LAFS Library Virtual Exhibit World Poetry Day 2024

World Poetry Day originated in 1999, declared by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization to “support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard”.

This year, we called to our incredibly talented and creative community of students, staff, and alumni at LAFS/LARS to submit their work for this virtual exhibition.

We’ve received an overwhelming response to this call and are proud to showcase all of the poems here.

We also added some Poetry Resources below, please be sure to check it out!

We invite you to have a scroll and enjoy!

11Seven Sonnets
by Oheneba Koomson
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When I Met Jesus
by Lexus McCullick


Trigger Warning: Drug addiction; trials, tribulations
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Play Video

God's Gift
by Alonzo Wright

WORLD LOST
by Pink Matzke

Fallen Angel
by Lisa Matzke


May contain/discuss sensitive subject matter, reader discretion is advised
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Hell on Earth
by Jordan Jett


This work may be considered profane, vulgar, or offensive.
Reader discretion is advised.
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Wuv on the Telefon
by Victor Macedo

Weather The Storm
by Kierani Burton (KB)
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Save Our Planet
by Addis Robinson

Still Here
by Venus Leone
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ITS 10-30 PM ON THE METRO E LINE AND I JUST WANT TO GO HOME
by Nathan Lee
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Shadows Beneath the Glow
by Jairo Tomico
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Old Smoke
by Christopher Costabile
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Angelic
by Anthony Ortiz

Ugly Yet Sweet Paradise​
by Chevanese Mitchell
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Defining
by Chevanese Mitchell
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Crumbles
by Chevanese Mitchell
Crumbles
by Chevanese Mitchell
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Poems Hide
by Vanessa Martinez
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Clouds
by Andie Crown
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Evole
by Tanzy Sydian
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Adrift
by Pauline Adamek
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A Parachutist’s Soliloquy
by Pauline Adamek
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D of the MT
by G. Jimenez Almanza
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LIVING TODAY
by Cassandra Smith
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I C U
by Amanda Downs
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LAFS LIBRARY POETRY RESOURCES

Available for checkout

eBooks

Videos

Disclaimer:

We do not own any of the images, poems or recordings shown on this blog post.

All works featured are owned by their respective creators.

Pride Month 2023

IT’S FINALLY PRIDE MONTH! In celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and progress, we are thrilled to honor Gregg Araki, a true icon of queer cinema. Araki’s groundbreaking films fearlessly explored queer narratives, challenging societal norms and amplifying marginalized voices. Join us as we delve into his inspiring body of work and discover the lasting impact he has made on the world of cinema. We’VE also curated a list of local Pride events happening in and around Los Angeles, so you can fully embrace the joy and spirit of Pride Month. Let’s come together to celebrate love, diversity, and the journey towards acceptance!

"Thirty years ago, queer filmmaker Gregg Araki unveiled his fourth feature, Totally F***ed Up, at the Sundance Film Festival.

Rebellious, independent, and fearlessly queer, Araki’s radical spin on the coming-of-age genre would later be recognized as the first of his “Teenage Apocalypse” trilogy, which also included the dark road-trip romance The Doom Generation (’95) and sci-fi-twinged black comedy Nowhere (’97).

Nearly three decades on, one might expect these films to feel tame in retrospect, that maybe they—like many thirty-somethings—have lost some of their edge.

But that’s the thing about Araki: No matter how much the world changes (or does’t), his oeuvre is always on the bleeding edge—sexy, funny, shocking, punk, and unabashedly queer.

Timelessly transgressive, Araki is, without a doubt, one of the most important directors to come out of the ’90s, whose influential work will surely continue to inspire the independent filmmaking landscape for another 30 years, at least!"

- Queer Punk Cinema for Queerty, May 31 2023
Click Here to Read the Full Article on Queerty

Totally F***ed Up (1993)

Six queer teenagers struggle to get along with each other and with life in the face of varying obstacles.
Where To Watch

The Doom Generation (1995)

Jordan White and Amy Blue, two troubled teens, pick up an adolescent drifter, Xavier Red. Together, the threesome embark on a sex-and-violence-filled journey through an America of psychos and quickie marts.
Where To Watch

Nowhere (1997)

Follows a day in the lives of a group of Los Angeles high school students and the strange lives they lead.
Where To Watch
"THE RESURGANCE OF GREGG ARAKI'S TEEN APOCALYPSE TRILOGY IN THE COVID-19 ERA"
- KAMIKAZE JONES FOR WUSSY
Click Here to Read the Full Article on Wussy
"Gregg Araki’s 1997 Cult Film ‘Nowhere’ Gets 4K Restoration (EXCLUSIVE)"
- Sophia Scorziello for Variety
Click Here to Read the Full Article on Variety

The LAFS Library proudly stands as an ally with the LGBTQ+ community, embracing diversity and acknowledging the ongoing journey towards acceptance and positive change. In light of the current political and societal climate surrounding queer identities, we want to affirm our unwavering support and will commit to providing a safe and inclusive space for all individuals. We will always strive to amplify queer voices, stories, and resources. May this month be a reminder that every individual deserves to be respected and celebrated for who they are. Together, let’s foster understanding, acceptance, and love!

