Help kids with their writing, creativity and English skills.

On Tuesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 24, members of College Forward’s Student Leadership Council (SLC) at Lehman High School and Georgetown High School will lead groups of their peers in an afternoon of service at their respective schools. Participants will create craft kits, care packages and cards for patients at the nearby Dell Children’s Hospital.

Light spinning, mainly Poi, is a growing activity throughout the world. However, many in the U.S. have still never heard of it. Poi are basically cords with a weighted end, or glowing object. They are spun around the body in intricate forms and patterns. For performances the ends are sometimes lit with fire, but now L.E.D. lights create a fantastic and safe display. Poi spinning is like a sport, because practice and dedication are necessary. On the other hand it's a creative art form like dance that requires coordination and rhythm. It interests all sorts of people, young and old.

My project started when my band was rehearsing one evening: As usual, all of my friends came to my warehouse I rented to hear the band play. We called this little haven the "Shed Shed"; It was a safe place for my friends to be after school and a good place to have a jam room. After this particular practice, my friend Alexis asked if I could teach her how to play the drums. I taught her the basics and sure enough, she was a natural. I told her [jokingly] that if she kept up playing like that, she'd end up replacing me in the band. I never had seen her smile that big.