Youth Speaks

James Kass. Originally from New York, James Kass, is the Founder and Executive Director of Youth Speaks. Since 1996, Youth Speaks has set a national standard for creative writing, poetry, and spoken word programs for youth. James has facilitated workshops in over 350 high schools, numerous universities, public library systems, juvenile detention centers, and youth service agencies throughout the extensive international Youth… See full bio.

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Story: Read about how Gabe Crane became famous as a spoken-word artist: Inspiration struck Berkeley High School senior Gabe Crane four years ago, at a poetry slam. He was no stranger to standing before an audience -- he had experience in drama and songwriting, so the transition to spoken word seemed natural. Months after his first spoken-word performance, Crane was competing in Ann Arbor, Mich., on a national slam poetry team and attending writing workshops. "I felt a spark and said, 'This is something I can do,' " he recalled. That spark led to a dazzling career in the arts, and over the next four years, Crane accomplished what many people only dream about doing in a lifetime. He has performed in national poetry slam competitions and produced his own one-act play, "Thoughts for a Lonely Supermarket," that was produced by Berkeley Repertory Theater. Now, the 17-year-old has written his first book, also titled "Thoughts for a Lonely Supermarket," published by First Word Press. The forthcoming book is a compilation of short stories, poetry and one-act plays. It is part of a new venture from Youth Speaks Inc. of San Francisco that gives young writers the opportunity to write and publish their first manuscripts. Crane credits Youth Speaks, a nonprofit organization that hosts free education-development programs and spoken-word performances, for helping him develop his literary skills. "(Crain, Yejide and Pickens) are among the best of the young writers who have participated in Youth Speaks' mentoring programs, after-school workshops, open mikes and poetry slams," Program Director Paul Flores said. Each performer is teamed with a staff person who acts as their mentor for six months to help them develop their work, said Youth Speaks Executive Director James Kass. Crane went after school to Youth Speaks' Mission District offices in San Francisco where he would work on his material. At first, he wrote mainly performance-oriented poetry. The dialogue was rhythmic and fast, with a lot of repetition and word play, covering issues such as the war in Iraq. But, he says, "It wouldn't necessarily read well because a lot of it is in the delivery." After he started working one-on-one with Kass, Crane noticed a change. "He brought my writing full-circle. I found my voice in the poetry." (Read more about his story at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/01/16/EBGL047PFS1.DTL&hw=youth+speaks&sn=002&sc=946)

Evidence of Impact Summary:

Youth Speaks engages over 40,000 youth in the Bay Area in spoken word performances, writing workshops, and literary education programs and inspires them to find their voice and be positive change agents through the arts. They work with youth on literacy, creativity, self-expression, and awareness/respect of people different from oneself.
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Organization Strengths Summary:

Youth Speaks has a visionary leader who has grown the nonprofit to a national level. Their staff are young and energetic and can connect well with the youth they serve. Their mentees often go on to become mentors later on, as well. Their marketing materials are a genuine reflection of youth voice.
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Areas for Improvement Summary:

Some experts believe Youth Speaks may be growing faster than their capacity can manage. There are some concerns about organizational management, the need to diversify their funding, and the need to build their local capacity. They might try to serve immigrant communities and collaborate with other local arts organizations more.
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Originally from New York, James Kass, is the Founder and Executive Director of Youth Speaks. Since 1996, Youth Speaks has set a national standard for creative writing, poetry, and spoken word programs for youth. James has facilitated workshops in over 350 high schools, numerous universities, public library systems, juvenile detention centers, and youth service agencies throughout the extensive international Youth Speaks/Brave New Voices network. Executive Editor of First Word Press, and creator of the annual Youth Speaks Teen Poetry Slam, Spoken City, Brave New Voices, and the Bringing the Noise reading series, James also coordinated the Youth Stage at the now-defunct San Francisco Bay Area Book Festival. James is a founding member of the San Francisco Poet Laureate Executive Committee, and has been a panelist for the California Arts Council Spoken Word Fellowship, The Oakland Creative Arts Spoken Word Fellowship and the San Francisco Arts Commission Creative Space Award. James sits on the Steering Committee for the Oakland International Hip Hop Museum (On Up), Chairs the Community Engagement Advisory Board for Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, is an Advisory Board Member for SlamBush.net, and the NYC Hip Hop Theater Festival, is a Board Member of CAS, a small school at Berkeley High, Speak Out, a progressive national speakers bureau, and Youth Sounds, the nation’s premiere youth media program, teaches classes at the California College of Arts, and has partnered with The New York City Hip Hop Theater Festival to develop a festival in the Bay Area.

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