skip navigation | text only | accessibility | site map

DC WRITER'S CORPS

About the Artist

DC WritersCorps began the poetry competitions back in 1997 as a way of getting middle school students interested in reading and writing literature. The slam competitions appeal to students’ love of self-expression and helps expose their intellectual and creative gifts to the general public.

This family event features students in Olympic style competitions with judges scoring the students for presentation and content. The school with the highest score gets bragging rights and trophies. Borders Books & Music also awards each student with gift certificates.

Started as a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts and the AmeriCorps program, DC WritersCorps has offered writing workshops and community literacy programs to at-risk and under-served residents in Washington, D.C. since 1994. In that time they have served over 7,000 residents, employed over 80 writers, and partnered with one hundred community sites. DC WritersCorps send accomplished and well-trained writers into all eleven DC public middle schools and conducts the award-winning Books for Kids literacy program in three DC public housing communities. DC WritersCorps is an independent organization and a part of the National WritersCorps Alliance.

Past Performances

Photo of May 14, 2007 Performance

May 14, 2007

For the 7th year in a row, young poets perform in Olympic-style competitions and are judged on presentation and content.

Play this Performance Video Icon


Photo of May 15, 2006 Performance

May 15, 2006

Finalists perform poetry in an Olympic-style competition and are judged on presentation and content.

Play this Performance Video Icon


Photo of May 2, 2005 Performance

May 2, 2005

DC Writers Corps Youth Poetry Slam Finalists perform for the 5th year in a row in Olympic-style competitions and are judged on presentation and content.

Play this Performance Video Icon


Photo of May 10, 2004 Performance

May 10, 2004

DC WritersCorps Youth Poetry Slam Finalists perform for the 4th year in a row in Olympic-style competitions and are judged on presentation and content.

Play this Performance Video Icon


Photo of May 19, 2003 Performance

May 19, 2003

National Endowment for the Arts and AmeriCorps sponsored DC WritersCorps presents its youth poetry slam league championship.

Play this Performance Video Icon


December 21, 2002

Students from the Dance Institute of Washington and poets from the DC Writers’ Corps perform selections from their upcoming Concert Hall program, The Spirit of Kwanzaa.

Play this Performance Video Icon


Photo of May 21, 2002 Performance

May 21, 2002

DC WRITERSCORPS Youth Poetry Slam League Championship
Hear the voices of the future of poetry. PERFORMANCE PLUS

Play this Performance Video Icon


Photo of April 17, 2001 Performance

April 17, 2001

DC WRITERSCORPS Youth Poetry Slam League Championship
The winners of the DC Poetry Competition WritersCorp Teen Slam perform their original works. Presented in conjunction with Borders Books and Music. Performance Plus Event

Play this Performance Video Icon