The Student Led Arts Movement (SLAM Clubs) offers high school students the opportunity to build, develop, and deepen the spoken word movement in their schools and communities. Through school clubs, student-initiated projects, and other campus activities, youth leaders create new avenues for self-expression, cultural dialogue, and social activism.
Youth leaders and artists create and build student clubs at their own schools. Supported by Youth Speaks, students organize events and activities in their school and community – open mic’s, assembly showcases, youth forums, etc – and receive special artistic and leadership opportunities. Each club sends a representative to the monthly SLAM Union meeting, to network, gain skills, and help plan community events. After joining SLAM Union, your club can apply for a project grant of up to $500 to help meet its goals.
Students and teachers interested in connecting with the S.L.A.M. clubs program, contact Erika Ecespedes at ecespedes@youthspeaks.org. or (415) 255-9035 x14.
These schools all have active SLAM clubs and youth leaders for the 2010-2011 school year:
- Life Academy (Oakland): youth leaders – Bryant Phan and Monica Mendoza
- Skyline High School (Oakland): youth leaders – Kyaira Talton and Stephanie Yun
- Metwest High School (Oakland): youth leader – Christsna Sot
- Oakland School for the Arts: youth leader – Brianna Noble
- Balboa High School (San Francisco): youth leader – Kevin Shane
- O’Connell High School (San Francisco): youth leader – Melody Quach
- City Arts and Technology High School (San Francisco): youth leader – Ashley-Rose McDonough
- Gateway High School (San Francisco): youth leader – Yaritza Diaz
- St. Ignatius (San Francisco): youth leader – Jessica Recinos
- Ida B Wells High School (San Francisco): youth leader – Troy Reinhard
- Galileo High School (San Francisco): youth leaders – Meng Khaul
- Lowell High School (San Francisco): youth leader – Arielle Piamonte
- Tennyson High School (Hayward): youth leader – Maria Juarez
- Aragon High School (San Mateo): youth leader – Dina Marshalek
- Irvington High School (Fremont): youth leader – Zak Baker
- Jefferson High School (Daly City): youth leader – Nate Umagat
- Berkeley High: youth leaders – Colin Davis & Jonny Chang
- Logan High: youth leader – Michael Aquino
- San Leandro High: youth leader – Jenna Hewitt
- Newark High: youth leader – Gretchen Caraval
- San Lorenzo High: youth leader – Diana Garcia
