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Event
The State of the Word 2012
Middle Tennessee High School and College Poets to Celebrate "Positivity" in Nashville Fifth Annual "State of the Word" Event Galvanizes Community
Middle Tennessee's top college and high school poets, emcees, and spoken word artists will convene for the 5th year in a row to celebrate positivity at 7:00 pm on Saturday, November 10 at Vanderbilt University's Sarratt Cinema. Tickets can be purchased at southernword.org or at the door, if still available. Tickets cost $5 if you are 18 years or over and $3 if you are 17 or under.
"The sense of community on display at State of the Word, the peer support and encouragement and the common bond of poetry, is something beautiful and rarely seen in communities of any age," reflects long-time youth development professional and Southern Word board member Anderson Williams.
Co-hosted by Southern Word and Vandy Spoken Word, "State of the Word" is the region's leading youth poetry event, which brings together college poets with their high school counterparts in a poetry reunion. Performers have brunch and an open mic together in the cafeteria at Vanderbilt's Commons in the morning. They then conduct workshops, rehearsals, and activities all day leading up to the main event. MTSU's WordUp, Belmont's B the Word, and Fisk's Go! Inc. are also event partners.
While the event is not a competition, performers strive to showcase their best skills as the group celebrates its progress and invigorates the Nashville community. Southern Word has nurtured the development of young writers who have been featured in The Tennessean, Nashville Scene, Nashville Arts Magazine, WPLN, Chapter 16, and TEDxNashville. These poets deliver their finest performances at "State of the Word" as other students holler in support and dance in their seats. The event is transformational for performers and audience members alike.
This year, organizers anticipate representatives from Stratford, Big Picture, Overton, Maplewood, Hume Fogg, Lead Academy, Oakland, Independence, Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet, Vanderbilt, Belmont, TSU, MTSU, Fisk, and APSU. The State of the Word is funded in part by Vanderbilt University's Commons, Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center, Writing Studio, Metro Nashville Arts Commission, Tennessee Arts Commission, and National Endowment for the Arts.
Youth poetry is trending across the nation as young people realize this new opportunity to express themselves and develop their voice. In its fourth year of programs, Southern Word reached 4,400 students as part of in-school residencies and performances, 390 students as part of after school workshops, 5,900 audience members as part of 44 community performances, and 34,400 audience members through on-line views.
About Southern Word
Through the literary and performing arts, Southern Word offers creative solutions for youth to build literacy and presentation skills, reconnect to their education and to their lives, and act as leaders in the improvement of their communities. We are absolutely committed to providing youth, especially in underserved communities, with as many opportunities as possible to develop and publicly present their voices both live and in print, video, audio, and digital media.
About Vandy Spoken Word
Vanderbilt Spoken Word, in its fifth year, is a performance poetry organization that seeks to combine the elements of hip-hop, emceeing, free-verse poetry, rhythm and theater to create an electrifying on-stage performance of words.
About Spoken Word
By combining education, arts, and youth leadership, spoken word has become one of the most innovative literacy development tools over the past decade. Spoken word poetry is a visceral experience that competes with television, the internet, and video games for teen mind-share. Students participating in spoken word programs report improvement in their reading and writing skills, increased self-confidence, and a new sense of community among their peers and teachers. Educators report a clear rise in interest among students, a more youth-driven learning environment, and evidence of greater social and academic confidence among students.
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LocationVanderbilt University's Sarratt Cinema (View)
310 25th Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37240
United States
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