Alyssa VanPelt-Cathcart, Staff Writer
Black History Month is the time to appreciate all of the achievements of the members within the black community and look forward to new goals in an ever-changing, political environment. Thanks to the support of Delielah Tinsley, celebration and solidarity to the black community was brought to the Oneonta Job Corp.
Job Corp, according to their website, “provides free career training and education for low- income 16 through 24-year-olds.” Between their ten in-demand job training courses, and over a hundred various training courses, “Job Corps can also help you earn your high school diploma or the equivalent, and a driver’s license. Job Corps will also provide in-depth career planning, on- the-job training, job placement assistance, housing, food, health and dental care, a biweekly basic living allowance, and basic uniforms and equipment for your career training.” Job Corp is a national organization that is “the longest and most successful” program of this kind according to Jocelyn Plows.
Jocelyn Plows is the business engagement specialist at the Oneonta Job Corp. Plows was the master of ceremonies for the Poetry Slam that took place on February 12th. Three of the judges for the slam include Tinsley who is a current senior at SUNY Oneonta, Dr. George Hovis who is a current professor at SUNY Oneonta, and Alyssa VanPelt-Cathcart who is also a current senior at SUNY Oneonta. Dr. Hovis, according to the SUNY Oneonta’s English Department, “George Hovis earned a Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001 and was on the faculty at Murray State University before coming to SUNY Oneonta in 2006, where he is currently a professor of English. His teaching and research interests lie in the areas of American literature, fiction writing, creative writing, and literature of the American South, especially as it addresses issues of race in America.”
Tinsley began the slam as the “sacrifice” for the event..Her poem is called “Doubles” which features commentary on the experience growing up as a young, black girl or boy. Those performing at this slam are current students at Job Corp. Following the theme of Black History Month, many of them recited original poetry written for the event. Armani, one of the students, performed his poem, “A Brother Said.” His performing skills were amazing as they were insightful and engaging despite his calm energy. Armani is the first-place winner of the Poetry Slam at Job Corp. He will be performing Wednesday, February 19th at Craven Lounge in Morris Hall. The second-place winner, Jordan Brown, will also be performing. Brown’s performing skills were of higher energy than Armani’s, but it still remained serious. Brown incorporated physical aspects into his performance as he relied heavily on hand gestures in conjunction to his verbal quality. Finally, Jashana Barber, despite not winning first or second place, has been formally invited to also perform at the poetry slam by Delielah Tinsley because of her amazing performance. Everyone who shared their poetry at Job Corp is truly remarkable.
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