Nine teens — including six from the Bronx — showed off their creativity and performance skills in the preliminary round of Parlé Endeavors’ second annual Teen Poetry Slam on June 15. The citywide competition for teenswas created by Kevin Benoit, founder of Parlé Endeavors, a nonprofit focused on youth opportunities for creative expression and entrepreneurship.
The young writers’ poems covered a variety of personal topics, including the power of poetry (“What kind of poet doesn’t do a little saving?”), self-worth (“I matter, don’t I?”), sleep as an escape from pain (“pushing it away on the farthest shelf”) the feeling of vulnerability (“concave inwards, trapped within myself”) and gender transition (“never again ‘insert dead name’”).
The June 15 event at the Parkchester public library branch — hosted by Sobeana Woodley-Sobers of Brooklyn, who placed second in last year’s contest — was one of the competition’s preliminary rounds held in each borough.
The five winners who advanced to the semifinal rounds, which will be held in Brooklyn on July 13, are Shaniya Allison from Baychester, Kenya Knox from Crown Heights, Paule Jena Silatchom from Williamsbridge, and Nora Kouyate and Yaiden Perez Cabrera from Grand Concourse.
Also competing were Troy Thomas from Edenwald, Red Permaul from South Ozone Park, Matilda Yorke from Tremont and Kylie from Yonkers.
Bronx teens made a strong showing in last year’s competition and are on track to do so this year. Bronxite Mariam Dembele could not make the preliminary date in her home borough, but tied for first place at the Brooklyn event. Dembele was also a top-five finalist last year.
The young writers are competing not only for bragging rights but also prize money totaling $2,500, split among the top five winners of the finals.
Two of those who took on the difficult task of judging the Bronx preliminary round were Bronxites passionate about writing and experiencing that joy with others.
“I always see [poetry events] on big stages, but there are poets everywhere,” said Gabriella Badmos, 21, who recently graduated from the City College of New York with an English major.
Sierrah Smalls, 29, said she grew up writing and performing poetry and is now a social worker.
“It’s important to give back and be available to the up and coming artists,” she said.
The teen poets were scored based on completion of their poem, delivery, subject matter and overall performance. They each had three minutes to deliver their piece in a powerful, memorable way.
The five advancing poets from the June 15 preliminary round will face higher stakes in the next round, as they are required to perform two original poems.
Those who make it to the final round on July 27 at Poets House in Manhattan will perform three poems — and are encouraged to do so from memory. Last year’s winner, Stephanie Pacheco of the Bronx, will host the finals.
“It’s always amazing, honestly, anytime young people are showing off their talent,” said Benoit after the show.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
