Comprehensive employment/skill development and a lack of career counseling are crucial detrimental factors in the African American community. How do we secure jobs and lead others through the maze of white, blue and green collar options? This point is addressed from practical and useful perspectives throughout Lewis’ Skills Empowerment presentation.

 

Skill Tech Legit is a prescription to heal some of the under and unemployment in our communities. What licenses or certifications are many people overlooking? What jobs fit the personality and lifestyle of many young adults? Are we maximizing our use of current community and school resources to advance ourselves in Science Technology Engineering and Math initiatives?
Lewis’ Skill Tech Legit book includes positional essays, interviews with a broad spectrum of skill technicians, education/skill development proposals and implementation models for schools, churches, and community organizations.

 

Mr. Peterson’s vocational experience and insight encompasses five years as a Coordinator/Monitor of Vocational Programs for the Indianapolis Public Schools; sixteen years as a classroom teacher; a variety of jobs; and years as a community activist. A presentation on Skill Tech Legit was given at Detroit’s Kettering High School through the Blacks in Vocational Education organization. Additionally, the book has received praise from City Council members in Memphis, Tennessee and Tallahassee, Florida.

 

Poetry Slam Creative Arts Curriculum is a dynamic approach to involve students/participants in performance poetry and at the same time develop and expand on their creative, technical and business knowledge through the arts. Each chapter of the curriculum includes Vocabulary, Group Activities, Language Arts, Composition, and Presentation/Evaluation components. The workbook chapters are Creating Poetry, Image & Feedback, Speaking & Listening, Reading, Acting, Art, Financial Literacy, Ownership, Advertisement, Education & Careers, Technology, and Song Writing.

 

Poetry Slam Creative Arts Curriculum is a gumbo of creativity spiced with multimedia examples of edutainment jingles, dance, cultural linguistic swagger, acting and intense artistry.
Lewis began his creative writing career as a high school junior. A scheduling conflict allowed him to take Creative Writing which was only offered to seniors. Later he studied with the late Hoyt Fuller’s workshop on the south side of Chicago. He also performed many times on campus as an undergrad at Illinois State University. After earning a degree in Political Science, he attended graduate school at Fisk University for a year. Then he moved to Los Angeles and studied song writing with the Brenda Lee Eager workshop associated with the Inner City Cultural Center. During this time heal also wrote many screen stories and a novel.

 

After a midnight train back east relocation, Lewis began his educational career with the Indianapolis Public Schools in 1985 as a teacher’s assistant. He went on to earn an Elementary/Middle School teacher’s license from IUPUI and a Master degree in Education Administration from Butler University. Lewis currently teaches GED studies at the Southeast Community Center.

Poetry Slam Creative Arts Curriculum is the continuing development process of Mr. Peterson’s poetic/lyrical skills slanted for educational purposes, show business experiences, instructional strategies, and school administration analysis and professionalism. Lewis has taught the curriculum as an Enrichment class for three summers through Summer Advantage USA. In addition he has presented at Title I workshops in Milwaukee and Indianapolis; a Gifted & Talented National Conference in Woodbridge, New Jersey; and at the Chattanooga African American Museum.

Mr. Peterson is married with two adult sons. His background also includes being a Toastmaster Club member and a Baptist preacher.

 

Topics:
Skill Tech Legit, Poetry Slam Creative Arts Curriculum

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