Speard the Word 2008, artBeat's second annual youth poetry symposium, generously funded by the Lannan Literary Programs at Georgetown Univeristy, was held on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, again at the WVSA ARTiculate Gallery: 1100 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036. Youth participants at this year's gathering represented the Latin American Youth Center, Art & Media House (AMH), WVSA ArtsConnection, School for the Arts in Learning (SAIL). St. Stephens & St. Agnes School (SSSAS) in Va, Howard University, Studio School, and Georgetown University and ranged in age from 9-23 years of age.
Our emcee was local poetry educator and the unofficial mayor of the DC open mic, Chiston "Christylez" Bacon, who set a tone of comfortable and energetic exchange. Christylez also lead a writing exercise for participants to generate new words. Our guest reader, Anna Mwalagho, was born and raised in Kenya, East Africa; Ms. Mwalagho in an internationally recognized artist and one woman blend of African dance, music, acting , and storytelling. She is the lead singer of the afro funk group ChopTeeth and an educator at Maya Angelou Public Charter School.
It was great to hear a good number of young female poets at this year's Spread the Word, including the very brave first time readers Imani and Esther from the SAIL poetry club. In combination with Anna's female-empowering pieces and the exhibition on display in the reading, fabric art curated by White Ribbon Alliance, relating to maternal health care, there was a definite vibe of support for the physical and mental well being of women. Also of note at this year's gathering was that poetry was read in three languages: English, Spanish and Kiswahili. Speacial shout outs to returning participants Cameron from SSSAS and Angel from AMH; we love seeing you grow as writers and people. And hope to see you next year!
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