We are looking for a few talented teens to join us as Verse Responders in our summer production, “Imagining Futures”. Each summer over the last 10 years, a special group of students has taken the spotlight to represent the city at Brave New Voices , an international youth poetry festival. Due to the pandemic, this festival, like many events, was cancelled. Seven brave and creative souls were still committed to writing, rehearsing, and performing their truths. They realized that their duty as artists during this time was to serve as first responders, using their words to heal. This collective of young artists created a show that was not only reflective of our unprecedented today, but one that offered hope for the future. The “Verse Responders” were birthed!

The Verse Responders are our performance poetry troupe made up of area teens (9th through 12th grade). This summer, these young people will create yet another choreopoem for this community. The show will be produced on the grounds of Port Columbus on July 8th - 10th. This show will be free and open to the public. No experience is necessary. Students must be local (Muscogee/Harris/Russell/Lee Counties) and available to work collaboratively in-person and/or virtually May 31st - July 8th. Students must register by Thursday, May 27th. Upon registering, they will receive an email(s) with additional program & scheduling information.

Participants Must Be:
1. Local (Muscogee/Harris/Russell/Lee Counties) and
 2. Enrolled in the 9th through 12th grades during the 2020 - 2021. Graduating seniors are eligible and
     encouraged to participate.
3. Must be available for 2 to 4  afternoon/evening rehearsals per week (May 31st  - July 10th).
4. Be respectful, courteous, open minded, and ready to create art that impacts positve change!  
There is no charge for participation in this program.
 
The Fountain City Slam creates safe spaces to engage the next generation of leaders in the power of reading and writing. By fostering an environment that promotes creative healing, social-emotional skills, and positive behaviors, we challenge young creatives to find, develop, publicly present, and apply their voices as creators of social change. Ultimately, we hope to create a  movement of young artists that leverage their talents to positively impact their community.

ALL participants are required to complete this form, if you intend to take part in any of the programming this year. This is a great way for us to keep in touch with you, but more importantly, it will allot us the information needed to continue to provide programs of interest to you all.