Page 18 - 2016 September Voices!

Leadership, Personal Growth, & Rap

Welcome to MacLaren YCF Toastmasters

by Sarah Evans, Oregon Youth Authority Communications

Warith M. went to his where members can learn together and help
first Toastmasters meeting each other develop their communication and
because they served coffee leadership skills.
and snacks, and it was a chance to do something If outside Toastmasters were to attend a
outside his living unit. He had no idea what the meeting at MacLaren, they would find many
organization was — he says he “thought it was familiar formalities. The members have well-
about toast.”
defined roles, including a timer who ensures
Four years later, Warith is president of speakers are following the proper time limits;
the MacLaren Youth
a grammarian who tracks speakers’ use of
Correctional Facility
unnaturally long pauses and fillers such as
Toastmasters chapter, and
“ah” or “um”; and speech evaluators who
he says the experience
provide speakers with positive feedback
has been instrumental in
and suggestions for improvement.
helping him interact more
What makes the Hopemasters distinc-
positively with others.
tive is the speech
“I’ve never been shy
topics they choose
about public speaking,
— topics that reflect
and I always try to put on
Edward Y. delivered a speech their backgrounds and
an air of confidence when entitled “Leadership and Change.”
circumstances. At a July
I’m talking to people,” he
meeting, when asked
says. “But I’ve learned to
what he would change
be more polished. When
if he was president, one
I’m talking to people, I’m
youth said he would
rough around the edges. I
“change the ghettos
don’t like censoring myself.
because nobody needs
I need to make it better so
Warith M. shared a freestyle rap to live in such crammed
I can communicate with during a recentToastmasters
everyone, not just people meeting up areas.” Another

I’m comfortable with.” youth, in a speech titled,

Helping youth learn to “Leadership and Change,” urged the audience
be more confident commu-
Brandon D. led the Toastmasters to consider, “What should our mission be
nicators — whether they are meeting here in this facility? It should be to change

our attitudes and behavior through personal
in front of a crowd, in a work environment, or growth.”
simply with each other — has been the goal of
Warith spoke about his longtime love for
MacLaren’s Toastmasters chapter since it formed freestyle rap. He related how, during his incar-
five years ago.
ceration, he shifted from rapping about “cars,
The group, called Hopemasters partly money, clothes, and women” to topics that “could
because it is offered through Janus Youth help people know how we feel when we’re locked
Programs’ Hope Partnership, is one of 15,900 up here.”
Toastmasters International chapters worldwide.
“I learned that you could rap tight and rap
The club is open to all youth at MacLaren, as about something with conscience at the same
well as staff and the general public; currently, time,” he told the group before sharing a freestyle
a volunteer participates along with the youth. rap about his struggles with anger and distrust
Toastmasters’ mission is to empower of people in power.
individuals to become more effective commu-
Not every youth focused on his current
nicators and leaders. The organization does circumstances, however. Gustavo P., the club’s
this by providing supportive environments vice president of education, discussed scientific

18 Volume 3 Issue 3 - SEPTEMBER 2016