June 11th, 2023
330 South Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90013
FREE
June 11th, 2023
4522 West Jefferson Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90016
$7.77
June 15th, 2023
4522 West Jefferson Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90016
$7.77
June 17th, 2023
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Gates – 7:15pm / Movie – 9pm
$22
June 17th, 2023
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles 90027
$22
June 24th, 2023
Los Angeles State Historic Park
Gates at 7:30pm / Show at 9pm
$22
PRIDE MONTH AT THE FRIDA

305 E 4th St #100, Santa Ana, CA 92701
All Month Long!

*Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to any of the photos used in this blog post.

Library May Blog Post 2023

This month we honor the Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage that runs deep throughout our society and culture.
We’ll be sharing our top picks and recommendations for the occasion as well as sharing some cool events happening around LA County.

It’s also Mental Health Awareness Month which means we should all take the time to focus on the importance of our mental health. Explore new ways to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle. And always remember that it’s okay to seek help when you need it. 

Join us for our first ever Mental Health Awareness event where we’ll be supplying essential oils and spray bottles so you can make your very own mood-lifting aroma blends. There will also be snacks, refreshments and chill music to vibe and relax to.

Women’s History Month 2023

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

"CELEBRATING WOMEN WHO TELL OUR STORIES"

The National Women’s History Alliance has announced this year’s theme for Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories. We’ll be following their lead and highlighting not only women who have paved the way in all forms of media, but also women who are currently kicking butt and knocking down walls in every way imaginable. Spend some time this month showing your appreciation toward the women in your life and the women who have helped shape the world we live in.

Women often don’t get the credit they deserve for the work they put in. Check out these kick-butt ladies who are heavily involved (if not fully responsible) for the songwriting and production of these great songs!

Click the image below to learn more about some of the women who paved the way in the gaming industry in the 1980s via Google Arts & Culture

EVENTS

Women in the Music Industry
MARCH 25th

The inaugural event of 4THEGIRLIES is a panel of discussion and live performances featuring women in the music industry. (Panel of Discussion + Live Performances)

AFROANIMATION Summit 3.0
APRIL 26th + 27th

Networking opportunity! AfroAnimation 2023 is a 2-day Summit happening in Burbank, California. Dedicated to empowering diverse animators and creators from around the globe and enabling animation companies to find diverse talent.

New Filmmakers Los Angeles March Film Festival Infocus: Female Cinema
MARCH 18

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) hosts its March Monthly Film Festival and celebrates up-and-coming female talent behind the camera with this month’s InFocus: Female Cinema. The festival presents screenings of shorts, documentaries, and feature films that have been submitted from all over the world.
All of the programs are followed by a Q&A with each filmmaker. The program also offers a special reception so the audience can meet the filmmakers and incredible talent involved, while also networking with industry professionals

PLAN A: Black Women on the Rise Film Festival
MARCH 18th

Plan A: Black Women on the Rise Film Festival, is a showcase of short films by Black women to empower Black women. Come celebrate the artistry of filmmakers, producers, writers, and actors, to bridge the gap between emerging and established industry leaders.
The 8th annual festival is presented in partnership with WACO (Where Art Can Occur) Theater Center and M.P.A.C.T (More Positive Artists Coming Together)

Black History Month 2023

Black History Month 2023

It’s Black History Month! Join us in celebration as we shine the spotlight on some of the amazing Black media that has come out in the past year. From movies, to music, to books to podcasts– let’s take this time to acknowledge the contributions to culture and entertainment made by the Black community.

Black Excellence is in abundance in the art world

Click the image below to check out the digital exhibit that Google Arts & Culture put together for Black History Month

STOP BY THE LIBRARY AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT IN OUR COLLECTIONS

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH QWEST EDU

KEEP THE LEARNING GOING WITH THESE ONLINE RESOURCES

Winter Blog 2022

The LAFS Library Team would like to wish all of you a happy holiday season! To help you get into the spirit, we’ve put together this blog post with as much merriment and cheer as we could find.

We put together a list of all things Christmas that we offer for circulation in the library! Click through the slides or view the entire list here.

Also, check out the library staff’s personal recommendations for the month!

