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Poetry Kickoff!
June 10, 2022 - August 5, 2022
Join the summer camp at Babe ‘Alonzo’ James Community Center, as poet and artist Nakia Jade leads a weekly workshop for youth.
Poetry Kickoff! is an opportunity for youth to express themselves using poetry, spoken word and freestyle lyrics. This program will cover different poetic styles such as Ekphrastic and Acrostic poems, and give students resources from books, poetry collections, and hip hop videos. The workshops offer opportunities to build confidence by learning performance skills such as body language, vocal projection, overcoming stage-fright, microphone techniques and improvisation. Everyone will learn to create original works, then at the end of the workshop series, be given a chance to perform and show their friends and family the skills they have gained.
Fridays at 10AM
June 10 – August 5, 2022
Babe ‘Alonzo’ James Community Center, New Smyrna Beach
For youth ages 12-17
Register by calling 386-410-2890
Artist, Nakia Jade (lower row, center) was born as Zana Seymour grew up as a military child moving place to place until moving to Philadelphia. In the “City of Brotherly Love,” she found the power of a pen. Having speech issues, she would write how she felt in a school notebook until a teacher saw her gift. In 3rd grade she published her first book, “My Life as a Bike” and then went on to have poems featured in several anthologies. Nakia Jade has been featured in several festivals including Bells and Whistles, 29835 Festival, Peace in the Park, and Arts in the Hearts (August, Ga). Nakia Jade works closely with the community giving opportunities to youth, her peers, veterans and anyone who may cross her path. She is a motivational speaker to children in schools so they may keep pushing to greatness and understand that their neighborhood does not define their limits. In 2017/2018 Nakia Jade was the Team Coordinator for a poetry partnership with the Poetry Matters Program which is now shared throughout several schools. She served with City Year Columbia in 2018/2019 helping to mentor children in being better citizens academically and socially. Nakia Jade is also an event coordinator with “Blazin’ Da Mic” which provides Hip-Hop artists a platform to showcase their amazing talents to the public. Nakia Jade continues to make a powerful impact in the community, showing that “A superhero doesn’t always have to wear a cape!”