Brave New Voices is an annual international youth poetry festival organized by Youth Speaks that brings together the world's most talented young spoken word artists for four days of competition, performance, and artistic celebration. Students participate in a competitive slam format, hip-hop competitions, and workshops led by professional spoken word artists, all centered around a unifying theme. Regional teams advance to the festival to represent their communities on a global stage, competing against the best youth poets from across the country and around the world. Now in its 29th year, Brave New Voices is one of the most prestigious spoken word competitions available to young artists, offering a transformative experience that combines competitive excellence with cultural celebration.
Delivering ideas clearly and confidently in front of an audience.
Crafting original stories, poems, or scripts that express ideas and imagination.
Writing to convince a reader of a position using evidence and logic.
Guiding a group toward a shared goal and keeping everyone moving together.
Bringing people together around a shared cause to create real change.
Speaking up and taking action on behalf of a cause or group of people.
Students develop powerful written and spoken expression skills central to journalistic storytelling and truth-telling.
The festival emphasizes artistic writing, performance, and creative expression through original poetry and spoken word.
Students practice persuasive communication, audience engagement, and crafting compelling narratives for impact.
The festival models community organizing, youth empowerment, and advocacy rooted in social justice themes.
Students gain mentoring and leadership experience through workshops, performance coaching, and peer support.
Community Experiences
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