RE-CONNECTING the SLAM Dots between Brave New Voices (BNV) and THE National Poetry Slam (NPS) International COMPETITIONS

FOR ME---PART OF THE REASON WHY I FIND MYSELF RETURNING YEAR AFTER YEAR TO COMPETE THROUGH THE ART OF SLAM POETRY IN THE NATIONAL LEVEL IS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE EXPERIENCE GOES WELL BEYOND THE COMPETITION. MY EXPERIENCE AT THE 12TH ANNUAL BRAVE NEW VOICES HELD IN CHICAGO, WHICH WAS ALSO MY FIRST EXPERIENCE AT A BNV, SHOWED ME THAT ALL OF OUR EXPERIENCES WITH SLAM HAS CLEARLY GONE WELL BEYOND BEING JUST A COMPETITION. IT IS A TRUE CONVERSATION CONNECTING A COMMUNITY OF POETS. THE MOMENT WE FIND A WAY TO EFFICIENTLY AND VISIBLY LINK BNV WITH THE COLLEGIATE TO NPS WE WILL HAVE TRULY MOBILIZED A REVOLUTION WITH THE SYNERGISTIC CAPABILITIES OF EVANGELIZING THE SPOKEN WORD MEDIUM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THIS GENRE. WE FINALLY HAVE THE PIECES TO MAKE THIS MOVEMENT FIT SOMETHING INCREDIBLE AND SO MUCH BIGGER THAN ANY OF US INDIVIDUALLY. I BELIEVE IN THIS. I HAVE BECOME A WITNESS TO THE GROWTH. I AM CONSTANTLY IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING. I AM A PARTICIPANT. I HAVE BECOME A MENTOR. I AM A BELIEVER IN THE IMPORTANCE FOR US TO RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER AS NECESSARY VOICES FOR THE GREATER GROWTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE MOVEMENT. WE MUST KEEP IT FRESH AND THE EXISTENCE OF THESE THREE MAJOR components PROVIDES AN UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL REALITY CHECK TO BALANCE THE PASSION, THE FUN, AND THE SOCIALLY ACTIVE AND ENERGIZED PROFESSIONALISM OF SPOKEN WORD POETRY.

-Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo
10X consecutive competitor
at the National Poetry Slam

Iyeoka will be representing Boston this summer competing on the 2009 Lizard Lounge Team at the 20th Annual National Poetry Slam in West Palm Beach, FL from August 3-8th

12th Annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival

Youth Speaks Inc., the nation’s leading spoken word organization, is proud to present, in partnership with Columbia College of Chicago & Young Chicago Authors, the 12th annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival.

Convening the top young poets and spoken word artists, aged 13-19, from across the United States and beyond, Brave New Voices is a one-of-a-kind festival that truly engages everyone involved; from the participants, to the adult mentors and the audience members. Each year, Brave New Voices is held in a different city, highlighting the changing demographics of the country and a new poetic and politic for the 21st Century. For the second time, the six-day festival will be held in Chicago.

Brave New Voices 2009 features over 500 Teen Poetry Slam Champions from 45 parts of the country and 5 additional cities from across the globe, representing over 50,000 young poets in their local communities. These young writers are a diverse, creative, intelligent group of trendsetting community and cultural leaders. They come to Brave New Voices each year not only to compete, but to attend world-class workshops led by renowned poets and writers, participate in youth development programs, and highlight the voices of a new generation of leadership.

Following the April airing of the HBO special Brave New Voices – which filmed youth from across the country as they prepared for, and participated in, Brave New Voices 2008 in Washington DC – the festival in Chicago will be the largest, most high-visible Brave New Voices yet.

