The Worcester Youth Poetry Slam

Hey everyone. Alex chiming in with some information and photos about the 2010 Worcester Youth Poetry Slam Team’s trip to Los Angeles, California. This is our sixth trip to the BRAVE NEW VOICES INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL and things have been going great! Lots of old friends. Lots of new friends and an energetic reunion of the family as we welcome new voices and continue to connect as community and national network.

We left Logan International first thing Monday Morning, 7am, as a very tired crew took flight. Fortunately we didn’t have to deal with any lay-overs or turbulence. We touched down at LAX around 10am and immediately found our pick-up shuttle van. The infamous LA freeway traffic had abated by the time we hit the road, so we actually arrived at our host, Occidental College (go tigers!) a half hour before registration even started. After we got all the bureaucracy out of the way (forms, keys, free schwag and workshop sign-up), we traveled the long hill up to our dorm and got acquainted with our temporary home away from home.

Jet-lagged spirits revived with the help if lunch and the discovery of ice coffee. The team ate, as Team Chaperon Terri Liljegren and I attended the coaches meeting to discuss logistics. Several Coaches and Mentors stuck around after to have a positive and constructive discussion concerning HBO’s involvement with the festival. Opinions were voiced. Concerns were respectfully received. Things were explained. HBO is primarily filming the finals in order to do a one-off follow up to the series they filmed two years ago in Washington DC.

We moved on to opening ceremonies, where upon entering, Youth Speaks Artistic Director and all around master art guru, Marc Bamuthi Joseph welcomed us and entreated the family to pay respect, show love and remember those who couldn’t be with us this week. Collective energy was felt and we all walked into Thorne Hall,  ready to get things goin, like furrreals….

Opening Ceremonies jumped off with several performances from Los Angeles Dance Crews, the LA Youth Slam Team and notable LA veteran poets like Gina Loring and Jerry Quickley, as well as members of a new volunteer crew of BNV alum’s who are now taking on more leadership roles, continuing to support the community that’s supported them through the years. Jamaica Osorio read an amazing new poem that was “in process” and other young voices lit the stage. BNV sent special shout outs to new teams, perhaps the most noise from the first ever Youth Team from India! After opening ceremonies, it was pretty much time for sleep. Occidental College has some great facilities and we’re pretty comfortable here. It’s very much apparent that these folks want us here and that always helps. We’re not exactly the quietest bunch.

Day #2 is our big workshop day. The team members have all reported life changing experiences working with the likes of Robbie Q, Bamuthi, Loring, Mindy Nettifee, George Watsky and Raphael Cassal. There were more options to choose from this year and by the looks of all the filled up notebook pages and inspired faces, it seems that the moderators did their jobs well. Lunch time on the Quad was followed by more workshops. They even had professional workshop development classes for me and the other mentors. Youth Speaks Director James Kass and several special guests offered us a lot of information and suggestions on grants and fund raising as well as an awareness of our roles as not just being creative writing instructors but also serving an important role in positive youth development. A lot to chew on as the team met up again for dinner. We took a walk off campus with team Boston and enjoyed fish tacos. Team’s practicing poems as we speak, as they prepare for tomorrow’s preliminary bouts. We’ve got two excellent bouts ahead of us. We’ll be facing off against teams from Hawaii, Silver City New Mexico, Fort Lauderdale, Sacramento, Kansas City, Houston, Wisconsin and the home town Los Angeles Youth Team. We’re signing off soon. So g’nite, spirits are high. We’re ready to perform and share! B-N-V!

JULY 17th
WCUW Studios
910 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610
2pm-5pm

The Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival is quickly approaching and this may be your best opportunity to come watch your home town team perform and compete against some of the most talented teen poets in the area.

Connecticut, Boston, Lowell and Providence have all been invited to participate & face off against ye olde home town squad, and we’re hoping to have a packed house to send our team off in style!

Alice, Devin, Taylor, Kendel, Anna and Eric have been working really hard, writing together, (almost 8 “group” multi-voice pieces in the arsenal!!!) and taking advantage of every opportunity to perform and hone their fine verse.

This will be the closest a lot of you may get to seeing a Brave New Voices match up close. Up to five teams, sending different representatives up to the stage over 4 rounds. 5 judges will decide who’s got regional bragging rights.

The following Monday, the team will be flying to Los Angeles for a week of slams, workshops, shows and national community building.

