RE-CONNECTING the SLAM Dots between Brave New Voices (BNV) and THE National Poetry Slam (NPS) International COMPETITIONS

FOR ME---PART OF THE REASON WHY I FIND MYSELF RETURNING YEAR AFTER YEAR TO COMPETE THROUGH THE ART OF SLAM POETRY IN THE NATIONAL LEVEL IS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE EXPERIENCE GOES WELL BEYOND THE COMPETITION. MY EXPERIENCE AT THE 12TH ANNUAL BRAVE NEW VOICES HELD IN CHICAGO, WHICH WAS ALSO MY FIRST EXPERIENCE AT A BNV, SHOWED ME THAT ALL OF OUR EXPERIENCES WITH SLAM HAS CLEARLY GONE WELL BEYOND BEING JUST A COMPETITION. IT IS A TRUE CONVERSATION CONNECTING A COMMUNITY OF POETS. THE MOMENT WE FIND A WAY TO EFFICIENTLY AND VISIBLY LINK BNV WITH THE COLLEGIATE TO NPS WE WILL HAVE TRULY MOBILIZED A REVOLUTION WITH THE SYNERGISTIC CAPABILITIES OF EVANGELIZING THE SPOKEN WORD MEDIUM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THIS GENRE. WE FINALLY HAVE THE PIECES TO MAKE THIS MOVEMENT FIT SOMETHING INCREDIBLE AND SO MUCH BIGGER THAN ANY OF US INDIVIDUALLY. I BELIEVE IN THIS. I HAVE BECOME A WITNESS TO THE GROWTH. I AM CONSTANTLY IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING. I AM A PARTICIPANT. I HAVE BECOME A MENTOR. I AM A BELIEVER IN THE IMPORTANCE FOR US TO RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER AS NECESSARY VOICES FOR THE GREATER GROWTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE MOVEMENT. WE MUST KEEP IT FRESH AND THE EXISTENCE OF THESE THREE MAJOR components PROVIDES AN UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL REALITY CHECK TO BALANCE THE PASSION, THE FUN, AND THE SOCIALLY ACTIVE AND ENERGIZED PROFESSIONALISM OF SPOKEN WORD POETRY.

-Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo
10X consecutive competitor
at the National Poetry Slam

Iyeoka will be representing Boston this summer competing on the 2009 Lizard Lounge Team at the 20th Annual National Poetry Slam in West Palm Beach, FL from August 3-8th