Student recognized for poem at MLK Jr. Youth Celebration

By Joan Matys
Special to The Catholic Free Press

A seventh grader from All Saints Academy in Webster, Matthew Monticelli, was recognized at a Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Celebration Jan. 13.
This year Worcester State University held its 30th annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Every year, students in grades 7-12 are invited to write a poem based on Dr. King’s dream of equality for all. Matthew was one of a number of winners. They were not ranked by first, second or third place.
The theme this year was, “Beyond the Dream: The Struggle for Equity Continues.” Students were asked to describe how they would like elected officials to see through their lens the challenges our communities are experiencing in the struggle for equity, and what their vision would be for bringing equity to any of the following: labor rights, affordable housing, access to education, and inclusion and visibility of our most vulnerable communities. It is a tall order, especially when one is limited to 200 words or less.
When Linda Oakley, Matthew’s English teacher, presented this opportunity to the class, they immediately began to brainstorm how they/we can “live” the call of Dr. King to equality of opportunity. As students at a small Catholic school in Webster, they began to think about the topic and considered what contributions they make to their local community, with the fundraisers and drives in which the school, students and families participate. Currently, the school’s National Junior Honor Society chapter is collecting “Soup and Socks” for the unhoused.
Those experiences and the call to service are embedded in the school’s mission, so it was not too difficult to think about the needs of others in their own community. In the early class discussions, students considered how they could talk and play with those who appear to be alone, and not gossip or tell secrets where others are excluded. As the students began to think beyond their school, the ideas began to flow. The entire writing process took several hours after the brainstorming portion, to compose, revise and rearrange words.
Matthew’s poem focused on hunger and housing. He wrote:
In a society filled with power and greed
we must open our hearts to those in need.
From hunger to housing
and everything in between
so many peoples’ needs go unseen.
How do we help this?
Do you even know?
As our elected leaders
I surely hope so.
I ask that you take a good look around
Step out of your world and into the crowd.
Walk in our shoes and see where we eat
See where we learn and see where we sleep.
Let’s raise the awareness
Of treating with fairness
Those who are not the same.
Let’s take down our blinders
And remove our dividers
So that inequity no longer remains.
When informed about his winning entry, Matthew was surprised and humbled. He “didn’t expect it.” He attended the ceremony for winners with his parents.