Thanks to those who’ve already made donations to this years team.
The cover charge for this event will be $6 to help cover the final costs involved with getting our team to LA and back! If money’s an issue, get in touch and we may be able to work out a volunteer position.

Team T-Shirts & Books will be available!
Hosted by the one and only Mighty Mike McGee!

A few more surprises may be in store, so stay tuned!

THE 2010 WORCESTER YOUTH POETRY SLAM TEAM has been selected this past Saturday Night May 1st, 2010. Congratulations to Anna Meehan, Devin Samuels, Taylor Liljegren, Eric Devenney, Alice Beecher and Kendel Joseph! These are 6 talented, hard working young word-sters who will represent our community well at the 2010 BRAVE NEW VOICES INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL from July 19th to July 25th. 50 teams from around the world will be convening to compete, participate and celebrate the power of spoken word and these young leaders who are speaking their truths and contributing to an unbelievable movement!

We’re doing our best to raise money to help cover travel expenses to Los Angeles. Every year we rely on fund raising performance events, team merchandise sales and private donations.

Between Flights to Los Angeles and Travel to/From Airport – We need to raise approximately $4,000. I have just over 800 Face Book Friends. If everyone donated $5, this would be done soooo easily!

HELP US HELP THESE AMAZING YOUNG ARTISTS!

We have a PAYPAL ACCOUNT set up, so folks can have the easy online option of contributing with credit, debit or bank cards. To make a donation, please click here:

Keep in mind, you don’t even have to have a PAYPAL Account to make a donation, just run use any card on their secure page.

BONUS!!! In order to show our appreciation, if you make a donation of a certain size, we will send you a gift.
$5 donation – we will email you a poem from each of our 6 team members.
$25 donation – gets you a signed copy of our team’s poetry book.
$75 donation – gets you a Worcester Youth Poetry Slam T-Shirt (new design this year. black type on white shirt).
$100 or more gets you a combination pack of T-Shirt, Book and Something Extra.
If you’re interested in donating even more (over $250) and receiving a tax break for your charitable contribution, please write me at worcesteryouthslam2004@yahoo.com – before donating online.

I know & appreciate that times are not easy for everyone out there. Any donation is most triumphantly appreciated. If you would prefer to mail a donation the old fashioned way, you most certainly can:
Worcester Youth Poetry Slam
c/o Worcester County Poetry Association
1 Ekman Street
Worcester, MA 01607

I am more technologically savvy this year, and promise to keep folks updated through our website while we’re at the festival this summer. I will update with photos from our blog site, www.worcesteryouthslam.com

Thanks so much for your past support and future consideration. We’ve had our most successful season to date and are looking to grow to share our passion for performance poetry with more local youth!

Sincerely,
Alex Charalambides
Director
Worcester Youth Poetry Slam

from left to right (Kendel Joseph, Alice Beecher, Anna Meehan, Devin Samuels, Taylor Liljegren, Eric Devenney)

Thanks to Richard Beaubien for the volunteering his time and providing us with some great photos from the evening. You can check out his website with the full slideshow of our May 1st Event at:

http://www.intheviewfinder.net/slam/

It’s Almost Here!!!

2010 Worcester Youth Grand Slam Poetry Finals

Saturday Evening, May 1^st 7-10pm

Clark University, Higgins Student Center

TILTON HALL, (an amazing banquet room on the second floor with an awesome view of the main campus quad! So many thanks to Clark University Poetry Slam Club for helping us get this space!)

950 Main Street – Worcester

15 talented teen poets are qualified to compete for 6 spots that will comprise the 2010 Worcester Youth Poetry Slam Team, representing us at the Brave New Voices International Youth Festival in Los Angeles California July 20-24^th.

This will be three round cumulative score poetry slam competition for all the marbles! Taylor, Eric, Anna, Deven, Chris, Amiana, April, Alice, Bria n, Nate, Aisha, Carolyn, Suzie, Allison and Kendel have all earned points throughout the slam season. We wish we could bring all of these poets to Los Angeles, but teams can only consist of 6 poets. Wish ‘em luck!

