building the next generation of leaders

YOUTH SPEAKS

Arts-in-Education Programs2006-2007

LITERACY, LITERARY ARTS, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP

Youth Speaks Arts-in-Education Outreach

OutreachEach year Youth Speaks offers classroom workshops and all-school

assemblies to over 50 Bay Area Middle and High Schools interested in

exposing their students to the power of Spoken Word and Poetry. These

programs have proven to get students excited about literacy and the

burgeoning youth poetry movement. Youth Speaks has a 10-year track

record of working with over 250,000 students in the Bay Area alone.

Assemblies An hour-long presentation or longer, Youth Speaks facilitates exciting, interactive, and literary

assemblies for schools interested in organizing a school-wide event. We send some of the most

talented Spoken Word artists in the Bay Area, ranging in age from 16-35, to school campuses.

Schools can choose from theme-based presentations to spoken word revues. Assemblies are

appropriate for middle and high schools, and can be combined with classroom workshops. They

can also be modified to support after-school programs and community based events.

After-School Writing Workshops

Youth Speaks offers 500 hours of after-school workshops per

year in sites throughout the Bay Area. We work with teachers

and schools to develop workshops on your campus, as well as to

provide additional workshops outside of schools.

Chapter O.N.E. (Oral Narrative Experience): Our most comprehensive residency package, Chapter O.N.E. brings out studentsʼ voices through creative writing and spoken word workshops paired with themes and texts being studied in class.

Chapter O.N.E. is comprised of 50 hours, including 30 hours of in-class workshops; 10 hours of leadership development for students at your school; one school-wide opening assembly;

1 poetry reading; 1 school-wide poetry slam; representation at the Oakland or San Francisco Schools Slam; and an on-campus teacher training for you and your colleagues.

Chapter O.N.E. Poet-Mentors develop a creative response curriculum around the literature and themes to be discussed during the school year with you, the teacher.

“Youth Speaks is…Empowering! Students found permission to step up and share their words who ordinarily shut down in a class environment.” Ms. Jenny Johnson, Teacher, Mission High

“Led by a team of Poet-Mentors trained in the Youth Speaks pedagogy, workshops are excellent introductions to spoken word and poetry. Youth Speaks workshops are a proven tool to get your students writing!”Michelle Lee, Arts-in-Education Outreach Director

“This process opened my students up -emotionally and politically. I think it helped them make connections between “History” as something in a book to “History” as something created by everyday people.”Art Concordia, History Teacher, Balboa High School

Youth Speaks Arts-in-Education Outreach

Arts-in-Education Youth Speaks

School-Based Residency Programs

Creative Writing/Spoken Word Residencies The Residency Programs aim to draw out young peopleʼs voices to help increase literacy skills. Through writing and performance lessons, we engage youth and their personal stories in relation to the classroom curricula. We offer a variety of service options, ranging from shorter residencies that expose students to creative writing and/or spoken word performance, to more comprehensive residencies, drawing themes from texts studied in class. Each year, we conduct the residencies in two rounds: Fall, to be held from September through December; and Spring, to be held from February through May. Host teachers are invited to be members of Youth Speaksʼ Host Teacher Committee. Every year we conduct between 16 and 20 residencies in schools throughout the Bay Area.

Chapter O.N.E. (Oral Narrative Experience): Our most comprehensive residency package, Chapter O.N.E. brings out studentsʼ voices through creative writing and spoken word workshops paired with themes and texts being studied in class.

Chapter O.N.E. is comprised of 50 hours, including 30 hours of in-class workshops; 10 hours of leadership development for students at your school; one school-wide opening assembly;

1 poetry reading; 1 school-wide poetry slam; representation at the Oakland or San Francisco Schools Slam; and an on-campus teacher training for you and your colleagues.

Chapter O.N.E. Poet-Mentors develop a creative response curriculum around the literature and themes to be discussed during the school year with you, the teacher.

Chapter T.O.O (Telling Our Oral-story): Our mid-sized residency, Chapter T.O.O focuses on bringing out studentsʼ voices and personal

stories through innovative creative writing and performance workshops. Chapter T.O.O includes 15 hours of in-class workshops; 5 hours of leadership development for students at your school;

1 poetry reading; 1 school-wide poetry slam; representation in the Oakland and San Francisco Schools Slam; and an on-campus teacher training for you and your colleagues.

Chapter Three: Chapter Three brings out studentsʼ voices through 1 school-wide assembly featuring Youth Speaks poets; 5 hours of in-class workshops; and 5 after-school or lunchtime workshops.

Chapter Four: Our smallest residency package trains your students in the four essential elements of oral presentation

through four introductory workshops– (In-class or After-school)Spoken Word 101, Creative Writing, Presentation, and Performance.

