Words Take Flight at the Fountain City Poetry Slam Finals

There's a poetry organization for youth that's teamed up with ArtBeat 2019 to bring poetry to the public and a competition to local youth.

According to a recent press release, "The Fountain City Slam is open to youth of all backgrounds as a safe house to use poetry as a means of self expression and exploration. Students have experienced the benefits of this auxiliary arts education in their intellectual, personal, and social development."

It is for their mission and their impact that The Fountain City Slam has garnered a growing reputation as a positive force for good in our city. "Poetry taught me that I am capable of creating something beautiful, something unique," said Hannah Beasley, a finalist in this week's Words Take Flight competition.

To better understand the group's mission, we corresponded with its founder Jonathan Perkins. Read on to discover more about "FC Slam" and their upcoming final competition this weekend.

Q: How many finalists are participating in Words Take Flight?

A: There are a total of 7 finalists participating, representing Columbus High School, Brookstone, Carver, Hardaway High School, & Home School.

Q: Why did you decide to host the finals at The Bo Bartlett Center?

A: The Bo Bartlett Center has been a source of inspiration for us this year. It has served as a great backdrop for some of our community wide writing workshops. Bo Bartlett, himself, is an amazing individual and so full of light.  Some very heartfelt work has been developed in the space at the hands of these young people. The space is a true gem and incubator. I can't think of a better place to showcase the bright talent I've been blessed to work with this year. We are so appreciative of The Bo Bartlett Center for hosting us. I really like the idea of visual and performance art colliding all in the name of self expression. 

Q: What can attendees expect to see?

A: Attendees can expect to see young people leveraging their creativity, raising their voices, and standing in their truths. The audience can anticipate being empowered by these young people, but also inspired to elevate their  very own voices to affect change in their community. These young artists will be sharing their original work. Be prepared for some world premieres!  

Q: What's next for Fountain City Poetry Slam? Is this the last event of the year? Or does your year continue?

A: The Fountain City Poetry Slam Team will be preparing to represent the city at The 2019 Brave New Voices Festival in Las Vegas this summer (July). We will have our exhibition show, presenting our final works to the public, on Saturday, July 13th @ 7 p.m. at The National Civil War Naval Museum (1002 Victory Drive, 31901). That event will be free and open to the public. This organization survives on the generosity of this awesome community. If anyone would like to make a donation, they can visit: www.fountaincityslam.org to support. 

If You Go:

What: Words Take Flight: The 2019 Fountain City Poetry Grand Slam Finals The Fountain City Teen Poetry Slam invites the community to come out and witness area youth showcase their creativity and artistry. In honor of National Poetry Month, on Saturday, April 6th, bright and talented voices of the future will be taking stage at The Bo Bartlett Center, vying for a spot on the 2019 Fountain City Slam Team.

When: Saturday, April 6th, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cost: This event is FREE and OPEN to the public.

The 2019 Fountain City Slam Finalists are:

Hannah Beasley - Columbus High School Macy Cardwell- Home School Trinity Grimes - Carver High School

Laiah Harris- Hardaway High School

Sean Myers- Brookstone School Cynthia Short - Columbus High School

Suhaylah Rahim- Columbus High School

For more information, visit the event page here.