ChewSlam poets head to ‘prestigious’ festival

The Chewstick Foundation’s youth poetry group ChewSlam are flying out to Chicago today to take part in a prestigious international poetry festival.

Eight young people will attend Brave New Voices Poetry and Spoken Word festival to represent Bermuda for the second year. The festival has been previously attended by the likes of Mos Def, Russell Simmons, Common and Saul Williams.

Education Coordinator Yesha Townsend, and The Chewstick Foundation’s Gavin Smith, will steward Tenae Hassell, 18, Makeem Bartley, 19, Marquedelle Rodriguez, 17, Dascha Choudhury, 15, Hannah Smith, 15, Kevina-Lorae Davis - 19, Grace Edwards, 19 and Kalaeb Tannock, 16, who will all have the opportunity to connect with a global community of young poets, and strengthen their voices through workshops, performances. The Chewstick Foundation hosted a series of fundraising activities to raise the necessary funds to make this dream a reality, including PopUp Receptions in conjunction with The Bermuda National Trust at their Waterville and Verdmont properties.

The community can support this year round programme by contributing to the donation page on www.ptix.bm, supporting the indiegogo campaign http://igg.me/ at/ChewslamBNV, and inviting the group to perform at local events . For further information on this and additional Chewstick Foundation programs, call their office at 292-2439, email [email protected] or visit www.chewstick.org.