Festival Description
 

In April of 2005, a generation of young artists, educators, poets, and mentors will converge on San Francisco to participate in the spectacular, internationally renowned National Youth Poetry Slam Festival. Brave New Voices™ gathers, educates and showcases talented, dedicated and courageous young writers from across the country.

Now in its 8^th year, Brave New Voices 2005, San Francisco, will continue to create a forum and community among an ever-growing number of youth who are returning to literature and reinvesting in education through the power of the spoken word. Building bridges across radically diverse ethnic, racial and socio-economic lines, Brave New Voices is for a generation of young people speaking for themselves; a generation documenting their days in journals, reciting struggles and successes on open microphones, teenagers transcending traditional stereotypes by speaking their truths and listening to the truths of others.

Brave New Voices includes youth open mics, an adult reading that features professional poets and performers, (inter)-national community building and networking, panel discussions, workshops lead by professional writers and educators, and The National Youth Poetry Slam Semi-Finals and Finals.

A Poetry Slam is an Olympic-style poetry competition where poets compete on teams in rounds with scores awarded by five judges. The Inter-National Youth Poetry Slam Festival uses the poetry slam as a tool to bring together the top young poets from around the country to share their work with their peers and a larger audience.

Participants

Across the country, teenagers participate in poetry slams and other readings organized by nonprofits, teachers, schools, local poets, community organizers, and youth workers.  Although the slam is a competitive event, where participants and organizers pour in hours and days of effort and dedication, competition is de-emphasized and commitment to craft and growth in the writer and person are encouraged.  From these local slams, 4-6 of the top poets (13-19 years old) will be selected to represent their city or state at Brave New Voices.  More than 200 young poets will participate in this year’s event, held in San Francisco, representing as many as 36 regions of the country. We also will involve over 1000 students from throughout the Bay Area in the weekend festival.

Preliminary Event Schedule

Each year, Brave New Voices consists of a number of events and workshops that highlight, and educate, an entire generation of local and national young writers. As the schedule is fleshed out, updates will be sent. What is below is a tentative schedule.  

Wednesday, April 20

Introductory open mic & party. Upon arriving in San Francisco, all of the team poets and their adult partners get a chance to meet and greet in the best way we know – through an introductory performance. This will be followed by a party with food, dj’s, dancing, and open mic. 

Thursday, April 21

Workshops and Panel Discussions

Semi-finals National Youth Poetry Slam & Open Mic & Adult Mentors/Coaches reading

During the day & early evening, the young poets have a chance to dive more fully into the art form, and get to know each other as writers. Also, we get into the semi-finals of the Poetry Slam. Each team gets two bouts to perform in throughout the semi’s on Thursday & Friday. We will also have additional non-competitive performance opportunities. We also will feature a reading with our talented coaches and adult mentors from across the country, many of whom have been poetry slam champions, Def Poetry poets, published writers, etc. 

Friday, April 22

Workshops and Panel Discussions and other Programs

Semi-finals National Youth Poetry Slam & Bridging the Beat

Friday, we have more workshops, panel discussions, open mics and other programs that allow the young poets to interact with professional writers, local youth from the Bay Area, and each other. We continue on with the semi-finals of the Slam. That night, we settle into for a powerful lineup of local poets and performers who will model for the teenagers what possibilities they can reach in their craft, and leads into a party featuring O-Maya and Dead Prez. Featured poets include Beau Sia, Dennis Kim, Saul Williams, Suhair Hammad, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Aya de Leon, and more. 

Saturday, April 23

Coaches & Organizers Brunch and Planning Meeting, 10am

San Francisco Tour, Workshops, & City Lights!

Grand Slam Finals, The National Youth Poetry Slam

The culminating event of the weekend will provide an opportunity to showcase some of the most talented young writers in America in a 3,200-seat theater. After taking in the city on a tour facilitated and directed by Bay Area youth, which includes a trip to famed North Beach and City Lights (each poet and coach receives a gift certificate to the bookstore), we highlight the top slam teams for 2005. Meanwhile, the organizers have gotten together and begun planning for next year in New York City. 

Sunday April 24

Good-bye Brunch