The 5-day festival features 25 events across Chicago, from July 14-19, in community-based theaters, major performance venues, public spaces and college campuses.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION FEATURING IYEOKA IVIE OKOAWO
Art AS LIfE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
BRAVE NEW VOICES 2009 CHICAGO

Workshop Description:
Living as a professional artist takes initiative and perseverance. If we are to survive doing what we love we must first find the avenues and pathways to succeed within it.
ART AS LIFE is a new PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM that introduces youth poets to the ins and outs of creating a viable foundation into navigating potential future income streams and career opportunities in spoken word. This workshop will give access to resources for individual art funding, a comprehensive “cheat-sheet” for establishing a strategic professional resume, and information on expanding your artistic profile and repertoire beyond the “slam”. Drawing from roundtable discussions, research on best practices in the spoken-word field, and artists' on-the-ground experience, this workshop incorporates a step-by-step overview of the topic, partner exercises and case studies. We will present “the process of becoming”, putting your art into action (ie: teaching, mentoring, project development etc), and working through the social/familial/political challenges of a career as an artist. Handouts will include University slam resources, a Find Your Approach list to begin framing your career strategy, and quick tips for building your support group.
Led by IYEOKA IVIE OKOAW & MATT GANO

BRAVE NEW VOICES 2009 SCHEDULE
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OPENING CEREMONY
Tuesday July 14, 2009
5pm to 7pm
Art Institute of Chicago
112 S Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603
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AFTER DARK ACTIVITIES
Tuesday July 14, 2009
Multiple Locations
YCA PRESENTS: WORDPLAY
Tuesday July 14, 2009
7:30pm to 10pm
Barnes and Nobles
1 East Jackson St.
Chicago, IL
Hosted by FM SUPREME & Shadell Jamison
FEATURING; DEJA K. TAYLOR, SHANNON MATESKY, GEORGE WATSKY, JOSHUA BENNETT, ALEXIS MARIE, ALYSIA HARRIS, MILES HODGES, MELANIE AKA GEORGE, LTAB COLLEGE SLAM TEAM * Special performance by Purpose of Life
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Columbia College Chicago: 8 – 10pm
623 S. Wabash- Coaches Meeting
731 Plymouth Court- Peoples Championship Qualifier
618 S. Michigan-Peoples Championship Qualifier
618 S. Michigan- Contest Workshops
618 S. Michigan- Networking Activity(Cyber Café)

Columbia College Chicago: 10 – 12am
623 S. Wabash- Late Night Open Mic
731 Plymouth Court- Peoples Championship Qualifier
618 S. Michigan- Peoples Championship Qualifier
618 S. Michigan- BNV Future Corps Workshop
618 S. Michigan- Cyber Cafe
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WRITING WORKSHOPS
Wednesday July 15, 2009
9am to 2pm
Columbia College Chicago
33 E. Congress and 623 S. Wabash.
Chicago, IL 60603
*Registration for these Writing Workshops takes place on Tuesday, July 14th at the Festival Check-in table.
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OPENING PLENARY
Wednesday July 15, 2009
9am to 10am
Art Institute of Chicago
112 South Michigan
Chicago, IL
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NATIONAL TOWN HALL MEETING
Wednesday July 15, 2009
3pm to 5pm
Art Institute of Chicago
112 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603
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FIRTS WAVE/KUUMBA LYNX
Wednesday July 15, 2009
7pm to 9pm
618 S. Michigan
Chicago , IL 60605
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SPEAK GREEN POETRY SLAM
Wednesday July 15, 2009
7:30pm to 9:30pm
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies
610 S. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605
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AFTER DARK ACTIVITIES
Wednesday July 15, 2009
9:30pm to 12am
Multiple Locations

Columbia College Chicago: 10 – 12am
731 Plymouth Court- Peoples Championship Quarters
623 S, Wabash- Peoples Championship Quarters
618 S. Michigan- MC Olympic Quali Fire
618 S. Michigan- Future Corps Workshop(Pre Registration Required)
618 S. Michigan- Cyber Café Open Mic (Space is Limited)
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QUARTERFINALS
Thursday July 16, 2009
9:30am to 11:45am