Fairfax District resident Adrian Kljucec, who is transgender, had difficulty with self-expression and relating to others when he started high school four years ago. The 17-year-old said he had a lot of negative thoughts and didn’t know how to assimilate.

“Get Lit”, a poetry advocacy program, helped Adrian Kljucec find his voice and boosted his self-esteem. (photo courtesy of Get Lit)

Four years later, Kljucec has many friends and often performs on stage before large audiences of his peers thanks to Get Lit, a Fairfax District-based program that strives to make poetry fun for students. Kljucec is an ambassador for the Get Lit program, and is a member of the Get Lit Players, a group that travels to other high schools for spoken word performances. He stressed that poetry is a powerful medium for young people who may otherwise not be able to express their feelings

“During my freshman year, I had a lot of dark and deep feelings. I didn’t know what was going on,” Kljucec said. “I wanted to talk about it, but it wasn’t a natural way of expressing my feelings. [Get Lit] opened many doors for me. Get Lit is more than a resource or a workshop, or a place where you form friendships. It becomes a family.”

Although he lives with his mother off La Cienega Boulevard, Kljucec attends Santa Monica High School because he said his father owns property in that area. He learned about Get Lit when the program was held at his school, and instantly knew he wanted to be involved. Kljucec said he had always been a fan of literature and poetry, but wasn’t sure how to pursue his passion. After joining Get Lit, Kljucec said his life has changed dramatically.

“It opened many doors for me. It creates such a unity,” he said. “It’s very important for young people to experience something like this.”

Get Lit is the brainchild of Diane Luby Lane, a Fairfax District resident who was looking for ways to get more students involved in poetry. In 2005, she joined poet and friend Jimmy Santiago Baca for a performance at Fairfax High School, and met Pat Abrams, former chair of the English Department. Abrams later contacted Lane and asked if she would teach a poetry program at the school. The result was a 12-week poetry workshop that was very popular among the students, Lane said.

Fairfax District resident Adrian Kljucec performs at Get Lit. (photo courtesy of Get Lit)

Each student selected a classic poem to read and discuss, and wrote their own poem to share among the group.  The workshops culminated in a spoken word performance at the Greenway Court Theatre.

“In L.A., you have the second to lowest literacy rates in the country. It’s a real crisis, and I wanted to introduce classic poetry as a way to increase literacy rates,” Lane said.

A report cited in the L.A. Times in 2012 that was conducted by Central Connecticut State University indicated that only Houston was lower than Los Angeles among major cities in the United States.

“I introduced poetry as a way for them to express themselves. The students really responded in a positive way. A classic is a classic because it is great, and they are still relevant,” she added.

The Get Lit program initially thrived at Fairfax High School, but it was discontinued after three years because of funding shortages and staff reorganization. Lane was undaunted, however, and sought to expand the Get Lit program. She formed a nonprofit organization, which is based at 142 N. Hayworth Ave., and began pursuing opportunities to bring poetry into other schools. She also started weekly poetry workshops on weekends at the Get Lit office. Summer programs are scheduled beginning in June, although the schedule is still being worked out. The program will likely run two days per week, including Saturdays.

Lane said Get Lit’s standards-based in-school curriculum is currently being implemented at 22 schools, such as Hamilton High School and Dorsey High School. The students participating in those programs will come together in a poetry reading competition titled “The Classic Slam” on Friday, April 26, at the Los Angeles Theatre Company, located at 514 S. Spring St., and on Saturday, April 27, at the Orpheum Theatre, located at 842 Broadway. The students will face off in poetry performances from classic authors, such as Emily Dickinson and Maya Angelou, and will provide their own spoken word responses. Get Lit also provides a “teach-the-teacher” element in which instructors learn to use the program in their curriculum.

Abrams, who retired from Fairfax High School in 2009, said the program was very beneficial, and was disappointed it was discontinued.

“It gives them a voice. It gives them a chance to say the things inside themselves — things that are important but they might be afraid to say,” Abrams said. “It also gives them a place of acceptance, a place they can go to find commonalities.”

Kljucec said he agrees, and encouraged other people his age to get involved.

“It’s very important for people to experience something like this,” he said. “It gives you a sense of acceptance.”

For information, call (323)930-0857, or visit www.getlit.org.