Brave New Voices 2008 features teen poetry slam champions from major cities, rural, and suburban areas, from the Deep South, Native American reservations, Alaska, college towns - even parts of Europe and Africa- and will reach an audience of over 10,000 throughout the week. These young writers are a diverse, creative, intelligent group of trendsetters and community leaders (65% of whom qualify for the free lunch program at their schools). They come to BNV every year to attend world-class workshops and performances by renowned poets, writers and muscians, and to participate in the Olympic-style Youth Poetry Slam, building a national community of young, intelligent, and courageous artists and leaders.