Megan Ann Ward is the featured poet at this month’s youth poetry slam at the main branch of the library.
The Ottawa Youth Poetry Slam, which kicked off a new season this fall at the main library branch in Centretown, is doing more than teaching young people in Ottawa how to write and perform, say volunteers and participants.
The program gives youth aged 12 to 19 an opportunity to take part in a workshop with an experienced spoken word artist and perform on stage for their peers.
Megan Ann Ward, the feature poet at this month’s youth poetry slam, says spoken word is important because it provides an outlet for youth to express themselves and build confidence.
“At the beginning some of the kids are really outspoken, some are shy. Watching someone who’s kind of nervous realize if they speak, people will listen and just watching their confidence grow is amazing,” she says.
Nadin Habib is a local high-school student and slam poetry enthusiast who attended the program.
“It’s amazing. You really feel like there’s no one judging you,” she says. “You can say what you want. It’s just a place to let it all out.”
Support for youth getting involved in spoken word seems to be growing.
It took a push from a teacher for Habib to attend her first slam poetry event, she says.
“I thought, ‘No way. I’d never do this,’ but my teacher said, ‘You have to come.’ ”
Ward, an experienced performance poet, began leading this type of workshop in schools.
She says youth can really benefit from “knowing that grown-ups are going to listen to them, and we want to hear what they’re going to say and that their emotions are valid.”
Meggan Phelan is a seventh grade teacher at J.H. Putman public school who runs a slam poetry club where students can prepare for the monthly meetings at the library.
Two members of her club earned spots on the first ever Ottawa Youth Slam Team last year.
“I think it’s just a really great way to get kids into writing and thinking about social and political issues too.
"It’s about the things in your life and things in the world that get to you,” she says.
There are challenges that come with getting young people involved in a craft that, in the past, has been mostly practiced among adults.
Ward says it's difficult to know where to draw the line, especially when dealing with the school board.
She says in that situation she tries to keep in mind the educational setting but at the same time doesn’t want to censor herself.
“I think it’s important for anyone, not just youth, to be able to tell the world who they are,” says Ward.
Phelan says she was surprised at some of the adult content when she first started taking youth to slam poetry events.
“They’re going to hear things or see things that maybe make them a bit uncomfortable, but that’s good because that’s the real world. You have to take it as this is someone’s expression,” she says.
Another benefit of slam poetry, according to Ward, is a sense of community. She says she has seen youth connect with each other at these events and bond over their work.
Phelan agrees, saying, “Everyone supports each other. It’s a really safe place for kids.”
The Ottawa youth poetry slam will be held at the library’s main branch the third Monday of each month this fall and Phelan says she hopes to see a bigger audience at the next event.
“As an adult you can enjoy listening to these kids too. I think it would be nice if there was more of a following from adults to come watch it.”