Picture this: A woman sits quietly at a table, hands resting near a small pile of words. You offer a gentle invitation: “choose a few that you like.” No pressure, no expectation. A minute passes. Then, slowly, she picks up one word. Then another. She places them side by side, almost like she’s setting the […]
2025 Year in Review
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2025 was all about collaboration and connection! Read our Year in Review
Check out our new offering!
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Now available at poemRENOVATION.com: 3D-printed poemRENOVATION Word Blocks! Transform literary passages into hands-on, creative fun! Rearrange the word blocks to create something new: Craft a poem. Tell a story. Stir memories. Spark joy! Then flip the card to see how the original author used those same words. Whether you’re… An activities provider looking for meaningful […]
Mix up the poemRENOVATION word block fun with collaboration, crafts, collage and other cool concoctions!
Farewell, Marietta
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I met Marietta in July of 2024 in a memory care community in Marietta, Ohio. Snowy hair, neatly dressed, she was 99 at the time. I asked if she was named after the town or if the town was named after her and she laughed. Marietta told me she once worked in a bridal shop […]
By Kelly de la Rocha, founder of poemRENOVATION I came to the United Church Homes Entrepreneur in Residence program with carefully-cut-out word blocks and a whole lot of questions. I left with knowledge that will pave my path forward. I’m Kelly de la Rocha, a poet, journalist and founder of poemRENOVATION, an arts-based word challenge. […]
Meet Wanda
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Wanda has a smile at least a mile wide. A community member at The Pines United Church Homes assisted living community, she adds brightness to every gathering. I felt lucky to have her attend all three of the poemRENOVATION workshops I held while there as an entrepreneur in residence. During one workshop, she chose a […]
Meet Mable
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Mable’s hand shook when she tried to move the poemRENOVATION word blocks around on the table. She struggles to keep her head up straight, so it was difficult to read the words, too. But once she teamed up with Kelly de la Rocha, poemRENOVATION’S founder, collaborative wordplay led to levity. They rearranged the words until […]
Meet Marlene
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Marlene, a member of a memory care community in Marietta, Ohio, spends much of her time sleeping and doesn’t often participate in group activities. The staff was delighted when she decided to try poem RENOVATION. Rev. Patricia Vargas, the community’s chaplain, said she has never seen Marlene more engaged than she was while participating in […]
Whether you’re an educator or an elder care professional, poem RENOVATION makes it easy and fun to bring poetry to life this April. We’ve put together engaging activities for older adults—including those with memory challenges—and exciting classroom ideas to inspire students. Plus, every day this month, poemRENOVATION.com will feature passages centered on hope and rebirth, […]