Slam Poetry is vital and here at Chicago Slam Works, we believe that everyone should always have a poem in her or his heart at all times. With a poem in our heart, our self confidence grows as does our appreciation of all the spoken and written world. We know this because we’ve witnessed it help many people but especially students improve reading skills, become confident in public oration and learn to love learning. Our Poets with Class program puts slam poets into Chicago area classrooms to assist teachers in the use of slam for teaching English in a way that students respond to deeply. More broadly, we sponsor various slam events like The Encyclopedia Show which “..builds an age integrated community cultivating accidental knowledge and irreverent loving kindness.” (Needs the cite here)
And now, 25 years after it exploded out of Chicago, we believe that slam poetry is ready to move to the next level and develop a much greater base in our cultural life. To accomplish this move, Chicago Slam Works is planning a permanent performance and educational home where slam poetry will a greater profile in the public consciousness. To borrow from Woody Guthrie, this home will be your home. It will be a place to listen, to learn, to laugh and cry, to shout and whisper, to clap and snap.
As with every bold step, we have enormous challenges in realizing our dream. Our first step is the creation of a Partner Program in which we ask you to join us on this journey. Attached is a description of the various Partnerships available and the benefits associated with them. More importantly, by partnering with us now, you will be with us every step of what promises to be an exciting adventure. Please review the enclosed description of the available partnerships and their benefits. Select a partner level that best fits your passion for great performance poetry, fill out the form with your contribution and return it at your earliest convenience. Everyone who becomes a partner before December 31, 2010 will become a “Slam Footings” partner. All “Slam Footings” partners will be listed in all our event programs for five years, but also in the permanent dedication plaque to be installed in our new home.
