"Untitled" by Janeida Rivera

Louder Than a Bomb brings you the 2005 finalists from this nationally-renowned teen poetry slam, hosted by Young Chicago Authors. Featuring remarkable work about identity, race relations, gun violence, police brutality, relationships with parents, God, Islam, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and gentrification these young writers hold very little back. Each piece included in the series is a titled performance piece. Without introduction, a template for host-introduction is offered here (under additional materials). These pieces would work well aired independently or as a series in locally produced programming that is looking to add a youth perspective. This is debut series. The Young Chicago Authors - Louder Than a Bomb teen poetry slam is now in it’s fifth year, bringing poets ages 13-19 years-old together in a safe space that emphasizes community building, education, and youth empowerment. By carrying on the rich tradition of oral storytelling and the spoken word, the 2005 Louder Than a Bomb teen poetry slam engaged over 400 youth participants representing over 30 schools and community organizations. The eight teams that were invited to the final round, each presenting one group piece and two individual pieces, are presented here. Louder Than a Bomb is produced by Breeze Luetke-Stahlman and distributed directly to public radio stations through PRX.