WORD!

Two weeks ago, an event took place which is the cumulative effort from months of work by students from 22 schools in the Greater Los Angeles area known as the Get Lit Classic Slam! Get-Lit is a movement to promote literacy in local schools, and helps students find so much more than they ever anticipated.

The work is centered on classic poetry, but not in as much as THE classics. More of how classic poetry is formed around thoughts, feelings and emotions from life’s experiences. To ignite the Get Lit program, Get Lit’s elite teen poetry troupe, The Get Lit Players, tour throughout the Greater Los Angeles area visiting over 10,000 in February through March, on a campaign to promote literacy through the spoken word and poetry. Engaging students on their level, on their terms, and with thoughts and emotions they too they can identify with.

Then the work begins. Memorization, centering, and finding that one 'WORD' which each person can identify with. Then, recite it in a way which shows others how they feel about it in their own way. One poem in particular was preformed three times, by three different groups. It was recited verbatim, but the tone and inflection was unique to each one’s telling, and drew like reactions from the audience.

Near the end of April, which is of course National Poetry Month, the Classic Slam is conducted to see which school and poets earn not only scholarships, but something much more valuable. BRAGGING RIGHTS for their school for the coming year. It begins one evening with all schools preforming and being eliminated to get to the best four to six students from each school, which move on to the culminating Classic Slam!.

Hosted by George Watsky and Chinaka Hodge, judging the groups were Gabe Baca (son of Jimmy Santiago Baca), Lisa Bloom, Jerry Quickly, LeVar Burton, Seith Mann, and Marianne Williamson. I should point out that Mr. Burton did provide an impromptu short serenade of ‘Butterfly In The Sky’ for one of the hosts who grew up with ‘Reading Rainbow’. Needless to say, the judges in attendance were nothing short of gifted and talented writers themselves who took their position very seriously.

The $500.00 scholarships for the winning poet and team are also a great bonus generously donated in part by board member, Dr. Seniora Matthews. But this year it was awarded to ALL schools’ coaches in the finals for their tireless efforts by a donor Marianne Williamson, as a complete surprise to everyone after the winner was announced. This year’s winner is aptly, Triumph Charter High School from the Valley.

The winning team members, Kareli Flores, Angie Lule, Selene Moron, DeAnna Torres, Alan Vasquez, and coach Kelly Grace Thomas were of course shocked. The students’ parents? I am certain they are proud, but there is another fact which needs to be noted about the program. It is not about the parents or family, as it is focused primarily on the student.

I am speculating here, but more than likely it is due to how parents become too entrenched and at times interfere in other programs their children are involved with. So soccer moms and football dads calling foul from the sidelines is not something you will experience. What you will experience is nothing short of unexpected. The amount of raw talent which comes through in recitals puts the best high school drama to shame.

Click on the link to see some of the performances of players and students from past events. I am certain you will agree. And given recent reports on how well our local schools are performing, it makes sense to not become complacent and keep our schools focused on excellence by promoting new and innovative programs such as this.

Are you ready to Get Lit, Long Beach?!