Words on Fire (WOF) was a two-day festival that includes DC’s Poetry Out Loud competition, a poetry slam, and a written poetry contest.
Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national competition that seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry - recitation and performance. The program builds on the resurgence of the oral art form of poetry, as seen in the slam poetry and spoken word movements. The program invites these dynamic aspects into the classroom, where teachers engage students through classroom memorization, performances and competition.
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation partnered with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH) to support Poetry Out Loud, a FREE high school program which encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This dynamic program helps high school students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, learn about their literary heritage, and compete for more than $100,000 in awards.
The CAH Student Poetry Slam and Written Poetry Contest presented original work by DC’s high school students. Winners for both competitions were announced at the Words on Fire festival.
PAST PROGRAMS
March 2022
Student E-Anthology from March 2022 can be downloded here.
WOF PARTICIPANTS:
Ballou High School (Ward 8)
Banneker High (Ward 1)
KIPP DC: College Prep (Ward 5)
DC International (Ward 4)
St. Anselm's Abby School (Ward 5)
Dunbar High School (Ward 5)
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School (Ward 4)
Jah Kente International, INC (Ward 4)
SEED School (Ward 8)
Roosevelt High School (Ward 4)
Upcoming Dates and Registration
March 9, 2022: Student E-Anthology Release
March 12, 2022: Poetry Out Loud Competition
March 13, 2022: Written and Spoken Word Competitions
And the Winners are:
Poetry Out Loud:
First Place: Warwick Lloyd, St. Anselms Abbey School
Second Place: Evangeline Harrod, Capital City Public Charter School
Third place: Flor Flores, Kipp DC College Preparatory
Written Poetry Contest:
First Place: Maria Rivera, El Haynes Public Charter High School
Second Place: Silas Alemayehu, Dunbar High School
Third Place: Laila Scrivner, KIPP DC College Preparatory
Student Poetry Slam:
First Place: Alyssa Toussaint, DC International
Second Place: Herman Buckman, KIPP DC College Preparatory
Third Place: Araiya Brewer, Ballou High School (coordinated by Do the Write Thing)
______________
Top image: DC POL 2013 finalist, Nathalie Dary from Archbishop Carroll High School.
