Raise Up and VOTE for Native Youth:

Help Students Win National Poetry and Spoken Word Contest

posted July 11, 2014

On May 31st, a line of young poets stood alongside an imposing stage, anxiously waiting to perform the poetry and spoken word they had been preparing for weeks. As each name was called, the performer stepped up to the microphone at the Pine Ridge Raise Up Concert and broadcasted their words—and their vulnerability—to the public.

The local Raise Up Concert was held at the Pine Ridge skate park as a celebratory event for students who had entered the national Raise Up Project contest taking place this summer. The performance-based story-telling contest, sponsored by Youth Speaks, challenged students to address the issues leading to the growing national high school dropout rate.

Along with student poetry, attendees were treated to inspiring performances by Scatter Their Own, a local ‘alter-Native’ rock band; Quese IMC and Brian Frejo from Culture Shock camp; and Gyasi Ross and Tanaya Winde, two acclaimed Native poets.

“This concert gavestudents a chance to have their voices heard throughout the community alongside well-known Native artists, poets and professionals,” said Brandie Macdonald, museum educator at The Heritage Center, who coordinated the event. “It was about inspiring and empowering students who put their thoughts and emotions into powerful contest entries. I think being able to meet national-level professionals really validated their effort.”

Nine Red Cloud Indian School students and more than 60 of their peers from other reservation schools entered the contest by filming a performance of their poetry to be shared with the world online.

Raise Up Project Video Featuring The Heritage Center and Local Student Poets

With the contest submission deadline passed and the participants still reeling from their time on stage, the Raise Up competition is now in its final voting stage. By voting for their poems online today, you can help students win prizes including a $5,000 educational scholarship, a Google Chromebook laptop and a trip to Washington D.C to perform at the Kennedy Center and on National Public Radio.

The first round of voting is open to the public, but only through July 19! Get your vote in today before it’s too late!

The winners will be announced on September 28th after a final round of voting by celebrity guest judges including National Public Radio host Glynn Washington, Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons, actress Rosario Dawson and others.

Go to www.RaiseUpProject.org/vote to submit your vote now!

 

Special thanks to local sponsors that worked alongside The Heritage Center to bring the Raise Up Project to Pine Ridge: KILI Radio, Painted Skye Consulting and the Sweetgrass Project.

Video courtesy of First Peoples Fund

 

 

 

Photos and Content ©Red Cloud Indian School, 2014