SPECIAL GUEST FEATURE – Boston Cantab Lounge Slam Master SIMONE BEAUBIEN! Decade-plus-veteran of the New England poetry scene, makes her home in suburban Massachusetts, working as an EMT and hosting the Boston Poetry Slam at the Cantab Lounge. She has competed at a national level in pinball (1999), Ultimate Frisbee (2001, 2004 – 2005) and poetry slam (2001, 2004 – 2008). Simone has performed her work in colleges, bookstores, theaters, and bars on both coasts and all over New England. A lifetime nerd and part-time athlete, Simone is a natural product of the sound of Boston performance poetry, bringing the arts of slam and storytelling simultaneously to the poetry stage. As a promoter and producer, Simone produced the Boston Poetry Slam’s World Qualifier at the Middle East Rock Club in 2006, and, with the Poetry Jam Collective, brought Marc Smith to the Cambridge Family YMCA in 2007. She founded and produced the NorthBEAST Regional Poetry Slam in 2007, then expanded it to a two-day festival and competition in 2008, showcasing competing slam teams from all over the northeastern U.S. In addition, she’s been a return performer and booking agent for demo slams at high schools, colleges, and literary festivals statewide; she’s performed in Boston’s First Night since 1999 and coordinated the poetry event since 2004, produced the annual Attleboro Arts Museum Poetry Slam since 2006, and operated as MC for the annual Newburyport Literary Festival Youth Poetry Slam since 2006. As a performance and slam coach, Simone has both competed for and worked with the Cantab Slam Team since 2004. In 2008, the team attained a spot on the largest poetry stage in the country, the Finals of the National Poetry Slam, where their fourth-place finish in the competition was Boston’s highest since 1995. That same year, she also operated as performance coach for the Emerson College’s debut slam team (“The Gringo Choir”), who achieved a semi-final finish at the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational. As a host, Simone takes the stage at the Cantab Lounge every Wednesday night to kick off the open mic, welcome the feature, and run the late-night poetry slam. As the SlamMaster of the Boston Poetry Slam at the Cantab Lounge. She frequently hosts outside of her own venue, and in February 2007, she hosted Finals Night at the Individual World Poetry Slam in Vancouver, B.C., at the (over)sold-out Rio Theater, and most recently, the 2010 College Union Poetry Slam Invitational at Boston’s historic Cutler Majestic Theater. Find out more about Simone & her work at www.crushingabird.com

THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE WORCESTER CULTURAL COMMISSION, A LOCAL AGENCY WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL, A STATE AGENCY

THERE WILL ALSO BE A SPECIAL SHOWCASE PRESENTATION FROM MEMBERS OF THE 2010 CLARK UNIVERSITY POETRY SLAM TEAM who just finished competing at the 2010 College Union Poetry Slam Invitational a couple weeks ago at Emerson College, the first time Clark University has participated since 2006!

THIS SHOW IS GONNA BE JAM-PACKED! FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

$5 SUGGESTED DONATION TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR 2010 YOUTH TEAM, MERCHANDISE WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE!

Hosted by Alex Charalambides

Music by DJ MUSE

The Worcester Youth Poetry Slam & Clark UniversityPoetry

Slam Club are Proud to present:

THE “UNIFIED SLAM” Final Prelim #5

March 19th, 2010 7pm – “The Bistro” at Higgins Student Center Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610

hosted by Alex Charalambides

We’re super excited to welcome special guest feature…

“Shira Erlichman’s poems are embodied distillations of her generation’s angered darkness in search of its own lyrical light. To read her is to be metaphored, that is, to be transported, changed somehow. The mind inside the mind will resist, then recognize that it is more than Shira’s voice that you are hearing it is your own as well. Good poetry can do this. I need Shira’s poems. So do you…“      ~ Regie O’Hare Gibson ~

SHIRA ERLICHMAN is a musician, poet and artist. She grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, where she started recording her own songs in her bedroom in 5th grade. She release her first solo EP, “Happy Cus the World Revolves,” when she was 18 without a label. Instead, inspired by the jet setting spirit of Ani Difranco, she created her own label, Make Records. Only four years later, she would open for Ani Difranco alongside Indie World Poetry Slam Champion, Buddy Wakefield. She has toured the United States extensively with the nationally acclaimed Spilljoy Ensemble and just completed a fall tour with some of her heroes in the poetry all-star  ensemble group, The Elephant Engine High Dive Revival.

Her chap-book, “Advertisement for a Human Being,” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Small Presses Series. Her poetry was featured in the NARAL’s national pro-choice campaign Free.Will.Power, as well as an “Open Door Poetry,” on Borders Bookstore’s Website, reaching over 23 Million Viewers. “Her music is featured in two forthcoming independent film releases, “Watching Television with the Red Chinese” (alongside musical group Beirut) and “The Heretics” which premiered at the MoMa. She is currently working on a book of visual art titled “Squares,” featuring 365 one by one inch squares. Her newest record, “A Riverbed of Buttons,”  is a compilation of music recorded over the last three years. See her perform her poem, “The Piano Speaks.”

