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Jenna Tenn-YukSpoken Word Artist, M.A. ‘14
Power of spoken word poetry
Spoken word poetry as a form of activism and a tool for social change
Finding and speaking your voice
Beauty, creativity and potential when you tap into dark places
Challenging dominant norms and breaking silences through storytelling
Place of connection, inclusion, belonging and community
Poetry is not a luxury
“[Poetry] lays the foundations for a future
of change, a bridge across our fears of
what has never been seen before.”
- Audre Lorde
Everyone Loves A
Jamasian Girl
“Your voice is missing from the scene.”
“Each human being, however small or weak, has something to bring to humanity.” - Jean Vanier
Spoken word and activism
Foster dialogue through storytelling
Examine the complexities of identity
Challenge dominant culture
Cause self-reflection and incite social
action
Finding and speaking
your voice
Space to be heard, especially those
voices from the margins
How can you connect your own
personal experiences to wider cultural
movements and be agents of change?
Writing exercises
10 things you want to do before you die
What is your fear?
Breaking silences
“And that visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the
source of our greatest strength
“…for it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many
silences to be broken.”
- Audre Lorde
Minority
You in a box.
You in a black and white box.
Challenging dominant culture
Fragmented identities and cannot be put into a box
Challenge gender hierarchies, racism, heteronormativity, classism, ableism, mental health and other forms of stigma
Disrupt, transform, remix and create new identities through performance for activism and to effect change
Understand culture through embodied performance
Writing exercises
What are you passionate about and why?
How is someone’s life better because they crossed your path?
How can you connect your own personal experiences to wider cultural movements and be agents of change?
What is your vision for change?
Change starts with you
Self-reflection: “Who am I?”
Walk towards your fears
What makes you come alive?
The power and potential within can
move into your communities
Use what’s in your hands
Visibility is important
How is your voice/story missing?
Your voice matters.
Your story matters.
“When I dare to be powerful -- to use
my strength in the service of my
vision, then it becomes less and less
important whether I am afraid.”
- Audre Lorde
www.jennatennyuk.com@jennatennyuk