1. Jenna Tenn-Yuk
Spoken Word Artist, M.A. ‘14

2. Power of spoken word poetry
Spoken word poetry as a form of
activism and a tool for social change
Finding and speaking your voice
Beauty, creativity and potential when you
tap into dark places
Challenging dominant norms and
breaking silences through storytelling
Place of connection, inclusion, belonging
and community

3. Poetry is not a luxury
“[Poetry] lays the foundations for a future
of change, a bridge across our fears of
what has never been seen before.”
- Audre Lorde

4. Everyone Loves A
Jamasian Girl

7. “Your voice is missing
from the scene.”

9. “Each human being,
however small or weak,
has something to bring
to humanity.”
- Jean Vanier

10. Spoken word and activism
Foster dialogue through storytelling
Examine the complexities of identity
Challenge dominant culture
Cause self-reflection and incite social
action

11. Finding and speaking
your voice
Space to be heard, especially those
voices from the margins
How can you connect your own
personal experiences to wider cultural
movements and be agents of change?

12. Writing exercises
10 things you want to do before you die
What is your fear?

13. Breaking silences
“And that visibility which makes us most
vulnerable is that which also is the
source of our greatest strength
“…for it is not difference which immobilizes
us, but silence. And there are so many
silences to be broken.”
- Audre Lorde

14. Minority

16. You in a box.

17. You in a black and white box.

18. Challenging dominant culture
Fragmented identities and cannot be put
into a box
Challenge gender hierarchies, racism,
heteronormativity, classism, ableism,
mental health and other forms of stigma
Disrupt, transform, remix and create new
identities through performance for
activism and to effect change
Understand culture through embodied
performance

19. Writing exercises
What are you passionate about and
why?
How is someone’s life better because
they crossed your path?
How can you connect your own
personal experiences to wider cultural
movements and be agents of change?
What is your vision for change?

20. Change starts with you
Self-reflection: “Who am I?”
Walk towards your fears
What makes you come alive?
The power and potential within can
move into your communities
Use what’s in your hands
Visibility is important
How is your voice/story missing?

21. Your voice matters.
Your story matters.
“When I dare to be powerful -- to use
my strength in the service of my
vision, then it becomes less and less
important whether I am afraid.”
- Audre Lorde

22. www.jennatennyuk.com
@jennatennyuk