Kings' Dream Flags project promotes kids' dreams

Acclaimed poet/storyteller Joanna Featherstone connects with kids, By Linda Smith Hancharick Warwick —Driving by Kings Elementary School recently, you couldn’t help but notice the field of white flags fluttering in the breeze. These were dream flags, each one containing the dream of the student who created it. Monday, Joanna Featherstone, actress, storyteller, teacher, and poet, brought a conclusion to National Poetry Month that the entire Kings community will not soon forget. The Dream Flag project was inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes, the favorite poet of Kings third grade teacher Pat Reinhardt. Reinhardt thought the project would be a great way to celebrate April, which is National Poetry Month. However, it was her serendipitous meeting in New York City with Featherstone just two weeks ago that brought the whole project together. Reinhardt reads poetry to her young students every day of the school year, but she devotes an entire unit to Hughes’ poetry. Hughes wrote many poems about dreams, his own dreams as an African-American in America as well as the dreams of others he knew. Reinhardt proposed the dream flag project to the other teachers at Kings. She heard about a grant from Orange County Arts that could help them pay for the materials. She applied in late October and received word in April that they are receiving a $900 grant. In the meantime, Reinhardt got to work on the project. Each child would receive a piece of fabric, 8 ½ by 11 inches — fabric from Reinhardt’s mother’s old curtains and sheets. The children would write their own dream poems, symbols, single words—whatever would represent their dreams—and in April, the flags would be displayed in the Gladys Dunn Outdoor Learning Center, just adjacent to the school. The response was great, according to Reinhardt. “Most classes participated,” said Reinhardt. “The Bellvale Bruderhof also participated. They made their flags and came to the assembly on Monday. They were very happy to participate.” One third grade boy wrote, “My dream for the world is that when my kids grow up, they will have peace.” Two weeks ago, Reinhardt was in New York City with friends when she spotted her neighbor, Colleen Emery, having lunch with a friend. Reinhardt went over to quickly say hello to Emery, who introduced her to her friend. Emery asked how the dream flag project was going and Reinhardt told her it was great. She glanced at Emery’s friend and said, “I just love Langston Hughes’ poetry,” and was on her way. That night, she found a note on her door from Emery. The friend she was having lunch with was Joanna Featherstone. Featherstone, a performer, brings the works of four African-American poets to life, including Langston Hughes. Featherstone wanted to come to Kings and perform the poetry for the children. That happened on Monday. “It was the most incredible event,” said Reinhardt. “It was affirming, respectful. It was powerful.” Featherstone didn’t just recite the poetry. Instead she asked her audience to “receive this poem and respond.” “They responded in silence, laughter, everything appropriate,” said Reinhardt. “Over 300 kids (all grades three, four, and five) were mesmerized by her.” Featherstone talked of her own dreams, especially the ones she had growing up. “Everyday her mother would tell her she was going to college,” said Reinhardt. So she believed she was. Then, someone in high school told her she wasn’t college material. But she persevered and didn’t let that person sway her from her dream. Featherstone had the children recite Hughes’ poem, Dreams. Then they performed it silently, using only sign language. Afterward, some of the classes wrote letters to Featherstone, thanking her for donating her time and coming to Warwick. “The kids were so honest and open with her,” said Reinhardt. One fifth grader wrote: “I was not interested in poetry, but that might have changed today.” Another wrote: “My dream is to have world peace. You made me very happy and sad at the same time. P.S. I’m going to college.” “This is what I believe in,” said Reinhardt, who is in her last year of teaching. “This is what is important.” “Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.” The dream flags will be flying again in June, for the Warwick Valley Gardeners tour.