KENNY BARAKA

ENGINEERING YOUTH SOLUTIONS

For our penultimate episode of the season, Yomi speaks with Kenny Baraka and John Bernard about the work that poets do when it comes to reaching those that are labelled "Hard to Reach".

Apples and Snakes:The Podcast is hosted by Yomi Sode with Sound production by Drew at Lab Studios.

Get results from your young people

Do you want to be that kick-ass teacher that gets results?

Are you frustrated working with young people you just can’t get through to?

I’m Kenny Baraka and I help organisations maximise the potential of their young people and of their teaching staff.

 

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Chatting with best-selling author, Francesca Simon, re: the newest instalment in her Horrible Henry

Talking race, culture, writing - and of course his newest, must-read novel - with the legend himself, Benjamin Zephaniah.


Maybe you have a girl who sits at the back of the class chewing gum. Or a really smart kid who does nothing but graffiti his book. School is pointless he says – he just wants to play guitar.

Or do your teachers come to you close to tears because, no matter what they do, their students run endless circles around them.

In schools, youth organisations or young offender institutions, I can help you get results from the most challenging students.

But what in particular brings you here to me today?


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Workshops for young people

I want a workshop run by a facilitator skilled in engaging young people’s imaginations about what they can achieve.

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Teacher development

I want an experienced trainer to work with my teachers in developing strategies for challenging situations and students.

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A speaker

I want an inspirational and motivational speaker for my educational organisation or event.


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An inspirational performer

I want a rap performer who will enthral and inspire young people about relevant issues in their lives.

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A compère

I want an enigmatic host who will entertain and enthuse the audience for my event.

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Current projects

I want to hear more about what Kenny Baraka has in the pipeline.

Kenny Baraka is a brilliant facilitator who can engage some of the hardest to reach young people through his energy, talent and New York cool personality. He is a wordsmith who inspires creativity out of those who think they have none, taking them on a journey from disengagement to confident performance poets.
— ESTHER BAKER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, SYNERGY THEATRE
I worked with Kenny to engage schools with high levels of vulnerable students through rap and songwriting interventions. Kenny was very flexible and collaborated effectively to establish the best format to suit the school and student needs. Kenny established a strong working relationship with the teaching and support staff at the school. Kenny often worked with NEET individuals, or young people from challenging circumstances who often are reluctant to engage and successfully overcame the initial reluctance of those who were willing to engage in the process and built a strong rapport with them. The students were able to use songwriting and rap to express their emotions and staff saw improvements in their emotional self-regulation and attitude towards teachers. Kenny enabled them to develop a confidence in a new skill which carried through to other areas of their work.
— Hannah Conacher (she/her), Music Service Business Manager, Essex Music Service, Essex County Council

Find out more about who I am
on my About page or get in touch today.

Check out my Instagram feed

Kenny was absolutely fantastic. The workshops were very engaging and energetic and really drew out the creativity of the students. It also got all of them writing enthusiastically and using metaphors. I feel there is scope here for this to develop into a cross curricular activity with English. What a wonderful day!! Thank you Kenny, please come back next year!!
— Rachael Evans, Head of Music, Great Baddow High School, Chelmsford