Youth Speaks Announces The Brave New Voices Network Initiative



SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 1, 2014 /-- Youth Speaks, the renowned arts education program widely recognized as the nation's leading spoken word program for youth, is pleased to announce the launch of The Brave New Voices (BNV) Network Initiative. This seven-year initiative includes $10 million of grants directly to other nonprofits that work with teenagers in writing and performance.

Founded in 1996 in San Francisco, Youth Speaks has long championed a national movement of young people boldly declaring themselves present through poetry and spoken word. In addition to offering a comprehensive series of arts education programs to over 35,000 youth locally, Youth Speaks produced the first youth poetry slam in the nation in 1997, and launched the Brave New Voices Festival in 1998 (featured for two seasons on HBO).

The BNV Network Initiative is dedicated to building a sustainable field of organizations that intersect arts education and youth development practices with a deep focus on long-term civic engagement and public presentation. Currently, over 75 programs across the United States make up Youth Speaks' BNV Network. 

"Ensuring young people are heard and mentored by well-equipped adults and organizations is essential.  Small organizations can be highly effective, yet stretched thin and lacking meaningful resources," notes James Kass, founder of Youth Speaks. "This project aims to change this dynamic. By working as an intermediary, we can provide resources to the people on the ground, working with teenagers every day. Ultimately, stronger organizations mean more opportunities for young people to find and present the power of their voices," stated Kass.  

 The BNV Network initiative was launched by two anonymous Bay Area-based supporters, who have been joined by the Ford and Surdna Foundations, both long-time Youth Speaks champions. Roberta Uno of the Ford Foundation says of the initiative: "Ford is proud to support this work; because this model leads with exemplary art as it charts a fresh direction for the future of the arts and youth sector. Our pursuit of social justice depends on all people having a voice in the decisions that impact them, and the BNV Network Initiative strengthens and lifts up these important voices."

 Grants to Other Nonprofits Over the next 6 years, Youth Speaks will provide direct grants to 25 organizations nationwide. Grants range from $175,000 to $550,000 over 3 years, and include general operating support, technical assistance, and staffing support. In addition, Youth Speaks will host an annual conference to work with up to 100 grassroots organizations to develop their capacity. The Initiative also includes an annual pool of $200,000 "programmatic grants" available for all BNV Network Member organizations. 

 In order to help launch the Initiative, Kass hired Ninive Calegari, co-founder of 826 Valencia, an award-winning youth program, which has been duplicated both nationally and internationally.

Applications to The BNV Network initiative are available now at www.youthspeaks.org and remain open until Oct 1, 2014

 

SOURCE Youth Speaks Inc.

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