On Friday, July 23rd, I was so blessed to witness some of the most amazing, inspiring individuals to ever hold a mic in their hand, speak their truths and share their stories. Brave New Voices was the 13th Annual International Youth Poetry Slam Festival, and I had the opportunity, by my good friend Kristina, to watch the Grand Slam Finals filmed to air on HBO. The Saban Theater was a packed house, and I sat there in awe watching these youth speak their hearts on that stage.
Brave New Voices indeed— it takes so much out of someone to share their words, share their heart, share their perspectives with others. Last night, I heard stories spoken in the best form of slam poetry I have ever heard live. The final teams brought their best to the stage and it was so evident that they gave everything in their performances. You know these kids have something truly special when their courage just standing before a mic can hush a theater audience of about 2000 people into pure attention. Not one person in that audience would have dared to go in their pocket for so much as their chapstick because they knew they were about to see something extraordinary happen on that stage. 2000 people, a panel of all-star judges, and a countless television audience craned their ears to hang on every single word and metaphor the teams shared with us last night. I saw courage demonstrated—heard voices untamed by the bounds of expectation. The youth rose up last night, beckoning the world to listen.
