Deborah's to do list
- Gain the utmost confidence and experience in my performance as a poet and workshop facilitator.
- Create a poetry performance society in my university which in turn works with as many other societies as possible in performance.
- Push performances and workshops into the community, and share new-found knowledge with other networks so they can do the same.
- Build contacts with other universities to start similar projects and maintain a sense of diversity.
- Schedule performances for young people that are publicised and designed by young people.
- Create an active community amongst schools, local areas and universities not only inspiring and educating but creating job opportunities.
- Find sufficient funding so that I can comfortably concentrate on working with young people whilst eating!
Where Deborah's at
Last updated: 30/06/2008
The next year is going to be like one long performance and poetry filled rave! Designed, presented and created by young people, I want to push workshops away from being summer schemes made to postpone teenage pregnancies and the inhalation of a zoot rolled up at lunch break. I want workshops to stand in conjunction with education, school and the prospect of earning independence and money. Creating job opportunities that don’t just manifest in the performing arts but in advertising, managing, set design and so on. Ultimately I want to showcase performances that get young people paid and noticed as individuals that understand themselves.
Deborah A Stevenson (22 days ago) Report Comment
Hi Deborah. Saw you on the Underground couple of weeks ago. Didn't remember who you were til you passed me! But I just wanted to say I lovve your poems n keep doin wot ur doin init!
Bless
Regal (22 days ago) Report Comment
Debs - you are inspirational! I feel drained too but watching your last video was emotional. Bring it on!
James Rene (65 days ago) Report Comment
Debs, Your energy is inspiring and Turning Point is going to be a MASSIVE SUCCESS!
Sian Petty (65 days ago) Report Comment
Was nice meeting up with you & the guys 2day, hope u got as much out of the meeting as we did? Im going to pass on your contact details to a few of the clothing designers we've worked with, and look foward to hearing back from u in more detail regarding the the festival. I'm gna have t shirt done 4 u aswell b!
Nathan (89 days ago) Report Comment
hey i just thought you my wanna know about this
Hip Hop Shakespeare Competition on bbc blast i saw it and straight thought it would be good if you entered it with one of your poems.
I love your poem from the 18 March entry.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/music_audio/hip_hop_shakespeare_competition/66026
ty (89 days ago) Report Comment
hey deborah im guessin you may not be able to get back to everyone that writes to you, but if you get a minute i would love to have some advice on how to get my poetry out there and get involved in some of the stuff you are doing. i love the idea of young people getting together and expressing themselves through poetry etc and think what you are doing is great!i have never had any of my poetry read out in public-except for at my grandads funeral and would really appreciate some info etc. hope to hear from you x
mary (90 days ago) Report Comment
Deborah a Stevenson (94 days ago) Report Comment
I have been watching your history for a while, well done, the first years are the hardest, your a fighter, if you need any help or some one to talk too, I will be here for you.
Shelly (100 days ago) Report Comment
akilah (111 days ago) Report Comment
Keep an eye on my blog 4 the open auditions. I love seeing creative ppl out there so lydia (also my mums name btw) and Bruno, definately keep doing what your doing. Push projects further cos it sounds like you can.
Lydia watch the blog 4 auditions. Thank you for talk 2 me (YAY i have friends lol :p) xxx
Deborah A Stevenson (117 days ago) Report Comment
yea sorz also my passion is working with youths most deffinatly! Im currently networking in theatres,skools and community groups thats wot made u stand out frm the otheers u have simular interests as me wud be gud 2 hear frm u girl! anywayz wb wen 3 x
lydia gunning (118 days ago) Report Comment
Hey girl! I watched the show on tv yesterday and I was well interested in the subjects you guys were all talking abot ! You deffinatly seem very switched on and talented Im a vocalist n dancer. studyin music n dance combined honours in manchester met! Youve got a real personatlity and theres somthing about which is really good, mate uve got a good vibe abot you and i wanted 2 write 2 u! I love jazz, soul ,blues n just improvising to beats hav performed in many places in Bristol! I seen you blog on the wall abot an opportunity im up 4 it if you offer me a chance ! email me if u not too busy, wana chat abot sum work !! safest lydia look forward 2 hearing from u x
Lydia Gunning (118 days ago) Report Comment
What up D u gd? i was just watching the show and i can totally understand where ur coming from with what u wanna do for young people out there. i went college and studied some random course i wasn’t really interested in then got into the rigmarole of work.i got the opportunity to become a youth worker best choice i've ever made really. i was kinda of just wonder have u ever thought of going down that round, this way it would kinda put some change in ur pocket if u needed thats support as well. some places do look for someone to be qualified but there are places out there which dont need qualification. just alittle thought..get back at man and let me no what u think. take care and stay focused B
M Bruno (119 days ago) Report Comment
For all you budding poets out there GET ON THE DAMN SCENE- the roundhouse, whitechaple art gallery, the albany, your local council, facebook- SEARCH FOR OPPORTUNITIES because believe u me there are loads of them out there.
