The Belonging Poetry Anthology Through the Rising Voices Poetry Project in Collaboration with Dr. Cortland Gilliam and Prism Design Lab

What does belonging mean to you?

For fifth-grade students across Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Elementary Schools, this question became the foundation of a year-long journey of creativity, reflection, and self-expression through the Rising Voices Poetry Project (2025).

The project culminated in the Belonging poetry anthology, which is a collection of collaborative classroom poems that captures the voices, experiences, and imaginations of young writers from across the district. More than a poetry collection, Belonging is a celebration of community, identity, and the power of storytelling.

Designed and led by Dr. Cortland Gilliam, the 2023–2024 Chapel Hill Poet Laureate, with support from Prism Design Lab and Executive Director Heather Ferrell, the Rising Voices Poetry Project invited students to explore the meaning of belonging through a series of creative writing and social futuring workshops.

Throughout the year, students were encouraged to reflect on their identities, relationships, and hopes for the future while discovering the transformative power of poetry.

Each student began by writing individually about what belonging means to them. They explored the people, places, memories, and experiences that make them feel seen, valued, and connected. From those write-ups, every student selected a favorite line to contribute to a collaborative classroom poem. The result is a collection where each line carries its own story, yet together they create a richer narrative of shared humanity, a quilt of distinct voices stitched together through creativity and trust.

At Prism Design Lab, we believe that creativity extends beyond design. Storytelling is a powerful form of design in itself, one that shapes how we understand ourselves, connect with others, and imagine more inclusive communities. The Belonging anthology reflects this belief by creating space for young people to express themselves authentically while learning that every voice has value.

This project was made possible through the generous support of the Town of Chapel Hill's Division of Community Arts & Culture, whose commitment to arts education continues to create meaningful opportunities for young people.

We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the educators, teachers, administrators, and school communities of Northside Elementary, Ephesus Elementary, Frank Porter Graham Elementary, Estes Hills Elementary, and Rashkis Elementary. Their partnership and encouragement helped create an environment where students felt empowered to write, reflect, and share.

Most importantly, we celebrate the incredible fifth graders who made this anthology possible. Your creativity, honesty, imagination, and courage shine through every poem. Thank you for trusting your voices, embracing one another's stories, and reminding us that belonging begins with listening, understanding, and sharing.

As you continue your journey, we hope you never stop writing, imagining, and speaking up.