Our quote from the extraordinary Oprah Winfrey rings true to us each day as we work with the gifted young artists of this community. For nine years we have been a platform for creative self-expression and literacy because of people like you—either through monetary donations, volunteering or simply moral support, we have been able to reach over 1,000 youth in the tri-city area.. This program is open to youth of all backgrounds. We use creative writing and the performing arts as a means of self expression and exploration. Students have experienced the benefits of this free auxiliary arts education in their intellectual, personal, and social development since our inception in 2011. Our curriculum fosters anti-bullying, anti-drugs, suicide prevention, crime prevention, and positive behaviors in the young people we work with. We provide space and spirit for fellowship among young writers across the Columbus, Georgia area.
We believe that writing empowers greater understanding of self and others and thereby encourages compassion and empathy in our society. Students have experienced the benefits of this auxiliary arts education in their intellectual, personal, and social development. Yearly, these young people have received local, regional, and national accolades for their thought provoking original work. We have been awarded The Youth Speaks National Leadership Grant for the work these young people have been doing in the Columbus area. For three years, we have received the designation of “Best of Festival” at The Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival. The Fountain City Teen Poetry Slam was also a recipient of The Eco Latino Courier Community Service Award in recognition of our efforts. The group has performed at a number of local programs and events yearly.
By providing mentoring opportunities and real-life experience, we aim to redefine the roles young people play in today’s society. Our after school writing workshop offerings have continued to expand, having conducted bi-monthly workshops at Columbus High School, G.W. Carver High School, Rainey McCullers School of the Arts, Hardaway High School, and Eddy Middle School, as well as monthly youth open mics. We have brought in nationally renowned spoken word artists and writers to conduct community wide writing workshops for area teens at no charge. We have published 75 area young writers through our yearly chapbook anthologies, S.T.E.A.M Rising, a collection of creative writing inspired by science, technology, engineering, and math.. We also take a group of youth to The Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival each summer. Every year, over 500 young poets and the nation’s leading artists convene in a different U.S. city for 4-5 days of arts education, community service, and civic engagement.
As a smaller nonprofit organization, we rely exclusively on grant funding and the generosity of the wonderful community we serve. Please consider making an end-of-the-year donation to assist us in shaping area young people into positive, productive leaders and drivers of change. The Fountain City Slam, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions for the purposes of Fountain City Slam are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. This critical work for area teens is entirely dependent upon community support.
Make Checks Payable To:
Fountain City Slam, Inc.
P.O. BOX 12073
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31917