Thu, Mar 29, 2012
The top 10 youth poets from the Philadelphia-area will compete for six spots on the 2012 PYPM Youth Slam Team that will represent Philadelphia at the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival this summer in California. Read More.
Thu, Feb 09, 2012
The 2nd annual Dream Big Festival will be held February 17 – 20, 2012. This year the festival will celebrate: literacy, activism, and peace. The annual Dream Big Literary Arts Festival is a four-day weekend that seeks to inspire youth to achieve their dreams, attain academic excellence, and become leaders in their communities. The festival features workshops, special events and a community service project that celebrate youth voice and creativity through the literary arts.
The festival will feature: poetry workshops, oratorical contest, spelling bee contest, individual slam, community service project, H.S Slam League Kick-Off, and new this year, an Emcee Battle. Go to the DREAM BIG website for schedule, registration and tickets.
Fri, Dec 30, 2011
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It has been an extraordinary year for The Philly Youth Poetry Movement. As the only youth poetry organization serving Pennsylvania, we have also grown into one of the most respected in the country. We are deeply committed to creating a safe space for Philadelphia-area youth to discover the power of their voices through spoken word and literary expression. Through poetry we focus on literacy, civic engagement, and life skills.
Our goal is to not just make better poets, but support teens as leaders who want to make their voices heard.
From free poetry workshops that have reached well beyond maximum capacity, to inspiring performances that received standing ovations, 2011 has been a year of amazing achievements. Some of our accomplishments this year:
PYPM, however, is a fully volunteer-based organization. With your support we can change that and ensure that PYPM programs are available to more youth throughout Philadelphia. Our goals for 2012 are to hire 2 full-time staff, establish a permanent community arts space by matching The Knight Arts Challenge grant, and offer free after-school workshops and performance opportunities throughout the week.
Please make your year-end, fully tax deductible gift by December 31st in celebration of PYPM's 5-Year Anniversary and to support our work with youth poets across this city.
Thank you for supporting PYPM and Happy Holidays!
Tue, Nov 22, 2011
photo by Kendall Whitehouse
In front of hundreds of attendees packed into the Temple Performing Arts Center, on November 8, The Philly Youth Poetry Movement was one of 25 speakers to present at TedxPhilly, a one-day multi-disciplinary conference to "share ideas that matter." Read More
Sat, Nov 12, 2011
The dynamic poets from the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM) share the stage with their heroes from Spoken Soul 215. Mentors like Greg Corbin, Lyrispect, and Perry "Vision" DiVirgilio will tell their own poems alongside the teens of PYPM. No judges, no scores -- just beautiful and brutally honest lyricism about their lives in the 215 from some of the best and brightest young poets around.
Tue, Oct 18, 2011
Thu, Oct 06, 2011
I am in need of your support!
There is a challenge called the Black Male Engagement Challenge.
There is an astounding amount of $400,000 of grant money on the line with the potential to win up to $80,000. As you may know I am extremely involved with the youth of not only Philadelphia, but also nationally. PYPM is one of my focuses, but I have an array of great ideas and visions that can particularly change the face of our communities.
I am graciously asking you to take a minute or two to go to www.bmechallenge.org and vote for me (type in GREG CORBIN on the search). You can vote more than once, so please feel free to keep on voting every day until you can't vote anymore.
There is only a few days left! So vote now! (and please feel free to share this with your network).
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
Sincerely,
Greg Corbin
PYPM Executive Director
Tue, Oct 04, 2011
Integrating Hip Hop and Poetry into the classroom. PYPM Executive Director, Gregory Corbin, gives a presentation at the 140 Education Conference about his experiences as a teacher and youth leader in Philadelphia.
Thank you to Science Leadership Academy Principal, Chris Lehman, for continued support of PYPM and our programming.
Tue, Sep 13, 2011
Join us for Slam Season Semi-Finals on Saturday, March 17, at The Rotunda, that will lead to selecting the 2012 PYPM Slam Team. Registration for slam season is now closed, but you can still apply to join the entourage for Brave New Voices.
Click here for BNV essay guidelines. Essays are due by March 30, 2012.
Mon, Aug 01, 2011
In 2006, Greg Corbin started an organization dedicated to providing an opportunity for youth poets in the city of Philadelphia to perform at a venue among their peers. Over the next five years, the Philly Youth Poetry Movement grew to become a vital part of the Philadelphia youth and arts community as a place where young poets can discover the power of their voices. In addition to a monthly youth open mic and poetry slam, PYPM now offers free weekly writing and performance workshops, mentoring, tutoring, travel opportunities including the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival, the annual Dream Big Literary Arts Festival and the PYPM Slam League for Philadelphia area high schools.
