Youth Speaks

COMIN IN HOT we’re keeping the same energy this summer & want you to tap in. SWIPE for a full schedule of our summer programs (including BNV!) and click the link in our bio for more information / sign-up. [Photo Description 1: A young, dark skinned poet in a sky blue, printed head wrap, large geometric earrings, & matching blue tank top stands in front of a blurred out park background. The words Summer Speaks appear in pink above their head. ... Photo Description 2: Programming Dates (against pink background) - U21OM | June 4, SPOKES apps close | June 18, Summer Workshops begin | June 30, U21OM | July 2, Brave New Voices | July 23-25)

Two more weeks to join our 2021-2022 SPOKES Youth Advisory Board! You’ll meet weekly to advise on future programs, curate community events, develop your artistry, and morefrom August 2021 to June 2022. Apply at the link below before Friday, June 18th: http://tinyurl.com/spokes2122

Poets! Check out Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs Voice of The Sea Award, featuring $1,000 & $1,500 awards for students ages 11-18. Find out more & apply at http://bowseat.org/contest before June 14!

Pull up to this Friday’s Under 21 Open Mic featuring a *very* special feature This month's feature is a dynamic group born of collaboration between Youth Speaks and Chapter 510 known as ChapSpeaks. An inter-generational group of organizers, poets, MCs, and overall artists who are the squad behind the production of this past year’s open mics. This month's Under 21 Open Mic will be their first appearance as performers together. ONLINE UNDER 21 OPEN MICS... Presented by Youth Speaks and Chapter 510 1st Fridays of Every Month | 4:30pm-6:00pm PT *Signups are from 4-4:30pm 13 21-year-olds only As always, tap in at bit.ly/registerforys [Image Description 1: Graphic that reads Under 21 Open Mic with tie-dyed background & large, transparent lettering. Atop the lettering: A young, curly haired poet leans forward, smiling into a handheld microphone. End description.] [Image Description 2: Graphic that reads Feature: ChapSpeaks in white block lettering. ChapSpeaks is in a composite photo, with a black background. Both poets and text are surrounded by tie-dyed background. End description.] [Image Description 3: Graphic that reads Online: Every First Friday, 4:30PM-6PM PT, 13-21 year olds only, in white block lettering. Text surrounded by tie-dyed background. End description.]

In partnership with Anti Police-Terror Project, the incredible folks at Youth Vs. Apocalypse will be hosting a FREE virtual creative writing workshop as part of the 7th Annual Reclaim MLK's Radical Legacy weekend. Join in tomorrow (January 16) at 2PM to appreciate powerful actions that have happened in the past, recognize our struggles today, and imagine our future.

University of San Francisco School of Education (Official) is hosting their virtual open house for Master's, Doctoral, and Certificate candidates in just a few weeksfor more info, check out the invite below:

Looking back to look forward - https://mailchi.mp//building-community-in-our-forever-home

On the First Friday of every month, we present the Youth Speaks Under 21 Open Mics (a.k.a U21OM) in partnership with @chapter510. Organized and led by the remarkable @jadaimani510, U21OM is an intentional space for young people 21 years old and under from all over the world to share their stories in the spirit of conjuring the power and magnificence of their voices. ONLINE UNDER 21 OPEN MICS Presented by Youth Speaks and Chapter 510 1st Fridays of Every Month | 4:30pm-6:00pm ...PT *Signups are from 4-4:30pm 13 21-year-olds only Our first feature is Zouhair Mussa, a YS Program participant looking to bring hope to the community through art. Find out more + register at bit.ly/registerforys We’ll see you there! #Art #Poetry #YouthPoetry #OpenMic #U21OM #YouthSpeaks #Oakland #California

Oakland Artists! @youthspeaks is joining forces with @yr.media and @zoolabs to host a series of FREE online event production workshops for Oakland Artists between November 9th, and December 10, 2020. Technical Assistance for Oakland Arts, a project of the City of Oakland Cultural Affairs Department and the Federal CARES program is designed for organizations and individuals deeply embedded in the City of Oakland to provide training and resources on platforms, media production,... technical assistance, best practices, and strategies to produce online broadcasts for artists and creatives in the fields of music production, theater, dance, visual and media arts. Participation in the program is on a first-come, first-served basis - and acceptance into the program will be confirmed no later than Thursday, November 4th for Organizations, and December 4 at 1 pm for the Artists/Musician Practitioners in the @zoolabs portion of the series. Sign up at lifeisliving.org #YouthSpeaks #ZooLabs #YrMedia #Oakland #Workshops