“The students produced outstanding poetry and were fully engaged. They also focused on student advocacy and looked deeply into issues that are connected to their own lives.” Ms. Rhymes, English Teacher, McClymonds HS

“Youth Speaks drew the students out. Not one cut! Full participation – enjoyable for all of us. What Youth Speaks does in a classroom is contagious! The most introverted students participat-ed, both orally and in written form.” Barbara Pope, Teacher, AP Giannini Middle School

The Four Chapters of Youth Speaks Residencies:The Four Chapters of Youth Speaks Residencies

Youth Speaks Arts-in-EducationProfessional Development

Teachers Advisory Board (TAB)

Youth Speaks’ Teachers Advisory Board is an ambassador program for educators

and teachers who have a passion for young people and arts education as it relates

to literacy, public education, spoken word, poetry, and performance. TAB promotes

the organization’s mission within school districts and administrations, hosting and

attending educational conferences, and sponsoring fundraisers and events. TAB

is a great resource for curriculum formulation, professional development and train-

ing services. Comprised of some of the strongest educators from our school-based

residency programs, membership to TAB is by invitation or staff recomendation only.

Teacher Training/Professional Development SeriesIn conjunction with Youth Speaks programs, we offer Professional Development opportunities and teacher training in literacy, literary arts and spoken word education. Professional Development courses increase dialogue between educators and Youth Speaks, identifying how best practices, alternative education, and spoken word play in the classroom.

Educational GuidesOur Educational Guides work in collaboration with many of our performances to further the critical analysis and understanding of the work that we present and create. These guides help to promote continued educational opportunities and activities that translate into life-changing experiences for youth and educators. Educational Guides are a great way to bring the stage into the classroom through the power of spoken word, theater and literary arts. Upcoming publications include spoken word resource guides and anthologies of youth work.

engage inspire be critical think learn speak out

“My relationship with Youth Speaks and TAB has helped me grow as a teacher and a professional. The benefits have been well worth it. Every time I work with Youth Speaks I am made stronger and able to face the world because of what the youth have to say.” Trevor Gardner, TAB member and East Oakland Community High Humanities Teacher

“Youth Speaks provides trainings for collaborating educators to create a culture in and outside of the classroom; focused on youth voice, youth empowerment and critical literacy. Through TAB and Professional Development, Youth Speaks is helping to build a literary arts culture between youth and our teachers simultaneously.” Khalil.Anthony, Arts-in-Education Director

Arts-In-Education Director, Hodari Davis

WWW.YOUTHSPEAKS.ORG 415.255.9035 tel. 415.255.9065 fax. info@youthspeaks.org

Youth Speaks, Inc.290 Division St., Suite 302San Francisco, CA 94103www.youthspeaks.org

NON-PROFITU.S. Postage

PAIDSan Francisco, CA

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Youth Speaks empowers the next generation of self defined artists and visionary activists through written and oral literacies. We challenge youth to find, develop, publicly present and apply their voices as leaders for social change.

...because the next generation can speak for itself

“Youth Speaks is an excellent program that aids teachers in one of the most difficult tasks in education: helping youth writers find their voices.”

Cheryl Nelson, Teacher, Balboa HS Youth Speaks BOARD OF EDUCATION DR. JEFF DUNCAN-ANDRADE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: SAN FRANCISCO, CESAR CHAVEZ INSTITUTE

LASHAWN ROUTE-CHATMON BAY AREA COALITION FOR EQUITABLE SCHOOLS

DR. LISSA SOEP YOUTH RADIO, YOUTH SPEAKS BOARD of DIRECTORS

VAJRA WATSON UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: SAN FRANCISCO

DR. JAMAL COOKS SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY DEPT. OF EDUCATION

DR. A.A. AKOM CESAR CHAVEZ INSTITUTE

DR. VIVIAN CHAVEZ SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY

KATRI FOSTER YOUTH SPEAKS BOARD of DIRECTORS, YOUTH SPEAKS ALUM

MARC BAMUTHI JOSEPH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, YOUTH SPEAKS

JAMES KASS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, YOUTH SPEAKS

Youth Speaks Arts-in-Education Staff

ph. 415.255.9035 fax. 415.255.9065www.youthspeaks.org

Khalil.Anthony Peebles Tomas RileyArts-in-Education Director Director of Fundraising/khalil@youthspeaks.org Youth Based Programs ext. 18 Tomas@youthspeaks.org ext. 12

Michelle Lee Ise LyfeAIE Outreach Director Sr. Resident Associate Mush@youthspeaks.org Ise@youthspeaks.orgext. 19 ext. 21

Leah-Joy Turnball Lauren Wingate Spokes Coordinator Spokes CoordinatorEast Bay SF/ South BayLeah-joy@youthspeaks.org Lauren@youthspeaks.org ext. 22

workshop schedule/ information ext. 24

General emails related to education at Youth Speaks should be sent to education@youthspeaks.org

YOUTH SPEAKS Greetings!We are excited to present to you our Arts-in-Education offerings for the 2006-2007 school year. Youth Speaks continues to work on multiple levels, expanding our programs to be truly responsive to communities, schools, teachers and youth. Our comprehensive services strengthen our role as the leading non-profit presenter of spoken word education, youth development, and performance programs in the country. Our in-school and after-school programs emphasize literacy, literary arts, youth development, leadership, and performance poetry. Our work with teachers focuses on helping you translate urban and alternative literacy to academic success.

