“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt

5th grade writers from Hoover Elementary got to meet with Oakland landscape architects from Einwiller Kuehl, who are designing the new Mosswood Park in North Oakland.

These talented young authors’ poetry will be installed in the walkways throughout the park in the next two years, and they could not be more proud.

Building on a 5th grade social studies unit that studies the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Chapter 510 led an in-school book project for 5th grade Hoover Elementary students. Taught over the course of ten weeks in the 2021/2022 school year, this writing workshop used poetry as a tool to personalize the political. Students explored the details of their own lives using poetic technique in the relationship with human rights. and the resulting poetry contextualizes the UDHR within the candor and clarity of young voices.

We will be releasing a handmade book of their poetry this spring with cover art by local Artist Janine MacBeth, so stay tuned!