This growth has been made possible by support and contributions from members of the surrounding community. Donations and sponsorships help PYPM provide all of these amazing opportunities to youth ages 13-19 around the city of Philadelphia, as well as creating sustainable programs that encourage personal growth, emotional healing, peer interaction, educational advancement, community involvement and social change.
We've launched the 5 for Five campaign in celebration of the PYPM Five Year Anniversary to keep this growth and momentum going. We're asking donors to contribute $5 for every year PYPM has been serving Philadelphia youth. To donate to the 5 for Five campaign, click on the Donate button below to make your $25 contribution online. Read More
Click below to make your
5 for Five $25 donation.
Sun, Jul 31, 2011
The Philly Youth Poetry Movement’s (PYPM) slam team competed against 50 youth poetry teams from across the country and beyond in the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival to win the championship. Brave New Voices is the largest spoken word event in the world and was featured on HBO in 2010 and 2008. This year the festival took place in San Francisco, California from July 20-23.
On July 23, the Brave New Voices Grand Slam Finals took place in front of a sold-out crowd of 3,000 people in the San Francisco Opera House. The Philly Youth Poetry Movement joined teams from Denver, Detroit and New York City to compete in finals for the title. PYPM, who trailed throughout the final slam, pulled out the victory by 0.3 points. Read More
Sat, Jul 09, 2011
CNN reporter, Sarah Hoye, recently shadowed the PYPM 2010-2011 Slam Season and Saturday Workshops for a feature story on their website about the Movement. Listen to the stories from the youth themselves, about how poetry and the organization is helping change their lives, their outlook and how they feel about themselves as people. Click here for the full article. Click here for the follow up article "Philly kids want city to be known for more than flash mobs."
Tue, Jul 05, 2011
We're personally inviting you, and as many of your friends and family as you can invite, to dine at Trolley Car Diner & Café anytime during the entire week of July 4-10, 2011 (Monday - Friday 7AM -9 PM; Saturday and Sunday 3PM-9PM). Trolley Car Diner & Café will generously donate 15% of the cost of your meal to PYPM. All you need to do is eat and drink at our favorite Diner or Café and present the special coupon when paying the cashier (click to open & print coupon). Read More
Thu, Jun 02, 2011
In collaboration with the Painted Bride Art Center and Marc Bamuthi Joseph's Speak Green, PYPM will participate in a series of workshops and events from June 3 through June 11. Events include an outing to Marc's Word Becomes Flesh show at the Painted Bride, a PYPM workshop facilitated by Marc on June 4, a series of workshops from June 7-11, and the Speak Green Open Mic and Poetry Slam on June 10. Read More
Tue, May 17, 2011
The Philly Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM) is a proud recipient of a $40,000 grant that will go toward establishing a permanent gathering space to run literary arts education programs for youth from around the Philadelphia area. The grant comes from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Arts Challenge and will fund a space that will offer free poetry and cultural workshops, homework tutoring, and life-skills mentoring.
The Philly Youth Poetry Movement is one of 36 projects out of over 1,700 applicants to receive such an award. The Knight Foundation's Knight Arts Challenge is a $9 million initiative supporting innovative projects that inspire and enrich Philadelphia's communities. The grant will help ensure that PYPM is a sustainable fixture in the community by funding a space that will expand its programs. Read More
Thu, Apr 28, 2011
Come watch six Philadelphia Area High Schools compete in the First PYPM Slam League Finals. Also catch an encore of the Breathe-Body-Move performance from the Kimmel Center PIFA event featuring PYPM. Read More
Mon, Apr 11, 2011
PYPM has joined The Spruce Foundation as a Charity Partner for their Aspiring Artists Happy Hour, which is an opportunity for partnering non-profits to network with young professionals from the Philadelphia area looking to support arts-related organizations. We are excited about this new partnership, and would like you to join us and The Spruce Foundation at this event. Click here for details.
Wed, Apr 06, 2011
Join us at this annual fundraiser presented by The George School in Newtown, PA. The 2011 Art for Relief event will benefit the Philly Youth Poetry Movement, with a silent auction, talent showcase and special performance by PYPM. Read More
Mon, Mar 28, 2011
Youth poets Alana Gooden, 19, and Alex Santiago, 16, entered the DefJam Rapstar Get Schooled video challenge in March, in hopes of being selected to perform their original piece on BET's 106 & Park. Get Schooled is a non-profit organization that engages and empowers Americans to help improve high school graduation rates, improve college readiness and raise college completion rates. Winners of the video contest will be announced on April 8th. Click here to see the Get Schooled article about PYPM and to watch Alana and Alex's video submissions.
