Hampton Roads youth poets, and the adults who support them, will gather on Saturday, April 29, at 11 a.m. in the Zeiders American Dream Theater , 4509 Commerce St., for the finale of "ImmortALL ," a performance poetry program where oral history shared by elders is translated into beautiful, original youth spoken word art. The event is free and open to the public.
This program, now in its third season, is the result of a partnership between the Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department and Teens With a Purpose (TWP) , inviting Hampton Roads teens to learn about local Black history while learning the lively art of performance poetry.
This year's event includes announcements from the Hampton Roads Youth Poet Laureate, as well as the inaugural Virginia Youth Poet Laureate 2023, with performances by the finalists.
The Virginia Youth Poet Laureate Program, a pilot program, engaged Title 1 high school students from across the Commonwealth. The program seeks to identify young writers who are committed to civic and community engagement, performance poetry, leadership, and education across Virginia.
During the April 29 program, TWP will also announce the 2023 Hampton Roads Youth Poet Laureate. TWP accepted submissions from young poets, rappers, leaders, and activists ages 14-19 from across Hampton Roads who were interested in representing the region as the Hampton Roads Youth Poet Laureate and are making a difference in their community. The Hampton Roads Youth Poet Laureate is part of the National Youth Poet Laureate Network.
In ImmortALL, performance poetry and modern social change meet oral history and the civil rights movement in this unique program. During the final performance, teens will display their re-interpretations of local oral history through the lens of their own experiences with current events.
The program is free to attend, but advanced registration is required. Visit the TWP ImmortALL Finale page to register.
The event will also be live-streamed for free on the TWP YouTube and Facebook accounts, as well as the Virginia Beach Arts Facebook page, starting at 11 a.m. on April 29.
TWP workshops are supported in part by grants from the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission .
About Teens with a Purpose
Teens With a Purpose was formed in 1996 by Deirdre Love. In 2007, Teens With a Purpose became TWP-The Youth Movement a 501(c) (3) non-profit youth development organization. The organization is celebrating more than 21 years of experience in providing peer leadership training and has been recognized both regionally and nationally. Our mission is to create a platform that empowers young people to use their voice, creativity, reflection and action to affect personal growth, transform lives and impact communities.
TWP intersects youth development practices; civic engagement, peer leadership and high-quality artistic presentation creating safe inclusive spaces that challenge young people to find, develop, publicly present and apply their voices as creators of positive social change. TWP is committed to developing young leaders who positively impact their neighbors, classmates, schools, governments, congregations and one another.
About the City of Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department:
The Cultural Affairs Department engages residents and visitors through meaningful arts, heritage, and cultural experiences to connect and strengthen communities. The department assists and directs the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission, coordinates the City's Public Art Program, oversees the Virginia Beach History Museums, provides contract management for the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, serves as the liaison with Virginia MOCA, the ViBe Creative District, and the Virginia African American Cultural Center, and serves as a resource to local arts and humanities organizations.
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