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Street Poets Inc. creates circles. Poetry circles. Drum circles. Multi-cultural multi-generational circles. Creative healing circles
within which at-risk youth and young adults can breathe, write, laugh, cry and rediscover their authentic voices in the midst of a
world increasingly ruled by fear and permeated by violence. We do what we do with the larger goal of transforming our society into
one that champions the creative process, multicultural community, peace-making, healing and personal growth.
The writer does not learn to write so that he can "write," but because without the necessary tools, he cannot dig his way out of prison. - Allan Swallow Our poetry workshops inspire youth to tell their stories, explore their gifts and wounds, and develop their authentic voices through writing. We lead poetry workshops for youth and young adults at various sites in Los Angeles County, including but not limited to:
We lead or have led intensive two-week poetry writing and recording workshops in collaboration with Media-Art-Xchanges (MAX) www.mediaartxchanges.org at the following sites beyond Los Angeles:
Street Poets also facilitates African Drumming/Spoken-Word workshops at various sites throughout Los Angeles in collaboration with Rhythm Tribe.
Los Angeles Times - Young gangsters' special weapon: poetry
Street Poets Inc. is committed to building a community that brings together different racial, ethnic and socio-economic segments of the city around the transformational power of the creative process. Toward this end, we host quarterly open-mic poetry events - Community Soul Circles -- for our students, workshop alumni, staff, volunteers, family and friends. These events showcase emerging poetic voices while creating a space in which emotional openness and honesty are not only encouraged, but celebrated. As the gap between rich and poor and different ethnic groups continues to widen in our city, we believe creative communities like ours founded on truths that transcend race, class and creed will become increasingly important.
Founded in 2007, the Street Poets recording studio is dedicated to amplifying the inspirational stories, deep truths and transformational messages that continue to emerge from our poetry workshops and creative community. Street Poets produces a compilation CD of spoken-word and hip-hop on an annual basis, with the intention of bringing inspiration and healing to all those still struggling to find their voices in the streets, schools and juvenile detention facilities of this world. Our weekly Writing & Recording Group Session happens Fridays 4-8pm @ Street Poets. Please call ahead. Street Poets Albums:
The Seeking Peace workshop is a weekly multi-generational meditation and poetry-writing workshop with rotating themes and facilitators. It focuses on community-building, personal growth and the creative process. Open to anyone interested in stepping into the flow... Tuesdays 4-6pm @ Street Poets
Street Poets Inc.'s violence prevention-themed poetry performance group, composed of our formerly incarcerated workshop alumni and staff, performs at schools, youth justice & peace conferences and juvenile detention facilities throughout Los Angeles County and beyond. The group's original performance is a riveting celebration of the transformational power of the written word. Since their first show at the Los Angeles Theater Center in 1998, Street Poets United has performed over one hundred times for thousands of at-risk youth and young adults from downtown Los Angeles to Europe.
Most of our print publications, from our books and anthologies to our "Word on the Street" community newsletter, are designed to celebrate the creative work of the gifted and courageous poets that continue to emerge from our workshops. In 2009, Street Poets was hired by Premier to create original/inspirational/educational content for their new UGO Student Planners, to be distributed throughout North America in 2010. Look for the UGO planners at a middle school or high school near you in the fall of 2010!
Our audio and video productions serve to amplify the voices of our youth and young adult poets and to celebrate the transformational power of the creative process.
If you are interested in making a contribution, please contact Street Poets Inc. at 323-737-8545 or click on the link below.
We also are set up to accept matching gifts from corporations.
Because Street Poets Inc. is tax-exempt 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, donations are tax-deductible.
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