Brave New Voices International Poetry Slam Festival in LA July 19-24

SAY IT LOUD, SAY IT PROUD:
13TH ANNUAL BRAVE NEW VOICES INTERNATIONAL YOUTH POETRY SLAM FESTIVAL COMES TO L.A.

Over 600 poets from more than 50 cities will participate in the six-day event, which also will include celebrity guests Common, Rosario Dawson, Hill Harper, and others

WHAT: Youth Speaks Inc., the nation's leading spoken word organization, is bringing its 13th Annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival to Los Angeles from July 19 to 24. Convening the top young poets and spoken word artists, aged 13-19, from across the United States and internationally, Brave New Voices 2010 will feature a diverse group of young writers, trendsetters and community and cultural leaders, as well as world-class workshops led by renowned poets and artists. Additionally, entertainment mogul Russell Simmons is producing a compelling new special for HBO about Brave New Voices. As many as 1,000 youth (poets and audience members) from varied parts of the United States and beyond will take part in this one-of-a-kind event.

Acclaimed hip-hop artist Common will emcee the event finals on July 23, which will take place at the Saban Theater (formerly the Wilshire Theater) and be judged by Hill Harper, Rosario Dawson, and other socially conscious celebrities and community leaders. In addition, Youth Speaks has partnered again with the Redford Center to present a spoken word competition on global warming as part of the Brave New Voices Festival. Up to 15 poets will be selected to participate in the Speak Green event on Thursday, July 22 at Club Nokia. Special guests to include Van Jones, a renowned environmental advocate whom President Barack Obama appointed as Special Advisor for Green Jobs, the Redford Center's Executive Director Lee Bycel and Tom Feegel, one of the principals behind Al Gore’s seminal Live Earth global concert event.

WHEN: July 19-24

WHERE: Various venues throughout Los Angeles. Please visit www.bravenewvoices.org to see a schedule of events

INFO: For more information on the event, please visit www.bravenewvoices.org