Rennell J. Parker Jr. calls it the “Rebirth of the Renaissance.”

That title may be redundant (since renaissance means “rebirth”)  but we understand the need in this media-saturated world to really emphasize something!

Parker is urging kids to appreciate writing and poetry. He’s organized several opportunities for young people to read their own poetry or the work of other poets. The next event is at 2 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 11) at Barnes & Noble 13995 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant. He’s also organizing a poetry day in Heman Park in U.City at 4 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 12). (The second event may also be a rally for Barack Obama - Parker seems ambitious.)

In the past, he’s said that he “will educate the children about the influence of many of our great writers and poets in history. We will discuss the poetry and the mood of the writer as they created their masterpiece. As we all learn more, my goal is to watch all of the young adults create their own ‘voice.’”

Parker usually goes by a pseudonym: Random Thought. Random Thought is the self-published author of  “Speak Up, Speak Out… Shout If You Have To,” which he’ll sign after the youth event. For more info, go to www.actsofarandomthought.com/