One Billion Poets -- new teen poetry site for global collaboration

I live in LA and teach at the Brentwood School. I teach English and Global Studies. I wanted to let you know I launched a social networking site for teens around the world to connect through poetry. It's called One Billion Poets  --  www.onebillionpoets.com

The goal is for teens around the world to post and discuss poetry related to the teenage experience in the 21st century (their hopes, dreams, burdens, joys, etc.) I am calling it one billion b/c there are about 1 billion teens in the world, so I believe that that means there are potentially one billion teen poets. Below, I am copying the about us page.

It's not for profit, and all the teachers have to do is show the kids the site.

I am very excited as it's been only a few days and people from 14 countries and 27 states in The US have been on site. I already have members from South Africa, England, Hong Kong, and the Bahamas. I have posted on numerous education and librarian listservs.  It's been great as kids I don't know from the Bronx are connecting with each other.

I hope you enjoy and that you let your students know and encourage them to join. Please share with your colleagues and teacher friends all over.

Thank you so much.

Best,
Alex Trivas


Approximately one billion people in the world are teenagers. Therefore, there are approximately one billion teenage poets in the world, young adults who can inspire and shape the world through their writing. Teenagers are often labeled as disaffected, disgruntled, and disengaged. However, we see numerous teens around the around the world striving to effect positive change. And frankly, if you are feeling a bit disaffected, that's okay too. The world is complex and tough, and it can be doubly so for teens. One elixir for the disillusionment and frustrations we face is the potency of poetry.  Focusing on the four following prompts: Where I'm From, What I Carry, Why I Laugh, and What I Wish, One Billion Poets invites all aspiring poets to connect with each other and to share and reflect on each other's poems. We hope you will all see that although we certainly come from very diverse backgrounds-- sometimes extraordinarily different-- we all share many of the same dreams, burdens, loves, hopes, and emotions. Whether you live in Tunisia or Detroit, Moscow or Mexico City, we believe you all have something salient and beautiful to say about the teenage experience in the 21st century.