Let'em Cook Book

In a time of book banning and systemic and administrative attacks on marginalized communities, it is imperative to create spaces for young people to talk about what is urgent to them. It is necessary for young people to have spaces to dream about the changes they hope to see in the world. Poetry and performance can be a useful tool in not only beginning to imagine the futures young people want to create and sustain, but are also tools in diffusing information and ideas. For over 30 years, Youth Speaks staff have created masterful workshops that carve out space for conversation, creativity, and imagination building in relation to the society and the world that surrounds us. These workshops have been intentionally crafted by generations of brilliant educators and facilitators with hopes of offering spaces for young people to unearth and tap into their artistic and creative potentials. Our hope is that this guide can be a resource to educators aiming to integrate spoken word into their programs, professional developments, and teaching practices. This guide offers Youth Speaks classic workshops exploring themes ranging from unpacking identity to building community. Our After Angelou series is created on the shoulders of the work of the late Dr. Maya Angelou. We anticipate that this resource will encourage youth and educators alike to understand the transformative power of writing and poetry, and its ability to bring people closer to their individual and collective truths. Beyond this, we hope that this guide and its contents can encourage and amplify communities' desire to align with the transformation that poetry can inspire. At Youth Speaks, we pride ourselves on a Golden Rule: the standard is yourself! We impart this Golden Rule and this resource to you, your young people, and your learning spaces.