News at Buckley

Slam Poet Andre Bradford Teaches Empathy Through Storytelling

Buckley students and faculty went on a rollercoaster of emotions as motivational speaker Andre Bradford gave us a glimpse into his life at the Fall 2021 DEI Symposium through his art form -- slam poetry.
“It [poetry] allows the audience a really quick peek into what makes someone truly tick. I get to see that some of the hard things I’ve been through… resonate with some of you as well. That is literally how human connection happens.”
 
Through his session, Bradford focused on the importance of empathy, mental health, race, and more. During a poetry slam workshop, Bradford challenged students to “think about who they really are.” The workshop aimed to strip away pretenses and to encourage students to think deeply. 
 
Students wrote poems without stressing about grammar rules in response to prompts asking “how are you”. Students put their thoughts to paper and confidently took the stage to express their emotions, cultivate insight about their experiences, and bridge connections with their peers and teachers. 
 
Following his presentation to Middle School, students spent their break in between sessions for an impromptu meet and greet to express their connections to Bradford’s experiences and share their favorite moments from the session. 
 
Click here to learn more about Bradford and his work. 
Back

Other News

List of 4 news stories.

View All News
3900 Stansbury Ave.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 783-1610

Find Us

© 2015 The Buckley School. All Rights Reserved