Shira was already an amazing spoken word artist on the Boston Scene when she agreed to try out for the first Worcester Youth Poetry Slam Team back in 2004, she ended up finishing in first place to be crowned the 2004 Worcester Youth Grand Slam Champion that year. She went on to represent the 2005 Worcester Adult Slam Team the following year at the National Poetry Slam. She has since represented the Boston Cantab (2007) at NPS and is generally regarded as one of the most unique, gifted voices to hit the national scene in a long time.  For more about this young, amazing artist, go to www.shiraerlichman.com or check out her poem, “Daddy’s Parking Lot Sermon.“

THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE WORCESTER CULTURAL COMMISSION, A LOCAL AGENCY WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL, A STATE AGENCY

This will be the last opportunity for local teens to compete for a spot in the April Grand Slam Finals. Top 3 youth slam scorers earn points towards making it to finals. The poetry slam is a 2 round competition, where poets perform their own original work. Scores given by 5  randomly selected members of the audience. This will also serve as an important “tune-up” for slammers who have already secured a place in the finals. The April Grand Slam Finals will select 6 Worcester Area Youth to form a team that will travel to the Brave New Voices International Youth Festival this July!

We will also be holding a Clark University 2 round poetry slam to determine the last member of their team. College Union National Poetry Slam is taking place this April in Boston and Clark is looking to field a team for the first time since 2006! This event is free & open to the public. We will be asking for and accepting donations on behalf of the slam teams as we try to raise money for our travel and registration expenses. We will also have merchandise on hand, t-shirts, CD’s, books, etc. So stop by that ATM Machine and help support the spoken word movement in Worcester!!!

The Worcester Youth Poetry Slam & Clark University Poetry Slam Club are Proud to present:

THE “UNIFIED SLAM” Prelim #4

February 19th, 2010 7pm – “The Grind” at Higgins Student Center Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610

hosted by Alex Charalambides & Tak Mogel

We’re super excited to welcome special guest feature…

Strange Famous Recording Artist

JARED PAUL – poet, organizer, independent journalist, and social worker from Providence, Rhode Island. Known for thoroughly researched work, poignant presentation, and dedication to craft, Jared is also widely recognized as one of the top spoken word artists in the country.  His performance accolades include nation wide tours with world-renowned poet and Epitaph Recording artist Sage Francis, featuring at the 2007 Green-Build World Expo, and advancing to the Individual World Poetry Slam Final’s (click for video) in both 2006 and 2007. Explosive delivery and intense politics have made Jared a stand out on the mic, but nearly a decade of matching those words with constant involvement in direct action off stage, has made him nearly legendary in the world of performance poetry.  Jared has helped organize, and participated in, countless social forums, indy-media fundraisers, electoral campaigns for progressive candidates, street theater actions, block letter writing/phone banking endeavors, anti-war protests, labor rallies, and extensive working class lobbies throughout the United States, Canada, & England.  Jared covered the 2004 Democratic and Republican National Conventions for 90.3FM WRIU News, and both the DNC and the RNC in 2008 for the Rhode Island publication, “The Agenda.” Throughout national performance tours spanning over 150 cities and more than 20 National Poetry Slam tournaments, Jared’s versatility as a writer, vocalist, speaker, and emcee have allowed his work to thrive where many solo performers cannot.  Whether Training School, University, coffee shop, conference, lecture hall, street corner, festival, classroom, protest, or center stage in front of 2,000 Roaring Hip Hop fans with just a mic and his voice, Jared is a rare performer with the ability to captivate and inspire in any setting. Jared is also the founder and coach of the Providence National Youth Slam Team, assisting & encouraging Rhode Island youth to seize the reins of performance art as an outlet for both un-refined creative expression, and as a means of specific artistic statement as well.  Under Jared’s direction Team Providence has advanced to the national Final’s Stage at The Brave New Voices Festival in 2004, 2006, and 2007 (placing 2nd in the nation in 2007.) Jared has participated in and run workshops, slams, and open mics in youth correctional facilities, high schools, community colleges, writer’s groups, and universities across America. To see more of Jared online check out this VIDEO or go to www.myspace.com/jaredpaul for more on him and his band, Prayers for Atheists.

THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE WORCESTER CULTURAL COMMISSION, A LOCAL AGENCY WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL, A STATE AGENCY

THIS IS GONNA BE ANOTHER JAM-PACKED 2 HOUR SHOW!!! Preliminary Youth Slam #4, top three teen poets will earn points that will land them into the final Grand Slam which will determine the 2010 Worcester Youth Poetry Slam Team traveling to Los Angeles for the Brave New Voices Youth Festival.

There will also be a Clark University Poetry Slam Preliminary Match #4 to help determine their representatives for the College Union National Poetry Slam happening this spring in Boston! Winners of past slams include Tak, Eric and Sarah!

This event is free & open to the public. We will be asking for and accepting donations on behalf of the slam teams as we try to raise money for our travel and registration expenses. We will also have merchandise on hand, t-shirts, CD’s, books, etc. So stop by that ATM Machine and help support the spoken word movement in Worcester!!!

JANUARY 22nd, 2010 – The Worester Youth Poetry Slam and the Clark University Poetry Slam Club are proud to present the UNIFIED SLAM #3 at the Higgins Student Center at Clark University. Our featured performer for the evening is David Blair!!!

BLAIR is a National Poetry Slam Champion.  He’s been nominated for 7 Detroit Music Awards, including a 2007 nod Outstanding Acoustic Artist. He’s been named Real Detroit Weekly Readers Poll’s Best Solo Artist and The Metro Times Best Urban Folk Poet.  In 2007 He won Seattle, WA based BENT Writing Institute Mentor Award.           

Blair teaches poetry and music classes in Detroit Public Schools, Hannan House Senior Center, the YMCA and lectures at universities, colleges and high schools across the country.

BLAIR has performed on bills with Stevie Wonder, Oscar winner Michael Moore, Mike Doughty, Bitch and Animal, Justin Bond, members of Sweet Honey in the Rock, Richie Havens, The Butchies, Tribe 8, Wilco, Cat Power and others.

BLAIR was the January 2005 HBO Def Poetry Jam Website Featured Poet.  He currently studies privately with a poetry instructor as part of the writer’s collective Write Word / Write Now.

BLAIR has toured the United States and Europe extensively and performed in South Africa both solo and as part of Walk & Squawk’s The Walking Project of which he is a co-writer and cast member. He’s performed at New York’s historic CBGBs and The Knitting Factory, The San Francisco Public Library, at Miyagi’s on L.A.s famed Sunset Strip, Detroit’s Hart Plaza and Magic Stick and with a string section at the home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

His new CD, The Line, was released in June 2009 on Repeatable Silence Records. Check out some mp3′s of Blair with his band Blair & The Boyfriends see his East Tour Schedule at Seriousartists.com

or check out this video of Blair performing live right HERE

THIS IS GONNA BE A JAM-PACKED 2 HOUR SHOW!!! Preliminary Youth Slam #3, top three youth will earn points that will land them into the final grandslam which will determine the 2010 Worcester Youth Poetry Slam Team traveling to Los Angeles for the Brave New Voices Youth Festival.

There will also be a Clark University Poetry Slam to help determine their representatives for the College Union National Poetry Slam happening next spring in Boston!

This event is free & open to the public. We will be asking for and accepting donations on behalf of the slam teams as we try to raise money for our travel and registration expenses. We will also have merchandise on hand, t-shirts, CD’s, books, etc. So stop by that ATM Machine and help support the spoken word movement in Worcester!!!

This friday’s ( Jan 15th, 2010) Worcester Youth Poetry Slam Performance Workshop has a small schedule change.

we’re moving it from 5-7pm, instead of the usual 6-8pm

sorry for the inconvenience.

Alex

Happy New Year -
Just wanted to pass this along:

Worcester Magazine Poetry Contest

Calling all rhymester! Worcester Magazine is hosting its annual Poetry
Contest and we want to hear from you! Submit your poem (one per person) to
A&E editor Doreen Manning via email: doreen@worcestermagazine.com by January
22.

Judges this year are local poets Matthew “Cowboy” Hopewell (2009 WoMag
Poetry Contest Winner) and Alex Charalambides.

Categories are First, Second and Third place, plus an addition First Place
Youth Category! Winner will be published in the February 11th issue of
Worcester magazine, and introduced at a live event and poetry reading that
month.

Show our readers that poetry is still alive! Email your poem today!