Don’t forget about our Creation Station! We’ve been slowly adding more activities for you to enjoy during your downtime. There’s games, origami tutorials, crayons & coloring pages. If you have any suggestions to make our Creation Station even better, we’re always open to new ideas!

The holidays aren’t complete without the right music. That’s why we made TWO playlists for your winter time enjoyment! Don’t forget to follow us on Spotify so you never miss a new playlist.

Halloween 2022

We’ve been waiting all year, and it’s finally time! As the weather starts to cool down, we’ll be carving our jack-o-lanterns in anticipation of Halloween! 

If you’re as excited as we are, then you’ll be delighted to see what we’ve got in store.

Each member of the Library team has picked their favorite horror movies from our collection. Let us know if you’re interested in borrowing any of these and let us know what you think. Don’t forget the popcorn!

Georgina
“Not much of a horror fan, but do love the spooky essence and autumn color themes during this time of year!”
Matt
“I love horror. It’s my all-time favorite movie genre. 80’s Slashers are my go-to, but I pretty much love all horror.”
Mahoganii
“I grew up watching a lot of older Horror Movies with my parents, so that really influenced my love for the genre.”
Nylah
“I picked Freddy vs. Jason because of the icon Kelly Rowland! Her scene with freddy during the final showdown is honestly why this is my favorite scary movie of all time.”

The LAFS Library is also on Letterboxd! We put together an October Watchlist to count down the days to Halloween. Follow us on Letterboxd and join the fun!

Don’t worry, we didn’t forget the music! Our team made a Halloween Vibes Playlist to help get you in the spooky mood. Let us know if we missed anything!

Los Angeles really knows how to celebrate Halloween. Check out these awesome events and attractions that we found online! Take pics and tag us on Instagram to show us how you’ve been celebrating the spooky season!

Hispanic Heritage Month 2022

Join us as we celebrate by highlighting some of our favorite hispanic filmmakers, music makers, writers, animators and more!

Each week, we’ll be adding a section to the blog to showcase a different industry.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of hispanic people making the movies and shows that you love. You can even stop by the library and check out some of the scripts and videos we have that were helmed by hispanic creatives!

Browse through the tabs to see what titles we have in our collection!

What’s a celebration without any music? Check out the playlist we made. It’s full of our favorite Hispanic artists from around the world!

Everyone loves cartoons! And I’ll bet you didn’t know that some of your childhood favorites had Hispanic and Latino artists working on the creative team behind them. Below, we’ve highlighted some fantastic Hispanic and Latino artists next to the animated features they’re attached to.

Labor Day Weekend is the perfect opportunity to get in some last minute Summer excitement! If you’re in need of some suggestions, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few events we found online. Let us know what your Labor Day Weekend plans are!

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards (2)

The first day of Fall is fast approaching! That time of year for gloomy skies, falling leaves and your favorite sweater. The kids go back to school, and the summer heat finally begins to let up. It’s our signal that the end of the year is soon to come and a reminder of how precious time truly is. 

To many people in the United States, Autumn is an opportunity to acknowledge everything we have to be grateful for. It’s the season of harvest and abundance – the season of reflection and new beginnings.

This year, the first day of Fall is September 22nd. So mark your calendars and cozy up with your loved ones. We’ve taken the liberty of creating a September Songs playlist, and a September Watchlist to make getting into the Autumn spirit as easy as pumpkin pie. 

Grab yourself a pumpkin spice latte, a warm blanket and relax with our September Songs Playlist.

September Blog 2022

As we prepare to usher in the new season, join us at the LAFS Library in our efforts to capture the cozy autumn spirit!
We’ve got a few things up our sleeves, as well as some tips to keep the end of summer fun and eventful.

The library team has been working hard to shake things up on campus!

Labor Day Weekend is the perfect opportunity to get in some last minute Summer excitement! If you’re in need of some suggestions, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few events we found online. Let us know what your Labor Day Weekend plans are!

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards (2)

The first day of Fall is fast approaching! That time of year for gloomy skies, falling leaves and your favorite sweater. The kids go back to school, and the summer heat finally begins to let up. It’s our signal that the end of the year is soon to come and a reminder of how precious time truly is. 

To many people in the United States, Autumn is an opportunity to acknowledge everything we have to be grateful for. It’s the season of harvest and abundance – the season of reflection and new beginnings.

This year, the first day of Fall is September 22nd. So mark your calendars and cozy up with your loved ones. We’ve taken the liberty of creating a September Songs playlist, and a September Watchlist to make getting into the Autumn spirit as easy as pumpkin pie. 

Grab yourself a pumpkin spice latte, a warm blanket and relax with our September Songs Playlist.

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