What we do
The Focus of Our Efforts
Recognizing the enormity of the challenges our society now faces, Hear Here remains dedicated to making a lasting social impact through our campaigns and programming. While our efforts are driven by our organization’s singular focus, to engage poetry as a productive skill for youth and young adults, we spread a wide net by fostering a variety of necessary conversations.
We are an uncensored organization, but we will not tolerate hate speech or abusive behaviors.
Experience is our Classroom
Anyone who communicates has an access point to poetry. Hear Here teaches skilled processes of listening to, writing about, and telling different stories through creative poetry curricula. We are invested in innovative approaches that empower, create change, and activate and amplify young voices. We don't teach people how to write poems; we create the unique circumstances into which poems arrive. We don't tell you how to experience poetry; we expose you to an incredible variety of voices.
Doing What’s Needed
We believe BLACK LIVES MATTER; Trans rights are HUMAN RIGHTS; NO person is illegal; Science is real; Love is love; and words can be weapons or magic wands.
YouthSpeaks!
The Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival, powered by Youth Speaks!, is the only festival of its kind. Every year, over 500 young poets, their mentors, and the nation’s leading artists and cultural workers convene in a different U.S. city for 4-5 days of arts education, artistic expression, and civic engagement. This year is the first year producing a virtual festival giving the ability for even more youth to participate with a bigger audience.
When & Where
During the world pandemic most of our resources are being geared towards virtual and online events. Please continue to check back for a developing calendar.
The Point is the Poetry
The word circus that is the friendly game of Slam is a popular way to level the playing field of valid opinions on poetry. Five random people judge competing poets' original poetry, presented with a time limit and without props, to pronounce a "winner". The point is not only the poetry, but the PEOPLE involved. By listening, writing, and sharing, we are exposed to a wider variety of voices and experiences.