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Credit: MY HERO

MY HERO Art of Healing Celebration

April is Jazz and Poetry appreciation month. Join MY HERO in a global celebration of the art of healing using art, film, music, and poetry. You are invited to submit your projects to share with the MY HERO global community.

Films: Examples of Cinematic Poetry From the MY HERO Library

The Peace of Wild Things

Katy Wang
When despair for the world grows in me… ...I come into the peace of wild things. ~Wendell Barry

Waking from a Dream about Forests

Maeta Gray | Pacific Elementary School
A poem appreciating forests

History will be Repeated

Produced by:Trey Carlisle
Watch filmmaker/spoken word artistTrey Carlisle's performance of "History Will Be Repeated," a poem promoting tolerance.

My Black Everything

Cara McPhie

A poetic film in honor and celebration of Black History Month. Made by a MY HERO intern. (5:21 run time)

Song of the Earth

Produced by:Matthew Evans & Leona Evans

Mother and son collaborate in the expression of poetry and music for the planet. (4:00 minutes run time)

A Brave and Startling Truth

Produced by:United Nations

Maya Angelou reads her poem "A Brave and Startling Truth" which she wrote in commemoration of the UN's 50th Anniversary, in 1995. (5:29 run time)

Sea Fever

Produced by:Tim Davies
A poetic & musical expression of connecting to the mighty sea.

The World Is Too Much With Us

Produced by:Taft High School

Taft High School student, Deana Saito, creates a beautiful visual expression of the poem by William Wordsworth.

Nature Poem

Produced by:Jerrilyn Jacobs
The virtues of being among nature and finding inner peace

Mattie Stepanek

Produced by:Nathan Smith
A short animated tribute to poet hero Mattie Stepanek. The soundtrack features the St. Paul's Episcopal Day School choir singing a song inspired by one of Mattie's poems.

To The Boy - for Mattie J.T. Stepanek

Produced by:Alana Daly Mulligan
Mattie's life philosophy was to play after every storm, so now, when we all feel tossed about but the waves of our world, we must remember to hold onto hope.

Amanda Gorman, America's First Youth Poet Laureate

"For there was always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."

On Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021, America’s first Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman delivered her original poem "The Hill We Climb" after the swearing-in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Students can listen as they read Amanda Gorman's poem "The Hill We Climb" included in the story below.

The Hill We Climb by Poet Hero Amanda Gorman

Audio of Amanda Gorman reciting her poem The Hill We Climb.

 


Amanda Gorman: The Poet Who Healed a Nation

By: Shannon Luders-Manuel

Students read this story about Amanda Gorman to learn more about how Amanda used lyrical poetry to help overcome a speech impediment. 

The text to her poem "The Hill We Climb" is included. 

Examples of Uplifting Short Films From the MY HERO Library

BYkids Trailer: FAITH’S WORLD

Faith Guilbault
Faith Guilbault (age 16) has cerebral palsy and invites us to experience living with special needs so we can all treat being differently abled with humanity and normalcy.

Do You See Rainbow?

Kitty Richardson
An insight into autism from the perspective of someone with autism.

Sokinaa' Passkaan Aassisstoi (Healing Bells)

Produced by:Wapikoni Mobile
This film is inspired by true events. Through an emotional approach, we discover resiliency through dance.

Super Ruby

Dean Saffron
This piece pays homage to the power of positivity generated by Ruby, a young sporting champion who endeavours to lead her best life everday.

Milk

Celia Jaspers
When she sees an old man unable to pay for his milk, a young girl has a change of heart.

Joey

Shaun MacGillivray
Joey is a remarkable hero who captured the heart of filmmaker Shaun MacGilllivray.

Art of Healing Short Films

Surfer's Healing

Jack Winter
A non-profit gives autistic children a chance to shine by taking them surfing for the first time!

Mental Health Awareness

Andy Crisp
Bringing awareness to mental health in Laguna Beach Unified School District.

Still I Rise

Gabriel Diamond, Patrick Barnes, Phil Collis
A visual and musical interpretation of American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou’s electrifying poem "Still I Rise."

Examples of Artwork from the MY HERO Gallery

My brother

By: Esme Tran from the United States

First Place Winner: 2022 MY HERO Robert Shetterly Portrait Contest

My older brother has an illness that is not well understood. He gets many medical tests, shots, and medicine. Even when he feels weak or sick, he still hugs and kisses me whenever I am sad. He is my hero because he shows me how to have a bright smile no matter how I feel. He is the bravest person I know!


Artwork submitted to MY HERO by students honoring healing heroes during the coronavirus pandemic.

We Are A World of Children

By: First Grade Scholars at Furlow Charter School

We Can Build a Covid Free World If We Unite

By: Matthew Yi

Covid Superheroes

By: Jamie Park

Always with You

By: Deepshikha De

World-wide Doctor Heros

By: Sophia K

Uplifting Healing Stories

Esme Tran

By: Naomi Gledhill
Esme Tran wins MY HERO art contest.

Brandon Tsay: Lifesaver

By: Naomi Gledhill
Brandon Tsay, a 26-year-old man from California, saved numerous lives on the night of the 21st January 2023, when he disarmed a gunman in Monterey Park.

Art as a tool for healing? Cambodian circus fosters joy and confidence.

Art as a Tool for Healing? by Charukesi Ramadurai
Credit: Charukesi Ramadurai

Marcus Rashford MBE - Football Hero and Hunger Campaigner

By: Abigail Richardson
Marcus Rashford is an England Premiere League footballer who rose to fame playing for Manchester United and England and more recently for his work with FareShare[i] to help tackle childhood hunger in the UK.

Lesson Plans: Cinematic Poetry

Cinematic Poetry
Credit: MY HERO
Poetic Cinema 45 - 60 Minute Lesson Plan
Credit: MY HERO

Lesson Plans: Connecting Poetry and Art

Connecting Art and Poetry Lesson Plan
Credit: MY HERO
Using Art to Inspire Poetry
Credit: MY HERO

Host a Jazz Festival at Your School or Community Center

April is Jazz Appreciation Month.

Does your school have a Jazz Band or students interested in jazz? Have them host a jazz performance for the school, community, or class. Film your event and share it with MY HERO during the month of April, Jazz Appreciation month. 

April is Jazz
Credit: MY HERO
Jazz Month Lesson Plan
Credit: MY HERO

Have your students create artwork, poetry, dance, or music to celebrate the healing power of art. Share with your community during the month of April which is Poetry and Jazz month. Be a part of the MY HERO global family by sharing your students' projects with MY HERO!

Media Arts Education Resources for Students

These FREE media arts education resources support all levels of media makers with the tools needed to produce meaningful hero films that can be shared with our global audience.

Media Arts Education Resources
Credit: MY HERO

How to use MY HERO's Create Program to Publish Poetry, Stories, Art, Film, and Audio 

 

How to use MY HERO's Create Program to Publish Stories, Art, Film and Audio for Students

Tutorial for students: Publish written stories, film, original artwork and audio in MY HERO's multimedia library.

Create Program
Credit: MY HERO

Organizer created on 1/18/2023 2:00:49 PM by Laura Nietzer

Last edited 3/8/2023 1:23:13 PM by Abigail Richardson

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