# Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam Youth Speaks is the leading spoken word and slam poetry organization for young people in the United States, producing the iconic **Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival**—the largest gathering of youth spoken word artists on earth. Through workshops, regional slams, and national festivals, Youth Speaks empowers high school students to find their voice, develop literary craft, and compete at the highest levels of spoken word poetry. ## What Is Youth Speaks? Founded in San Francisco in 1996, Youth Speaks has grown into a nationwide organization that brings spoken word education, performance opportunities, and a supportive creative community to young people who might never encounter poetry in traditional school settings. Youth Speaks believes that every young person has something powerful to say—and that the art of spoken word gives them a stage to say it. Youth Speaks programs have reached over 250,000 students and produced nationally recognized poets who have performed at the White House, on HBO, at TED, and in Broadway productions. ## The Brave New Voices Festival The crown jewel of Youth Speaks is the **Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival**, held each summer in a major U.S. city. Students travel as members of regional slam teams—assembled through local qualifying slams—to compete in a multi-day festival that combines: - Team slam competition rounds (teams of 3–5 poets) - Individual performance opportunities - Workshops with master poets, teaching artists, and performers - Collaborative cross-cultural exchanges with poets from cities across North America and internationally Brave New Voices is not a traditional competition where the highest score wins a trophy. It is a celebration of voice, craft, and community—where the real prize is the artistic growth and connection that happens over those few days. ## How to Get Involved Youth Speaks programs operate at local, regional, and national levels: **Local Workshops and Open Mics** Many cities have Youth Speaks–affiliated programs that host after-school workshops, open mics, and youth slam events. Check the Youth Speaks website or contact them directly to find programs near you. **Regional Qualifying Slams** Students participate in local slam competitions to qualify for regional teams. Regional slam leaders organize practices, provide coaching, and prepare teams for Brave New Voices. **Online Community** For students not in a city with a local Youth Speaks chapter, the organization provides online resources, virtual workshops, and connections to local teaching artists. ## Who Should Get Involved? Youth Speaks is for any young person who: - Writes poems, raps, or spoken word pieces—even if you've never performed publicly - Wants to develop their voice and writing craft in a supportive, non-academic setting - Is moved by language, storytelling, or social justice - Wants to connect with a community of writers who look, sound, and think differently from each other No prior slam or performance experience is needed. Youth Speaks explicitly welcomes beginners. ## College Application Value For students applying to colleges with strong creative writing, English, or theater programs—NYU, Columbia, Brown, Oberlin, Emerson, Sarah Lawrence—spoken word and Youth Speaks involvement is a compelling narrative thread. Brave New Voices participation in particular demonstrates discipline, creativity, vulnerability, and the ability to connect with diverse audiences. Many Youth Speaks alumni write compelling application essays about their development as artists through spoken word. Youth Speaks also offers a scholarship program for college-bound alumni demonstrating financial need and commitment to the spoken word community.