The League
What is The League?
The League is a performing arts and media pipeline designed to support, train and invest in the DMV’s next wave of event hosts, spoken word artists, radio/podcasts hosts, writers and stage performers. It is a culmination of multiple writing and performance-based youth and young adult programming hosted by Words Beats and Life, which includes the D.C., Arlington and Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate programs, the Poetry Ambassador Program, the Aged Out Ensemble, and the DMV Youth Slam Team. Participants engage in weekly and/or monthly workshops and are encouraged to publish all work created throughout the program via podcasts, journals or commissioned performances with venues such as The Shakespeare Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Smithsonian institutions among many others.
Youth Poet Laureate
(Washington DC + Montogmery County, MD + Arlington, VA)
The Youth Poet Laureate Program is a joint program of Urban Word NYC and Words, Beats & Life, Inc., with support from local government & partnering organizations, which aims to identify young writers and leaders who are committed to civic & community engagement, artistic excellence, human relations, diversity and education across the region.
DMV Slam Team & Season
A group of about 4-6 youth aged 14-19 that spend a full-year training their writing and performance to compete at the annual Brave New Voices International Poetry Festival. Youth poets compete in quarterfinals, semifinals, and a grand finals to determine the team, and crown the Grand Slam Champion.
The Combine
The Combine is an annual decathlon of specific wordsmithing and performance events giving participants the chance to test their skills in various areas such as writing, freestyle ability and public speaking which will be evaluated by peers, mentors and coaches. All League members (YPL’s, Ambassadors, Academy students & Slam Team Members) are encouraged to participate in this WBL showcase. Events will allow contenders to not only accumulate cash prizes & points, but to showcase talent, and build community.
Summer Open Mic Series
This is the place for teen poets, emcees, storytellers and listeners! Young people from across the DMV coming together every month in a cool, safe environment to lift their voices, share ideas & spread their love for the word! Feature performances by some of WBL's hottest young poets PLUS music brought to you by WBL’s very own teen DJ’s! Bring an open mind & come join us.
Aged Out Ensemble
The Aged Out Ensemble works specifically to engage the alumni of our youth programming by writing and performing commissioned work for different partners, one being The Shakespeare Theatre. The ensemble is built of alum aged 21-28, with backgrounds varying in spokenword, songwriting, theatre and dance. Coming soon…