Brave New Voices 2009 - July 14-19, 2009
Brave New Voices Festival

Youth Speaks Inc., the nation’s leading spoken word organization, is proud to present the 12th annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival.

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2009 Schedule – At A Glance

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.

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Very First CYPHER In The White House… EVER

Posted by Jamaica Osorio
JAMES KASS on the beat and JOSHUA BRANDON BENNET!!!!

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The Finale of Brave New Voices on HBO! Sunday at 10PM

A supercharged climactic end to an amazing journey!

Tune In this Sunday at 10PM ET/PT for the grand finale.

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Brave New Voices Poets Head to the White House! Watch It Live!

Big ups to our very own Brave New Voices poets Josh and Jamaica who will be performing today at the White House for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle. Josh and Jamaica will be sharing the spotlight with other amazing performers such as James Earl Jones, Lin Manuel Miranda, Mayda Del Valle, Esperanza Spalding.

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National Network

The Brave New Voices National Network consists of partner organizations mutually invested in spoken word poetry as a vehicle to develop the cultural, academic and civic literacies of youth. Partner organizations reflect a diversity of grassroots, small and mid-size organizations. Get involved with an organization in your area today…

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Brave New Voices on HBO // WATCH EPISODE 1 NOW

Beginning April 5th at 11PM, follow America’s brightest young talents as they strive to reach the pinnacle of slam poetry. Sharing their most personal thoughts and emotions as they face inner battles, family tragedy, and the pressures of competition, these poets use words open minds and explore possibilities.

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Brave New Voices Toolkit

Help Us Spread the Word….

Being a Brave New Voice, in the World, and on HBO, happens to be quite tiring! You can help out by helping us spread the word.
We think it is very important that people get to see the positive images of young people in America, and we think that it will help [...]

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Brave New Voices Speaks Green

In November 2007 four members of the Brave New Voices Network traveled to Chicago Illinois, to perform at the largest Green Festival in the United States known as Green Build.

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Brave New Voices On Tour

Youth Speaks’ Brave New Voices College Tour is an amalgam of the brightest college aged performance poets from the San Francisco Bay.

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Join the Conversation

Want to keep up with your favorite brave new voices?

Use #bravenewvoices & @bravenewvoices to join the conversation.

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Watch On HBO

Russell Simmons presents Brave New Voices
Narrated by Queen Latifah

All over the United States, a new generation of poets is emerging. This new HBO series captures teenagers picking up the pen and taking hold of the microphone with passion, intelligence, creativity, honesty and power. These voices of 21st Century America transcend race, class, gender, orientation, and red state/blue state politics as they show us all what the next generation of leaders looks and sounds like.

Watch on HBO ON DEMAND

HBO

The poets perform some of their best stuff from start to finish. Watch bonus clips now online at HBO!

Find out more about the Teams, Mentors and Poets.

Come to the Largest Youth Poetry Festival in the World
Thank You!

The 12th Annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival is made possible through the generous support of the Ford Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, The Doris Duke Charitable Fund, the Common Ground Foundation, US Green Building Council, The Redford Center, The National Endowment for the Arts, an Anonymous Fund, Verizon Wireless, American Airlines, Rhodia, HBO, and by individuals who believe in the power of the word when its in the hands of young people.