Monday, January 15, Youth Speaks Presents our 21st Bringing The Noise For Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., -- Celebrating the Contributions of Women of Color in a Poetic Conversation with the Legacy of Dr. King and the Next Generation

On Monday, January 15, 2018, Youth Speaks, the nation’s leading spoken word organization for young people, will hold the 21st Bringing the Noise for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event, celebrating his legacy in an evening of poetic conversation with the next generation of young poets at San Francisco’s historic Nourse Theater at 7 PM. Tickets are on sale.

Envisioned by Youth Speaks alumna, Tassiana Willis,“This year’s Bringing the Noise is a poetic response to this Moment of Now. We bring the noise for women of color, leading movements for justice and highlighting their contributions. White nationalism would rather their stories be erased, so by drawing wisdom from Dr. King, we affirm that we are tied in a single garment of destiny. This noise is a praise song.”

The theme of this year’s event is inspired by Tied in a Single Garment of Destiny, penned by Dr. King, in his 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Janae Johnson, Youth Speaks’ Associate Director of Program, explains “Bringing the Noise is as much for the audience as it is the poets. Reminding us of our interconnectedness, and that we indeed, need each other.”

Poets who take the stage will speak to Dr. King’s assertion, “before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you’ve depended on more than half of the world.” Curated by Youth Speaks’ staff and Poet Mentor, Gabriel Cortez, the 21st Annual Bringing the Noise will feature a line-up of both alumni and the next generation of poets including Youth Speaks emerging young poets Nayeli Cuiriz who speaks on her identity as a Chicana in “Xicana Dreams” and Quinn Edlin whose piece “Ode to Assata” highlights the Black Panther and activist, Assata Shakur.

The 21st Annual Bringing the Noise for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will begin with a land acknowledgment by Desirae Harp, a member of the Mishewal OnastaTis (Wappo) Nation from the central coast of California and a Diné (Navajo) descendant. Shannon Matesky, Youth Speaks alumna and artist, will host the event with DJ Dion Decibels providing the music for the evening.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for youth (24 and under). Advanced tickets can be purchased online.

CALENDAR LISTING

WHAT: Youth Speaks Presents the 21st Annual Bringing the Noise for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
WHERE: Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
WHEN: Monday, January 15, 2018, 7 PM
ADMISSION: $10 Adults, $5 Youth (24 and under)

Tickets
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ABOUT YOUTH SPEAKS
Founded in 1996, Youth Speaks is one of the leading non-profit presenters of spoken word performance, education, and youth development programs in the country. Youth Speaks first produced Bringing the Noise for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1998. .

MEDIA CONTACT
Tara Dorabji
Director of Development and Communications
415-942-4331
tdorabji@youthspeaks.org

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Contact Information

Tara Dorabji

Director of Development and Communications

Youth Speaks

Contact via E-mail