We are currently taking requests for School Visits. If you are interested in bringing poets to perform at your school, and to facilitate a writing workshop with your students, please complete a School Visit Request Form and send it to Josh Healey at jhealey@youthspeaks.org.

Also, this year, Youth Speaks launches a new School Clubs Program called the Student Led Arts Movement (S.L.A.M.). High school poets, artists, and leaders will have the opportunity to create Youth Speaks-affiliated student organizations, building the spoken word movement in their schools and communities. Students and teachers interested in connecting with the S.L.A.M. initiative should contact Josh Healey at jhealey@youthspeaks.org.

DESCRIPTION:

Hour-long assemblies and workshops occur in public high schools, middle schools, juvenile detention centers, after-school programs, and alternative schools 3-4 days a week, and are a primary point of entry and exposure to Youth Speaks programs. Poet-Mentors perform poetry on topics relevant to youth to inspire interest and promote the power of spoken word and performance, while also exposing students to introductory skill development through workshops and writing prompts. Youth Speaksí current schedule will bring over 35,000 students direct access to spoken word and poetry performances through the School Visit Program.

These programs have proven to be excellent introductory methods to get your students excited about the burgeoning youth poetry movement, and writing in general. If you’re interested in booking a visit, click here to download the application form.

Assemblies: An hour-long presentation, Youth Speaks will facilitate an interactive, literary, and exciting assembly for schools interested in organizing a school-wide, or partial student body event. We will send 3-5 of the most talented Spoken Word artists in the Bay Area, ranging in age from 16-35, to your school’s campus. Schools can choose from theme-based presentations to spoken word revues. Administrators must arrange with Youth Speaks a language and content criteria prior to the assembly day. Assemblies can also be combined with classroom workshops.

Classroom Workshops: Either a one-day visit, or a small residency of three days, Youth Speaks will come to the classroom to facilitate introductory Youth Speaks spoken word, poetry, and creative writing workshops. All students will write in the workshop, as well as begin to develop performance skills through the practice of Spoken Word/Oral Poetry. Led by a team of three poets trained in the distinctly young and passionate Youth Speaks flavor, these workshops are excellent beginnings to your poetry curriculum, and are a proven tool to get your students writing. Based on the idea that writing and poetry can be fun, these interactive sessions work with free-writes and standard Youth Speaks templates. Administrators must arrange with Youth Speaks a language and content criteria prior to our arrival. Classroom workshops can be combined with school-wide assemblies.