WHO: Mayor Michael A. Nutter
Philly Youth Poetry Movement
WHAT: Mayor Nutter will host the first ever City Hall Poetry Slam featuring performances from young people participating in the Philly Youth Poetry Movement, a non-profit organization committed to helping the youth of Philadelphia discover the power of their voices through spoken word, literacy, and progressive workshop facilitation.
The event will also be a send-off for a number of the young poets who are traveling to Los Angeles on July 18th to represent Philadelphia in the international Brave New Voices competition, the largest spoken word event in the world.
Members of the Philly Youth Poetry Movement participated in the City of Philadelphia’s recent ‘UnLitter Us’ campaign to promote a cleaner, litter-free Philadelphia.
WHERE: City Hall, Mayor’s Reception Room, Room 202
WHEN: Monday July 12, 2010 6:00 – 7:00 pm
The Philly Youth Poetry Movement (“PYPM” or “The Movement”) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to helping the youth of Philadelphia discover the power of their voices through spoken word, literacy, and progressive workshop facilitation. The Movement, founded by “UnLitter Us” poet Greg Corbin, provides a safe space for at-risk, empowered youth ages 13-19 to use their voice to promote social change, leadership, cultural diversity, and build self-esteem. Through monthly slams, free weekly poetry workshops, national/local performance opportunities, mentoring and community service, PYPM creates a platform for the next generation to be heard through the power of poetry. Visit PYPM at http://www.pypm215.org/.
Brave New Voices (“BNV”), a program of Youth Speaks, Inc., is the largest spoken word event in the world. Fifty teams from as far as England and Guam, will gather in Los Angeles, CA, from July 19-24, 2010, for this annual festival and poetry slam. This is the fourth year Philadelphia will compete at BNV. Philadelphia previously held the championship title in 2007 and was featured in 2008 in the HBO docuseries, “Russell Simmons presents: Brave New Voices”. Visit BNV at http://www.bravenewvoices.org/.
UnLitter Us uses the words and inspiration of spoken word artists to unveil the beauty of Philadelphia and spur action among all residents to clean up the city and create litter free communities. The spoken word artists perform original poems that express their frustration with litter and their dream of seeing it stopped. UnLitter Us encourages all Philadelphia residents to join the movement-both on their block and in the digital world. Greg Corbin (PYPM Executive Director) and Denice Frohman are currently featured in the Philadelphia’s Streets Department UnLitter Us movement. Visit UnLitter Us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/unlitterus), Twitter (@unlitterus), and the Streets Department’s website www.philadelphiastreets.com.
City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) is devoted to supporting the City’s dynamic arts, culture and creative sector. This program in the Mayor’s Reception Room is part of an ongoing effort to use spaces in City Hall and other city buildings as a venue for this sector. In addition to spoken word and our current exhibition at The Art Gallery at City Hall (City Hall, Room 116), future OACCE programs may include lectures and panel discussions, workshops, film screenings and music concerts, just to name a few. Visit the OACCE at: http://www.phila.gov/visitors/arts.html.
The Mayor’s Office of Education (MOE) was established one week after Mayor Nutter’s inauguration to lead his Administration’s efforts in achieving the two education goals for this city: increasing the high school graduation rate to 80% by 2015 and doubling the percentage of college graduates to 36% by 2018. Visit MOE at: http://www.phila.gov/residents/education/.
