May 7 @ the Robert & Margrit Mondavi Center for Performing Arts, UC Davis

Workshops, presentations, and SAYS Slam Finals (9 am – 9 pm)

Register by clicking here :: $50 per person

Keynote Speaker: Rudy Corpuz of United Playaz

Presenters include: Queen GodIs, Ise Lyfe, E-Legal Tag Team, Brown Suga, Zany Brooks, Jasper Pugao, David Philoxene, Dennis Kim, Chinaka Hodge and many more…

SAYS is dedicated to closing the achievement gap by re-culturing the classroom and school grounds. While some aspects in education can silence students, we encourage youth voice and leadership through writing and speaking. With permission to integrate their voice and world into their education, our students will invest in their own life, and in turn become lifelong learners. Our goal is to create a literary community where everyone’s narrative matters and contributes, not only to the classroom, but also to the critical conversations of our world.

SAYS is a movement that brings youth voices for social change to the forefront of schools and communities. To accomplish this, we foster creative approaches to literary arts education and literacy development both within and beyond the walls of school. The SAYS program involves students, poet-mentors, and teachers in a praxis that educates and empowers.

The annual SAYS Summit is a culmination of our year-round programming in the schools. Young people from different regions, schools, and economic and ethnic backgrounds come together, learn together, and celebrate each other. Moreover, students develop action plans for school improvement and community change.

On May 7, 2010, the 2nd Annual SAYS Summit will be held at The Robert & Margrit Mondavi Center for Performing Arts, UC Davis. Last years’ event included over 300 youth from Sacramento City Unified School District, Twin Rivers Unified School District, and Elk Grove Unified School District. This year we are continuing with the SAYS Summit with a focus on Learning Literacy Leadership: School is my Hustle. Students will be with renowned leaders and Spoken Word artists from 9am to 9pm, bringing their literacy and leadership closer to their lives then ever before. Participants at the SAYS Summit receive writing workshops, cutting edge keynote presentations, a seat at the SAYS Slam Finals, Lunch/Dinner, a SAYS t-shirt, and more. Register online by clicking here.

The SAYS SLAM FINALS will be held at the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for Performing Arts at UC Davis on May 7, 2010 from 6pm-9pm. SAYS will be hosting the Slam to get the top 6 poets to represent Sacramento at Brave New Voices (the International Youth Poetry Slam, which will be held in Los Angeles in July). The Slam tickets are selling fast ($5 for youth 21 years and under & students with identification and $15 adults/general admission)! Tickets for the SAYS SLAM FINALS are available at the Mondavi box office and online by clicking here. The SAYS SLAM FINALS is open to the public. All are welcome.

Last year, the SAYS SLAM was an amazing experience. This year, we bring the slam into your communities, encouraging the best youth poets, rappers and singers to compete in our SAYS SLAM SEASON for a slot on the final stage at the Mondavi. Leading up to the SAYS SLAM FINALS, we will have preliminary spoken word poetry SLAMS–so encourage your students to come out!

All preliminary rounds are from 6-9pm and FREE.
April 21- Roberts Family Center: 770 Darina Ave. Sacramento, CA
April 22- George Sim Community Center: 6207 Logan St. Sacramento, CA
April 23- Sol Collective: 2574 21st St. Sacramento, CA
April 24- Underground Book: 2814 35th St. Sacramento, CA

Semi-Finals are from 6-9pm and FREE.
April 30 and May 1- La Raza Galeria Posada: 1022 22nd St. Sacramento, CA

SAYS SLAM FINALS from 6-9pm and cost $5 for youth under 21 and students & $15 general admission.
May 7- Robert & Margrit Mondavi Center for Performing Arts, UC Davis

Registration for the Slam is already open. Click here or call 530-752-7890 to sign-up. For more specific information about the SAYS SLAM FINALS click here.