Speaking to My Heart
Series: Incarcerated Youth Speak Out
From: Blunt Youth Radio Project
Length: 00:06:24
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Nikki, who's serving an 18th month sentence at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, Maine talks about what it's like to be separated from her young children.
5 Comments
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Review of Speaking to My HeartParent hood is hard no matter how old you are. Some teen parents go young as 12 years old. Many teenagers think it's hard in the city, but out on a reservation it is hard because there is no place to take your child to a baby sitter. Nicci takes you to a timetable of when she had here first child at 14 and her second at 17, then being incarcerated. Nicci adds her boy and girls voices to her piece and the music grabs onto the listener with emotions. The emotions that grab you are sorrow, anger, happiness, and other types that you would feel torwards what she is talking about. She does a good narration with live recordings. She keeps a steady pace with her narration, doesn?t stutter, and keeps a strong, steady, gentle, voice so listeners will be grab by her emotions. As A would-have-been father I feel the same way as the kids' father. You would always want to be there with your kids. Now Nicci is going get a new start after getting out of prison. Take a listen and YOU might think differently about having a child. |
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Review of Speaking to My HeartWorth a listen and consideration for air play. It's a first person "essay" by this young mother who yearns for a second chance at bettering her life and those of her two young children after she is incarcerated. The piece is nicely produced with music woven through, although at times it's inserted to manipulate your feelings when the narrative alone would have sufficed. But, the music is not offensive, just overused at times. Piece is also nicely edited. Narration around clips of her children and former partner are nicely produced and flows effortlessly. Narrator is very articulate, mature and sympathetic. You are drawn to her story and you cheer for her success. It would make a nice Mother's Day piece but also at any time. Well done. |
Broadcast History
This story originally aired on WMPG's Blunt Youth Radio Project in Portland, ME.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| When You Say Nothing at All | Allison Krauss and Union Station | 00:40 |
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Erika Mahoney
Posted on March 31, 2007 at 10:25 PM | Permalink
Review of Speaking to My Heart
"Speaking to My Heart" is a well done piece about teen pregnancy. In this piece, the narrator reveals just how difficult it is to find the balance between being an adult and being a teenager when you have kids of your own to raise. And although the narrator does make the mistake of leaning more towards her teenage life and ends up having to serve time in jail, she does realize her mistake and promises to be a better mother. I appreciate this message the piece carries because it gives hope to those who are in the same situation confirming that other teen mothers are fighting to make positive lifestyle changes as well.
One of my favorite parts about this piece was the beautiful music choice. The music was soft and pretty and complimented the narrator's voice very well. Furthermore, the kids audio clips of short conversations with their mother really added to the piece and made it that much more personal and real.