neighborhood. Rucker, who performed at the launch, emphasized the importance of vocalizing pain, quoting Zora Neale Hurston: "If you’re silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it."

Looking Ahead

As the Healing Verse Germantown project unfolds, it promises to be a beacon of hope and creativity in a community facing significant challenges. The selected poems from the workshops will inspire 20 new public artworks, set to be installed in early 2026, transforming the neighborhood into a canvas of healing and expression.

Through this initiative, the residents of Germantown are not just fighting against gun violence; they are reclaiming their narratives and using the power of words to foster understanding, healing, and community resilience.

Sources

• Combatting gun violence with poetry in Germantown - WHYY, WHYY.