Photo Credit: Adriel Luis - http://facebook.com/drizzletron
For those of you who were unable to join us in Los Angeles, we’re proud to report back that last week’s Brave New Voices was a great success!
Over 600 young people from 55 cities across the globe joined with over 10,000 Los Angelinos, for an incredible week of poetry writing and performances, workshops on youth development & educational best practices, and the International Youth Poetry Slam. The Grand Slam Finals will air on HBO in the Fall, but for those of you who can’t wait, we do have some teasers at www.bravenewvoices.org/blog.
In the meantime, as the Youth Speaks Inc staff heads off to various parts for a much-deserved vacation, we have two days to meet our fundraising goals for the year. We almost did it, but we’re $25,000 short of where we want to be.
We are hoping that all of our friends can chip in by making a secure online donation (click here), or by sending a tax-deductible contribution to our offices at 1663 Mission Street, Suite 604 San Francisco, CA 94103.
We are trying to raise this $25,000 by July 31 to make sure that we can start off next year with a bang! If you can help out, we’d appreciate it.
Click Here To Donate.
Tags: bravenewvoices, support, youthspeaks
Founded in 1996, Youth Speaks Inc. is a multi-faceted organization that understands and believes that the power, insight, creativity, and passion of young people can change the world. Brave New Voices was created by Youth Speaks, Inc in 1998 after the inaugural Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam in San Francisco—the first poetry slam dedicated to youth in the nation’s history. To learn more, get involved, and attend other events, visit 
Maybe if you didn’t spend so much money on the festival, you wouldn’t have to raise so much charity money that could otherwise go to causes like Haiti or fighting AIDS.
Comment by no ono on August 1, 2010 at 8:01 pm
I do feel the poweer behind the youth taking part in this slam. However a friend of mine who in her early 20′s felt the blow of her mom’s murder. This girl has been writing since she was a child. Stuff you would think only a person who has lived years on this earth could write about. The pain of her mother being taken away still eats at her being. However just because she is not a teen, she is still young. When I see these kids who have so much talent, I can’t help but wonder why the age limit. Pain doesn’t have an age limit. Is there any way to allow her to audition? If anything she would be great working with these kids. She’s a talent and I know her mom would allow her to start to flow again. If there is any way please let me know. Thank you and I think it’s beauitful and fearless what you all are doing.
Comment by Kimberlee on October 24, 2010 at 10:08 pm
I’m drownin….in tears that i HAVEN’T CRIED!!!!
that’s how on eof my poems starts!!!!
Comment by Dulce Ochoa on October 29, 2010 at 10:47 am
I stumbled upon a broadcast of Brave New Voices…it’s the best thing I’ve seen on t.v. in a very long time…it took me through a whole range of emotion and it was inspiring to see young people with an outlet and a voice….it truly is a beautiful thing and more importantly an empowering thing
Comment by calliope on November 5, 2010 at 10:30 pm
I love to write poems!!!!
its my pasion, and i can sit for 3 or more hours writting. when i saw BRAVE NEW VOICES for the first time….i couldn’t move my eyes out of the tv. i wanted to write to them, so EVERYBODY can read my poems. and if i ever get to publish ALL of my poems, most of my money is going to go to the people that really need it. like the people in HAITI, and hospitals.
Comment by Dulce Ochoa on January 21, 2011 at 11:40 am
How do i sign up for 2011 BNV ?
Comment by Connie on January 30, 2011 at 8:20 am
Connie,
See this:
http://www.bravenewvoices.org/apply
Comment by admin on January 31, 2011 at 3:06 pm