VocalEssence – Philip Brunelle, artistic director

Louis Porter II is a published writer in many areas, including memoir, poetry and journalism. His short story, "Reminders," won Ebony Magazine's Gertrude Johnson Williams Literary Award. His work has appeared in the Star Tribune's Faith & Values section. In addition to presenting his own work at coffeehouses and bookstores throughout the region, Louis has performed with several theater companies and enjoys helping students present their work. A longtime educator, Louis has conducted workshops and classes in a variety of settings, from elementary school through college. He believes there are few things more powerful for young people than telling their own stories and he uses memoir, poetry and performance to help them do so.

Workshop Description
After discussing Letter from a Birmingham Jail, (or another age-appropriate piece of writing by Dr. King) students will work with Louis to write about a time in their own lives when things were not going well, but ended triumphantly. Students will share their writing or excerpts of their writing, and time permitting, will polish their presentations for a more dramatic presentation.

To Prepare Your Students

• Read about Dr. King's influences on pages 27 or 30 of the WITNESS Teacher's Guide
• Read a portion of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech on page 101 of the Teacher's Guide, or watch part of it in your classroom