Examiner.com

If you saw the HBO documentary series Brave New Voices, presented by Russell Simmons and narrated by Queen Latifah, then you know all about the International Youth Poetry Slam finals and the inspiring and talented teenagers who make it there. If you don't know, there's still time to not only learn all about it, but to experience it right here in Seattle.

The Youth Speaks Seattle Grand Slam Finals will be held at 7 pm on Friday, March 19, 2010 at the Moore Theatre. Last year's poetry slam was held at Town Hall, but that venue just wasn't big enough to hold the love for the event and sold out.

12 talented local poets will compete for five spots on the team that will represent Seattle at the 2010 Brave New Voices: The National Youth Poetry Festival and Slam that will be held in Los Angeles this summer. The HBO documentary series, shown earlier this year, covered the 2008 poetry slam finals held that year in Washington, D.C.

"The Grand Slam will feature Rocky Rivera, aka EyeASage, a Pinay emcee and hip-hop journalist from the Bay Area, who will perform songs from her recent self-titled debut album, which will also be available for purchase. The slam will be hosted by Karen Finneyfrock, Writer-in-Residence at the Richard Hugo House and three-time member of the Seattle Adult National Poetry Slam Team. Finneyfrock will also read from her new book of poems, Ceremony of a Choking Ghost, which will also be available for purchase."

Teen poets aged 13 to 19 have been competing for the last few months at various poetry slams to make the final 12 to take to the stage at the Moore Theatre.

The HBO documentary sums it all up very well:  "These young poets represent a growing national movement featuring thousands of teenagers writing and performing spoken word as a way to have voice in their communities and in the nation as a whole... The youth represent an amazing blend of spoken word, hip-hop, poetry, music, power, voice, imagination, and more."

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15 for youths and $20 for anyone aged 21 and over. The Moore Theatre is located at 1932 Second Avenue in downtown Seattle.

If you need a final reason to attend: "Proceeds from the Grand Slam will support Youth Speaks Seattle which provides programs and workshops to encourage self-expression and empowerment among young people of all genders, races, and economic backgrounds throughout the Seattle area."