Almost 200 years ago, Samuel Taylor Coleridge defined poetry as the best words in the best order. Youth Speaks Seattle has been living and breathing Coleridge’s words through open mic nights, weekly writing circles, and monthly poetry slams since 2011. Part of Seattle’s nonprofit Arts Corps, YSS provides a safe haven for teens to express themselves, take artistic risks, make mistakes, connect and learn with peers, and boost their self-confidence.
Each fall, Arts Corps recruits and trains teen artists and activists to become part of their Spokes Leadership Board. This group coordinates weekly and monthly YSS activities and does outreach within their own high schools. These kids are peer role models for the organization; they’ve been there and done that with their own written and spoken words, and can mentor other teens. Sharing personal stories and beliefs with strangers takes a lot of courage, and YSS events are inclusive, supportive, and low-pressure. Participants are encouraged to be good listeners, offer constructive criticism, be respectful, and above all, be kind.
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Photo: Joshua Huston YSS fosters a supportive atmosphere at their open mics. |
The YSS Poetry Slam semifinals in March generally draw over 100 people. They feature poets as diverse as their topics, but united in their goal to grow, to tell the truth, and to be heard. Twelve finalists move on to the Grand Slam, which takes place in April at Town Hall Seattle. The Grand Slam has featured performers such as Mary Lambert, former YSS member and Macklemore’s “Same Love” songwriter, and hosts like Grammy Award nominee Hollis Wong-Wear, also a former YSS member. Five poets from the Grand Slam go on to represent Seattle at the International Brave New Voices Competition in Atlanta.
YSS has given more than poetry to hundreds of Seattle’s youth—it's given them a voice, and a chance to discover who they really are and who they want to be. Hamda, a former Grand Slam Finalist, concisely described her journey to self-expression through YSS: “It really shouldn’t matter what you perceive me to be, it should only matter what I perceive myself to be.” No doubt, Coleridge would agree that those words are in the best order.
For more information about how you can become involved with Youth Speaks Seattle, visit their website, or check out their schedule of events.
