Student Writer’s Work Featured in Teen Vogue

Central Piedmont student Michael-Michelle Pratt, a student in the college’s Associate in Arts degree program, recently had an op-ed piece featured in the June issue of Teen Vogue called, “Growing Up Black Between Trayvon Martin and George Floyd Has My Generation at a Boiling Point.”

When Pratt began sharing her thoughts on systemic racism and the Black Lives Matter movement on Twitter earlier this year, she had no idea her comments would attract the attention of the political editor at Teen Vogue, who began following her online.

In her online musings, Pratt discussed that while the recent death of George Floyd was causing a resurgence in the Black Lives Matter movement, no one was talking about how the tragedy had impacted her generation — Generation Z, a segment of the population that had largely grown up between the deaths of Trayvon Martin in 2012 and George Floyd in 2020. She pitched the article topic to the editor at Teen Vogue, and they accepted.

“I wanted my article to explain to readers that the events of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, and others are not isolated incidents that happened in a bubble,” said Pratt. “I wanted to explain that everything that is happening today is a combination of past and present frustration — that it has all built up to this critical moment, a boiling point that we’re about to see spill over.”

In the op-ed, Pratt discusses first learning about the Trayvon Martin shooting; the impact it had on her adolescence/family; how the incident inspired her to begin following strong female, African-American writers (Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, Alice Walker); and how it propelled her to seek out leadership opportunities that would allow her to not only fight back against oppression, but to also find her voice.

Thankfully, Pratt has discovered an outlet for her voice at Central Piedmont’s Levine Campus in Matthews, NC, where she participates in the campus’s Student Writers Assembles Guild (SWAG), a student creative writing club formed in 2016 that provides individuals with a creative space to write poetry, short stories, articles, screenplays, and more.

“Michael-Michelle is a talented writer and poet,” said Elizabeth West, an associate instructor and faculty advisor for Central Piedmont’s SWAG.“She has a strong voice and is brave enough to use it to enact change in our community. She has a sweet, quiet demeanor in person, but her words ring loud and strong on the page. She is a wonderful SWAG member and we are all so proud of her accomplishments.”

Pratt plans to graduate from Central Piedmont in August 2021 and pursue a career in journalism or film to become a director/screenwriter. “While I love being able to discuss my opinions on the cultural climate in which we all live, I love being able to create my own world in a screenplay,” said Pratt.

Learn more about Central Piedmont’s Associate in Arts program. For information on the college’s Student Writers Assembles Guild (SWAG), please email elizabeth.west@cpcc.edu.

Spend Your Summer with SWAG

Do you enjoy writing and sharing ideas? Need a creative space for expression? The Student Writers Assembled Guild (SWAG), a creative writing club on Levine Campus, has extended virtual meetings throughout the summer term. 

Through student-led writing prompts, SWAG members write about a variety of topics in different genres such as fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Weekly meetings also serve as a positive release during these challenging times. Recent topics have included anxieties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and inequality and social issues.

SWAG is a community safe-space to receive positive and constructive feedback. Central Piedmont alumni, currently studying at North Carolina State University, East Carolina University, Appalachian State University, Queens and Wingate Universities, return to club meetings to share their experiences with current students.

Students write poetry, short stories, and screenplays while focusing on several skills such as voice, perspective, and dialogue development.

Members are also encouraged to develop works for publication. SWAG member and current student, Michael-Michelle Pratt recently published an article for Teen Vogue, titled Growing Up Black Between Trayvon Martin and George Floyd Has My Generation at a Boiling Point. Other members are actively submitting their work for publications as well.

Meetings are held every Thursday at 4 p.m. via ZoomStudents, faculty, or staff members interested in joining SWAG for the summer are encouraged to contact Elizabeth West at elizabeth.west@cpcc.edu.

Virtual Spirit Friday

Student Life Group shotTo help us continue to keep the Central Piedmont spirit alive as we work and learn remotely, please continue to share pics of yourself (and/or your classmates on Webex calls) from home with us on social media wearing Central Piedmont gear. Just “mention” us in your post for a chance to win by typing  the “at” symbol and our college info (below) in the text of your post:

  • Facebook: @centralpiedmontcc
  • Instagram: @centralpiedmontcc
  • Twitter: @cpcc

For your efforts, you’ll be rewarded  with some Central Piedmont swag when we return to campus!

Thanks to all our students, employees, and alums for being our best brand ambassadors. We can’t wait to see your smiling faces online!

#CentralPiedmontSpirit: Show Your School Spirit Any Day on Campus

Want to win cool Central Piedmont swag? Show your #CentralPiedmontSpirit any day on campus and tag us in your Spirit Selfie on social for your chance to win. New winners announced every Friday!

Share a pic of yourself and other Central Piedmont students wearing the new college logo to social media and “mention” us in your post for the chance to win. Once you’re ready to share a great post about Central Piedmont – please type the “at” symbol and our college info (below) in the text of your post:

  • Facebook: @centralpiedmontcc
  • Instagram: @centralpiedmontcc
  • Twitter: @cpcc

While you’re online, don’t forget to connect with Central Piedmont on social media. Here are our primary college accounts:

Did you know that Fridays are Spirit Day at Calvine’s Coffee on Central, Levine, and Merancas Campuses?

To help promote Central Piedmont’s new logo, Calvine’s Coffee will give an additional 3% discount off any purchase when staff, faculty, and students are wearing their new logo shirts.