I just had the immense pleasure of going to Youth Speaks Grand Slam Finals with Rachel and Ron and Ron’s friend Dan. Basically kids 13 – 19 work in workshops across the Bay Area and compete in different “slams” across the yay. The Grand Slam Final winner and finalists get to go to Chicago where they’ll be competing in a very cool international competition.

HOW AMAZING! Listening to kids pour their hearts out about their families, lives, racism, hometowns and the environment is truly moving.

The kids were great (and here’s their names…)

• Brian Yoo (OMG the winner and what a sweetheart)
• Melissa Aliu
• Mic Turner
• Ebony Donnley
• Mannie Rizvi
• Sojari Bradley
• Simone Crew
• Ashley Smiley
• Teruko Dobashi
• Bryant Phan
• Simone Bridges
• Devin Murphy
• Jordan Hadden
• Ben Turner
• Dominic Nicholas
• Hadeel Ramadan

Here’s some pics from the event…

The empty stage before the kids went on…

The very first slam poet of the night!

Ron, Dan, and Rach! Heads not to size.