Jenna Tenn-YukSpoken Word Artist, M.A. ‘14

Power of spoken word poetry

Spoken word poetry as a form of activism and a tool for social change

Finding and speaking your voice

Beauty, creativity and potential when you tap into dark places

Challenging dominant norms and breaking silences through storytelling

Place of connection, inclusion, belonging and community

Poetry is not a luxury

“[Poetry] lays the foundations for a future

of change, a bridge across our fears of

what has never been seen before.”

- Audre Lorde

Everyone Loves A

Jamasian Girl

“Your voice is missing from the scene.”

“Each human being, however small or weak, has something to bring to humanity.” - Jean Vanier

Spoken word and activism

Foster dialogue through storytelling

Examine the complexities of identity

Challenge dominant culture

Cause self-reflection and incite social

action

Finding and speaking

your voice

Space to be heard, especially those

voices from the margins

How can you connect your own

personal experiences to wider cultural

movements and be agents of change?

Writing exercises

10 things you want to do before you die

What is your fear?

Breaking silences

“And that visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the

source of our greatest strength

“…for it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many

silences to be broken.”

- Audre Lorde

Minority

You in a box.

You in a black and white box.

Challenging dominant culture

Fragmented identities and cannot be put into a box

Challenge gender hierarchies, racism, heteronormativity, classism, ableism, mental health and other forms of stigma

Disrupt, transform, remix and create new identities through performance for activism and to effect change

Understand culture through embodied performance

Writing exercises

What are you passionate about and why?

How is someone’s life better because they crossed your path?

How can you connect your own personal experiences to wider cultural movements and be agents of change?

What is your vision for change?

Change starts with you

Self-reflection: “Who am I?”

Walk towards your fears

What makes you come alive?

The power and potential within can

move into your communities

Use what’s in your hands

Visibility is important

How is your voice/story missing?

Your voice matters.

Your story matters.

“When I dare to be powerful -- to use

my strength in the service of my

vision, then it becomes less and less

important whether I am afraid.”

- Audre Lorde

www.jennatennyuk.com@jennatennyuk