Mon, Mar 28, 2011
On March 30th, 2011, the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools will mobilize a march to fund our schools, not prisons. We extend this call to everyone invested in public education in our city; students, parents, workers and anyone who wants the best for their communities. Read More
Sat, Mar 26, 2011
Poetry N Motion will host their first annual Award Show where poets from all over Philadelphia will receive recognition for their outstanding talents in various categories including Best Poet Male & Female, Strongest Deliver Male & Female, Best Hip Hop Poet, and also Best Youth Poet Male & Female. Read More
Sat, Mar 26, 2011
2011 marked the official kick-off of the PYPM Slam League where poetry slam teams from seven Philadelphia area high schools including CAPA, Central HS, Constitution HS, Germantown HS, Overbrook HS, Plymouth Whitemarsh HS and Science Leadership Academy, are competing to become the 2010-2011 Slam League Champions. Read More
Sun, Feb 27, 2011
A Gathering of Myself, the first of a three part series, is a compilation of 30 poems by Seff Al-Afriqi. The poems include some of the author’s early work to his present day greater literary accomplishments. Al-Afriqi goes beyond the mechanics of what makes a great poem. He delves into the most important factors, the rhetoric, the truth, the healing, the content, the conviction, and the person. He believes “We often forget that at the end of the day, we are all still people. And as human beings, we all need to gather ourselves from time to time. ” This book accomplishes just that. Click here to purchase a copy of "A Gathering of Myself".
Fri, Dec 17, 2010
Join Alumni and staff of the Philly Youth Poetry Movement for the first of many fundraising events at Club Adesso, on Wed., Dec 22nd from 5-7pm for a Poetic Happy Hour. Check out performances from PYPM alumni, and help support us as our organization continues to grow, providing programs and opportunities for Philadelphia's youth. Read More
Thu, Dec 16, 2010
The PYPM Dream Big Literary Arts Festival will be a four-day long weekend of workshops, special events and community service projects that encourage the youth of Philadelphia, as well as invited guests from the Northeastern region, to use their voices to create change in their communities. Read More.
Mon, Dec 13, 2010
On December 15, the Philadelphia Youth Commission will host a youth forum entitled "Know Your Rights, Know Your Responsibilities" at Global Leadership Academy, 5151 Warren Street, Philadelphia, PA 19131 starting at 5 p.m. This public forum will feature appearances by PYPM, Jordan Harris of the Philadelphia Youth Commission, and Herman Davis of Peace & Love.
Sat, Dec 11, 2010
Check out PYPM on "Saturday Mornings with Joy Keys" on December 11 at 11am. Listen online or call in at 646-929-0368.
Thu, Dec 09, 2010
On Saturday, December 11, PYPM Mentor, Denice Frohman, will lead a Free Writing Workshop where poets will explore body image and perceptions/distortions of beauty within self and amidst an increasing critical, media-driven, "Photoshop" society. She will focus on how we can create a positive self-image when the re-inforced expectations are often unattainable. Denice is an international poet, lyricist and educator, whose works explores multi-culturalism and the “in-betweeness” that exists in us all. She can currently be seen on TV, radio and print as part of Philadelphia’s city-wide “UnLitter Us” Campaign, which uses spoken word to raise awareness about the impact of litter in our neighborhoods.
Fri, Nov 26, 2010
Join PYPM for our second Friday Night Live Workshop and Poetry Showcase at The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts on Friday, December 3, 2010. Sign up for our FREE Writing Workshop with Executive Director Greg Corbin at 4:15 in the Merck Arts Education Center, and then join us in the Kimmel Center Plaza for a FREE showcase to hear some of the amazing talent from the Philly Youth Poets.
Click here to register for the Friday Nigh Live Workshop. Registration is required to guarantee a spot at the workshop. Attendance at workshop is required to participate in the Poetry Showcase.
Fri, Nov 26, 2010
Interested in being a part of the 2011 Youth Poetry Slam Team and competing at the 14th Annual Brave New Voices Teen Poetry Festival & Slam in San Francisco, CA, in July 2011? Youth Poets are welcome to participate in the PYPM Youth Poetry Qualifier Slams that take place every 3rd Saturday at The Rotunda with our Open Mic event. Click here to find out more information about qualifying for the 2010-2011 Slam Season and how you can get a chance to make the 2011 PYPM Team!