Just 2 more days until the application deadline for SPOKES, our Youth Advisory Board! Deadline: Thursday, Oct 29, 5PM We have opened this year's pool up to 5 SFUSD and 5 East Bay / Oakland students (ages 15-19), who will be paid to advise on Youth Speaks' programming and curation throughout the year. For more information, apply here https://bit.ly/3kkiRnl or through the link in our bio. ... Collaborate with community while securing the bagwe got you covered for both. Can't wait to see you. #youthspeaks #poetry #poetrycommunity #youthpoetry #Oakland #SFUSD #EastBay #California

Check out our brilliant alum & Oakland Poet Laureate Samuel Getachew, in conversation with Cat Brooks of the Anti-Terror Police Project on ABC7's "From Anger to Action: A Bay Area Conversation". The hour-long conversation explores what can be done to create sustainable change in Oakland that is not only effective, but community-led. Full video in the link below:

We don’t just want to be inspirational, we want you to meet our demands. Youth activists have a message for all of us. Watch YVA’s original song & music video This Is The Time featuring , @alphabetrockers, @rakadun, and @destinyartscenter dancers and join the movement to transform this moment from breakdown to possibility. Go to ThisTheTime.org or text THETIME TO 56525 @youthvsapocalypse

SFUSD Students! East Bay Students! Are you looking to join a community of artists, poets, and leaders that will change the world? Look no further: apply to SPOKES, our very own Youth Advisory Board. This year's application is open to students between 15-19 that either LIVE or GO TO SCHOOL in San Francisco or the East Bay (Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties), exclusively. Ten will be selected (& paid) to advise in the curation & execution of our year-long programming.... Not only are SPOKES members the public face of Youth Speaks, they receive skill development that prepares them to be leaders in their school, community, and the world at large. SPOKES is the vision-bearing spirit of what Youth Speaks does. Find more information and apply here: https://bit.ly/3kkiRnl If you're a Bay Area / Oakland youth looking to get involved, all good! Keep an eye out for more (paid) programming opportunities in the coming days.

Got poems? Come through to Bigger Picture Slam Club, where participants get to take their work as poets and activists to the next level in community, using their voices to create change. Every Thursday 3:30pm-5:30pm October 15th-December 10th*... *Our culminating (and recorded!) performance Be sure to register here: bit.ly/registerforys Slam Club is open to SFUSD students (some exceptions based on school) 13-19 years old, of all experience levels. Jump in and we got the rest.

Watch excerpts from two plays in Chinaka's Trilogy including "Mirrors In Every Corner" and "Chasing Mehserle". The screening will be followed by a talk with Chinaka Hodge and Sean San José all sandwiched between two DJ sets by Wonway Posibul Presented by Life is Living : October 11th~ 7-8:30PM (pst)... : ZOOM : RSVP at lifeisliving.org or @youthspeaks bio link #LIL20 #LifeisLiving #OaklandTrilogy

Yak Films flipped the script for our final day of programming and organized an online dance battle for the 2020 Life is Living Festival. Established in 2008 in Oakland, California, YAK is dedicated to bringing quality local visuals to a growing global audience. While the pandemic has severely impacted our ability to gather and travel, the creative energy in the global dance community remains alive and vibrant. Share this moment with our community as they battle it out in the park for us, for you, and for everybody out there looking for inspiration. #LIL20 #LifeisLiving #Oakland #California #Yakfilms

Oakhella Presents: Celebrations and Dedications This dance party is for the movers, for those ready to let go of what weighs them down. Join Oakhella residents @bijou_djkream and @drowflow for a special offering of intentional, high vibration rug cuttin’ to follow the second day of the 2020 Life is Living festival. Presented by Life is Living ... : October 10th ~ 7-9PM (pst) : ZOOM : RSVP at lifeisliving.org or @youthspeaks bio link #LifeisLiving #LIL20 #Oakland #DJKream #DjDrowFlow #Community

@darkstaruniverse presents the premiere of "Resistance Hangar", a stop motion animated film featuring heroes of color with a sci fi backdrop parallel to the Star Wars universe. Presented by Life is Living : October 10th ~ 2-2:30 (pst) : ZOOM... : RSVP at lifeisliving.org or @youthspeaks bio link #LIL20 #LifeisLiving #Oakland #Community #DarkStarUniverse #ResistanceHangar

For 2020 the year of perfect vision the Life is Living Theater Stage is delving into the truth that OUR TIME IS SACRED. This year’s virtual stage will feature pieces that celebrate/investigate/demand/create T I M E as it relates to Black and Brown bodies and lives. Presented by Life is Living : October 10th ~ 4-5:30PM (pst) : ZOOM... : RSVP at lifeisliving.org or @youthspeaks bio link #LIL20 #LifeisLiving #CalShakes #TheaterStage #Oakland