Calling all youth poets, dancers, musicians, artists and activists!

Youth Speaks Seattle (YSS) is looking for fierce young artists (aged 14-19) interested in making art, learning about social justice and earning $150 this summer at the YSS Arts Liberation and Leadership Institute. Application deadline is July 31st.

The five-day institute will be held Aug. 22-26 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where leaders will build a tight-knit, loving community with 20 other youth artists and activists while working with Daniel Pak from the music group Kore Ionz and with community activist/visual artist Henry Luke.

In addition to professional development and skills around promotion, event planning, public speaking and facilitation, participants will learn about forms of oppression and how to fight against them using art and community. They will also receive a $150 stipend upon completion as well as credit for 60-plus community service hours.

Download the application here or apply online here.

From Youth Speaks Seattle's website:

Since 2003, Youth Speaks Seattle has been the city’s premier collective for youth spoken word poetry, creating avenues for youth voices through creative writing instruction and performance opportunities. Over the years, Youth Speaks Seattle has conducted residencies and visited classrooms in nearly all of Seattle’s public high schools, hosted a thriving monthly open mic series, transformative all-city writing circles and explosive poetry slam competitions.

In 2011, the renowned youth-led poetry program became a part of Arts Corps. We are proud to continue the Youth Speaks Seattle legacy with twice-monthly open mics, weekly writing circles, the hallmark Poetry Slam Series and a fierce Spokes board of Youth Leaders.