2020 Youth Slam wrap-up & Studio Sessions

In 2020 Poets Out Loud brought Youth Slam Poetry workshops to the Northern Rivers in the midst of a global pandemic. We didn’t know how it would all pan out when Covid really struck in March, but we held our nerve and pushed forward to the end goal of a Youth Slam showcasing amazing, diverse local voices. The online Youth Slam was a hit!

Huge congrats to winner Pancho Symes, runners-up Georgia Smith & Jasmine Logan, and to all the brave, fierce, raw and real voices we were lucky enough to hear. You all smashed it and I feel so privileged and inspired to be part of facilitating that. Here is the full recorded livestream from the event.

One bonus of an online event was that entrants were given the option to professionally film their poems, thanks to support from Tweed Shire Council.

The poet mentors were also filmed and I decided to perform the poem that I demonstrate for students during our workshops.

‘Black Dog’ is a deeply personal piece about my experiences of depression and anxiety. It was written many years ago but it also rings true in the present for me. Moving and sad, gentle and observational, this poem speaks to the heart of my experience… The overwhelming self-criticism and shame. The sense that something is fundamentally wrong with you. The loneliness and isolation. A feeling of being trapped within yourself. These are things that are felt by so many, witnessed by so many, and I think that’s part of why students respond to this piece. So here it is, my little poem 🙂

The opportunity to share and witness real, heart-moving words from brave and vulnerable humans motivates me so much in this work. It is humbling to share and be seen myself, even as I teach and nurture!

You can see individual performances from slam entrants and the other Poet mentors here: https://poetsoutloud.org/youth/

I’m so pleased to say we are rolling out the 2021 Poets Out Loud Youth Program right now across the Northern Rivers! I absolutely cannot wait to see what beautiful voices come to the surface this year. Our intention is to stage a fantastic live event, so watch this space. Workshops start this month!