A book of marginal poetry written by adolescents serving socio-educational measures at the Socio-Education Center 1 (Cense 1) in Londrina will be launched to the community this Saturday, March 14, at Canto do MARL. The work is the result of the project SLAM | Body and Poetry in Marginal Territory, developed between July and November 2025 with around 60 adolescents from the temporary detention unit.

The initiative, approved by the State Secretariat of Culture with funds from the Aldir Blanc National Policy for the Promotion of Culture, was conceived by cultural producer Dan Barbosa, from Território Marginal, an independent production company focused on art education and street culture. With a team of art educators, he coordinated the workshops, in partnership with Slam Blackout.

During a public meeting promoted by the office of Representative Renato Freitas on February 28, at the APP Union Auditorium in Londrina, Dan recited verses from the book, bringing to the audience the voice of one of the adolescents. "Justice for me is the system finding a way to take the guns and the drugs out of our hands," says one of the recited excerpts.

Inside the Walls

According to Dan Barbosa, the project's methodology sought a horizontal approach, respecting the participants' experiences. "The methodology had a horizontal vibe, respecting the knowledge and experiences of the adolescents. We also used the methodology of escrevivência, from our collective experiences, always bringing a lot of affection, respect, and memory so we could continue with our weekly workshops,” he reports.

He also mentions the importance of active listening in the youths' choices, such as the types of prizes for the poetry battles held. “We asked the adolescents what kind of prizes they would like, what they wanted to share in the meetings, and how they envisioned that space. Listening to their choices was part of the project's methodology.”

The weekly meetings included moments of togetherness and sharing, with snacks provided. "Eating together was also part of the methodology: creating a time for a pause, for conversation and bonding. The pedagogue remarked that many adolescents eagerly awaited Friday because they knew that was also a time to meet," explained Dan Barbosa.

The official launch of the book for the authors took place at the end of last year, inside Cense 1, with an event that included a show, dance, DJing, and a poetry battle. Now, the work will be presented to the community.

Launch program

The launch will take place next Saturday, March 14, at Canto do MARL (Movement of Street Artists of Londrina), starting at 3:30 p.m. The event will feature the first edition of the year of Slam Blackout, a spoken-word poetry collective from Londrina.

The program includes poets from Londrina, the interior of São Paulo, and Curitiba for a spoken-word poetry battle. There will be distribution of some copies of the book, a performance by Ballroom Londrina, a DJ set by DJ Dan Barbosa, and a show by MC Gerin. A discussion circle, led by Dan and Juuara Barbosa, will address the theme "Marginal Poetry and Ballroom Culture | where the margins meet," with the participation of Kach Miranda (LDN), Majo (CWB), Trava da Fronteira (Foz-PR) and the collective Slam Subversão (OUR-SP).

Service:
Date: March 14
Time: from 3:30 p.m.
Location: Canto do Marl
Admission: Free