Keep an eye on my blogs, on my myspace (link is to the left) I will keep u up to date on open mics, auditions, events etc. Read my blogs because there is already info on sum opps now and there sould be some open auditions coming up!
In terms of youth projects- talk to your local council, conections, the princes trust, arts council etc. Talk to poeple already running projects and ask if you can shadow them so you can get an idea of the dynamics behind different projects and get an idea of whats already out there, aswel as clarify to yourself what you want to do. I dont think its just about the art its about managerial skill and creative industry. Alot of ppl enjoy music but making a living from it is something different. Alie?
And if your confused about what you want to do, or u are geting/ have gotten your qualification then I aint guna tell u what to do next but I can say, research and explore to the max. Try undertstand whats best for you and most productive for you- ya know? What sustains your interest? What has room for growth? What has bredth? How many opertunities are within that area? You dont want to restrict yourself...
Sorry this is so generalised, Im running to meetings in a moe and Im only in london one day a week. But PLEASE comment back, spread the word. Post short poems and I will comment and feel free to comment on my poetry. Its all about provocation, criticism, productivity and progress. And i can see your all progressing so thanks for putting a smile on my face after a 4 hour train journey and 3 hours sleep.
HEART U GUYS ;) xxx Debris xxx
Deborah Stevenson (119 days ago) Report Comment
hey deborah, my name's holly and i'm from norwich in norfolk.I'm doing alot of volunteer work myself to do with Peer mentoring and various different youth groups and am trying to set up projects for young people to help them get off the streets and envolved in something there interested in and i believe music is the best way to do it.The reason i say this is because i speak from personal experience as a young person and found myself going off track as i thought because i wasn't accademically smart i had no future.I met my youth worker who showed me that the passion i had for music was just as important as 12 GCSE's and has completely changed my life around.I want to be able to do the same for other young people but really don't know how to go about it.I think your ideas are fantastic and we share alot of beliefs, i was wondering if you had any advice on how to get started.
The other reason for my message is my sister. She's amazingly talented. Her and her friend Dan have a band with just the two of them called Ducky Vodka, they are on 15 but write really catchy indie songs.They've been doing gigs around Norfolk for the past year and i really believe they could go alot further.They have a myspace page look up ducky vodka.Take care Holly xx
holly king (119 days ago) Report Comment
i'm think what you are doing is amazing. It a had world out there and you've provided great opportunities. I've done my photography course and sold some of my work, but i don't know what to do next. love tiff
tiff (119 days ago) Report Comment
really love your ideas... i'm 18 and i'm really in to art .. just did my a-levels and having a year out then going to college (didnt wanna go uni) to do art but i dont know what career i want .. i just know i want art to be involved..
how about spreadin it through the web.. like, i dunno, a website where young people can show all there creative talents.. and advice could be given to those like me who dont like know what to do next
ty (120 days ago) Report Comment
Deborah A Stevenson (121 days ago) Report Comment
You are fit, but you are also talented, loving the confidence and the poetry is very unique, keep up the belief and forget about the 'boring' students, I've done BSc and MSc and you get a lot of so-called ambitious people of the arts who are actually too scared to do anything different. Good to see you're not one of them. Jx
Joseph (122 days ago) Report Comment
ur fit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol
alex (122 days ago) Report Comment
Hey, I'm sure you (used to) live in my area, because I've seen you about.I also have you on MySpace where you sent me a message about this YearDot thing but didn't really 'Get It'. Today, im home because I'm sick and I just finished watching the YearDot programme on channel 4. Went on the website and I've been looking through. Oh How I wish I was in your shoes. lol. I really applaude you for what you did at that poetry kind of group at your Uni, you were totally write in what you were saying. That guy sat on the chair and didnt seem to have given a 'performance' that would have reached out to young people, were as you did. I'm a writer myself and you have inspired me :)
Good Luck
x
Sho (122 days ago) Report Comment
Hi Debs, loving your ideas hun, I'm a 23 year old girl from London, I've been writing poetry for years and would love to get involved with what your doing, just let me know how I can get involved... Thanks babe Diana xxx
Diana (123 days ago) Report Comment
hi deborah,i saw a episode where u wasduin yur poem infront of the creative writin people,dey seemed like dey havent heard a poem before lol anyway i write a bit of poem my
self any advice?
sadony (125 days ago) Report Comment
Would appreciate your advice on my poetry and in return can maybe offer you some advice from someone who identifies with how you are now as being like you when I was younger and has had over the years learned so much about life but unfortunately not so much about computers.Can you email me or post how to send a private message.Ellie
ellie (126 days ago) Report Comment
hey what a great idea.... poetry .... im doing radio at the moment and would love to hear some more poetry you do.... email me if you want would be good to get to know you...
ryan walker (newcastle) (126 days ago) Report Comment