We interpret contemporary culture in a way that empower teachers to become more affective and benefi-cial to the youth and communities you serve. We empower youth to express themselves, and to learn to speak truth to power in a way that is unique and awe-inspiring. As a former classroom teacher, I remember what a challenge it can be to bridge the cultural and generational divides that exist between the youth and their teachers. We are proud to be a bridge to help both groups relate to each other in more successful and engaging ways. We encourage anyone who reads this brochure to contact us and allow us to assist you in empowering your students.

Hodari B. DavisDirector, Youth Speaks

Arts-in-Education

YOUTH SPEAKSArts-in-Education PhilosophyArts-in-Education

At Youth Speaks, the voices of youth matter. Committed to a critical, youth-centered pedagogy, Youth Speak places students in control of their intellectual and artistic development. We are urgently driven by the belief that literacy is a need, not a want, and that literacy comes in various forms. Youth Speaks is working to create a global movement of brave new voices bringing the noise from the margin to dismantle the core.

Youth Speaks believes that having knowledge, practice, and confidence in the written and spoken language is essential to the self-empowerment of an individual. If young people are not given the proper opportunities to become literate, in all of its many manifestations, and are not provided with an active network of support services, it is very likely that they will not attain personal, educational and professional achievement, and therefore risk being left behind. Youth Speaks fills a need for creative approaches to literary arts education and literacy in general; we believe it is crucial to provide spaces where youth can undergo a process of personal growth and transformation in a program that enriches their educational, professional and leadership skills.

As we more deeply move into the 21st Century, oral poetry is helping to define the American Voice in literature. Within the ever-growing community of spoken word, young writers are helping to evolve the aesthetic at a rapid rate in thriving public platforms that are pluralistic and progressive. Youth Speaks argues for a concrete and ethical understanding of writing, one that requires response, action, and performance. We aim to build structure around multicultural and class discourse, so as to unveil deeper levels of literacy. By making the connection between poetry, spoken word, and class-room settings, Youth Speaks provides teenagers with opportunities to develop their knowledge, practice, and confidence in their own language skills, leading them on a course to attain educational and professional achievement, and become leaders in their schools and communities.

Youth Speaks aims to deconstruct dominant narratives in hopes of achieving a more inclusive, and active, learning experience. Believing that young people have the tools to take control of their lives through language, Youth Speaks encourages youth to express themselves using their own vernacular. The idea of “talent” or being “talented” is often viewed as a mysterious force bestowed on a given individual, rather than the result of hard work, practice, and commit-ment.

There are six general principles that guide the Arts-in-Education work at Youth Speaks.

We Believe in VoiceWe believe it is critical that young people have opportunities to find, develop, publicly present, and apply their voices.

We Believe in Continuum We are committed to providing opportunities for youth to engage with the tradition of oral literacy and oral poetics so as to immortalize the voices of today’s young writers.

We Believe in Community Youth Speaks reflects diversity and engenders a community of young artists who reach across demographic boundaries toward self-exploration and growth, providing a platform where conflicts are resolved on the page or the stage, rather than on the street.

We Believe in Contemporary CultureYouth Speaks is committed to the written and spoken word, innovating our programs so they remain accessible and attractive to the population we serve, reflecting their stories without leaving out those that have come before.

We Believe in Individual and Social TransformationYouth Speaks provokes movement from silence to empowerment based in liberatory pedagogy and youth development. We intend to democratize a civic population of youth by giving them a platform to speak critically and thoughtfully.

We Believe in ExcellenceWe challenge young people to find their own voices, to work hard to apply them, and to do so responsibly. We ask youth to not be afraid of their own potential. We promise them we won’t be.

Youth Speaks Arts-In-Education

Youth Development

SPOKES Youth Speaks offers leadership development opportunities for youth ages 13-19 on our Youth Advisory Board. Candidates for Spokes, who come from all over the Bay Area, apply to serve and are selected based on a broad set of criteria. This paid internship program provides participating youth with youth development workshops, training in event planning and student organizing, advanced writing workshops, performance opportunities, peer-to-peer education, and participation in Brave New Voices and other Youth Speaks events.

Slam (Student Literay Arts Movement)

Youth Speaks provides leadership training and event planning workshops for youth as part of our Residency Programs. Youth at our host schools who have self identified as Spoken Word artists, poets and writers are encouraged to attend weekly meetings designed to assist them in organizing a school wide poetry slam on their school campus. These youth are recruited based on their interest in spoken word and enthusiasm for Youth Speaks, and are led through a deliberate process designed to teach them skills, and get them more engaged in our organization outside of campus.

Mentoring and internshipS

Youth Speaks offers a number of paid and volunteer internships for youth during the school year and summer. Interns work as office assistants and learn professional skills as they participate as members of the Youth Speaks staff. Many of these interns go on to become staff members, and are encouraged to participate in all Youth Speaks programs and activities as support staff, and program assistants.

“Even though students enter the “democratic” classroom believing they have the right to free speech, most students are not comfortable exercising free speech. Most students are not comfortable exercising this right especially if it means they must give voice to their thoughts, ideas, feelings that go against the grain, that are unpopular.” bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress