The Shadow Beside Me

The Pongo Poetry Project helps youth and adults to write personal poetry as a healing and empowering response to trauma. Pongo's process particularly supports underserved communities and those who have a hard time expressing themselves. Our trained staff and volunteers establish writing projects inside juvenile detention centers, psychiatric hospitals, and other sites. Our primary purpose is to help our authors understand their feelings, find their voices, and express their hope for a better future. For counselors, teachers, and caregivers, Pongo offers national trainings, free web resources, and a book about our methodology, Writing with At-Risk Youth: The Pongo Teen Writing Method by Richard Gold, Pongo's Founder.