WORCESTER—The city’s Cultural Development Division, in collaboration with Mass Poetry and The White Room, is hosting the second annual Worcester Preliminary Teen Poetry Slam on Feb. 11, 2025. The event, open to youth ages 13-19, offers young poets a platform to showcase their original work and compete for a spot in state and national competitions.
The slam takes place at The White Room, 138 Green St., from 6-9 p.m. and is hosted by BrujaTheVillain. Participants perform two original poems, judged by a panel of distinguished local poets, including Worcester Poet Laureate Oliver de la Paz, Nic Jean, Daniel Letona, Sharon Amuguni, and Noemi Saafyr Paz.
The top four competitors receive a $50 cash prize and move on to the Individual Slam Finals on March 16 in downtown Boston during Mass Poetry’s statewide Teen Spoken Word Festival called Write Here I Write Now I Speak Loud!. The festival features workshops, open mics, and competitions, with more than 100 teens from Worcester, Boston, and Lowell participating. Finalists will then compete at the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival in Washington, D.C., in July.
“Poetry in the hands of youth is a spark that ignites change — a powerful language of self-expression, where every verse is a reflection of their dreams, struggles, and truths,” said Mass Poetry Director Crystal Valentine in the event announcement. “It is the voice they wield to shape the world, the voice that is capable of shifting the fabric of society.”
Both experienced slam poets and first-time performers are encouraged to register in advance for the Worcester competition. More information and registration details are available at Individual Teen Preliminary Poetry Slam: Worcester Edition. The event is open to the public.