Mon, Nov 01, 2010
On Saturday, November 6 from 12-3 p.m. at Science Leadership Academy (22nd & Arch Streets), Perry “Vision” DiVirgilio, PYPM Mentor and Director of Mentorship & Leadership Skills, will present "Get Free 101", a workshop dedicated to helping poets to connect to what they've written. As a member of Spoken Soul 215, a theater actor, veteran poet and professional trainer, Vision has acquired performance skills that have propelled him to become well-known in the national poetry community. He will show PYPM poets how to take their poetry performance to the next level and help them understand how to engage and connect with their audiences. Read More
Tue, Oct 26, 2010
PYPM Mentor and nationally ranked slam poet, Ms. Wise, will lead the PYPM Free Writing Workshop on Saturday, October 30, from noon to 3 p.m. at Science Leadership Academy, 22nd & Arch Streets. As co-coach of the 2010 Philly Youth Slam Team, Ms. Wise is experienced in helping young poets broaden their craft and potential as artists. Read More
Thu, Oct 14, 2010
The October Philly Youth Poetry Night Open Mic & Slam is the kick off for Slam Qualifiers to potentially make the 2011 Philly Youth Slam Team. Beginning this month, slammers will be able to accumulate points that could lead to participation in the Slam Semi-Finals and Finals in Spring 2011, and eventually competing at Brave New Voices in San Francisco, CA, in Summer 2011. Click here for more information about Philly Youth Poetry Night.
Sun, Oct 10, 2010
Tune into HBO on Saturday, October 23 at 11 p.m. EST to see the Brave New Voices 2010 competition, and amazing poetry from young poets all over the country including New York, Denver, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Philadelphia, Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, and more. Read More
Photo Credit: John S. Blake
Sat, Oct 09, 2010
Carvens Lissaint is no stranger to the poetry community, or to the Philly Youth Poetry Movement. PYPM welcomes Carvens as he will lead a Free Writing Workshop on Saturday, October 23 from 12-3 p.m. at the Science Leadership Academy. Read More.
Wed, Oct 06, 2010
On Saturday, October 9, PYPM will welcome special guest M'Reld Green as she leads our Free Writing Workshop from 12-3 p.m. at Science Leadership Academy. Read More
Mon, Oct 04, 2010
Fourth Wall presents a special Free Creative Writing workshop for neighborhood youth, facilitated by Bruce George, co-founder of Def Poetry Jam with Russell Simmons, on Friday October 8, 2010, at the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program building (1729 Mount Vernon Street) from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Click here to read more about what you can learn at this workshop. No advance registration is required, so just grab a friend and head on over!
Mon, Oct 04, 2010
Tue, Sep 28, 2010
The Philly Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM) will kick off its first “Friday Night Live” Workshop & Poetry Showcase series on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. This free event will feature a writing workshop in The Kimmel Center’s Merk Arts Education Center at 4:15 p.m., led by PYPM Founder Greg Corbin, open to students in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas between the ages of 13-19. The workshop will be followed by an open mic and poetry showcase in the Kimmel Center Plaza from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., which is open to the public. Read More
Thu, Aug 19, 2010
PYPM's Greg Corbin and Denice Frohman joined Natasha Brown, host of The CW Philly's Speak Up, to talk about the great programs PYPM offers, the recent trip to Brave New Voices in Los Angeles, and the future of the movement as a vital part of educating and supporting Philadelphia's youth. Youth Poets Jamillah Harris, Kavi Ade and Anwar Jabari were also featured to speak about how PYPM has affected and changed their lives, and to perform a couple of their original pieces. Read More.
Tue, Aug 17, 2010
Ashley Joy of the "Voice of Philadelphia" stopped by to learn more about PYPM, its poets and the experiences at Brave New Voices 2010. Click here to read the full article.
Sun, Aug 15, 2010
ATTENTION ALL PHILLY YOUTH POETS!!!
We are now taking submissions for our first Philly Youth Poetry Anthology! Click here for the submission guidelines. Submissions deadline EXTENDED to October 1, 2010.
Thu, Jul 15, 2010
Young poets from the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement performed at City Hall, in what mayor Michael Nutter promised would be the first of many command performances for an important voice of the city's youth. Read More
Tue, Jun 15, 2010
Regional Slam Teams will battle is out at The Rotunda as they all prepare for the internation slam festival Brave New Voices this summer. Read More
Mon, Jun 07, 2010
Congratulations to both Yusef Kromah & Kavi Ade for making Dean's List this semester. Both achieved Dean's List status with 4.0 GPAs!!!
