of Prince George's County


 SELECTED POETS will leap from the page to the stage each summer in national youth poetry competition!​

​DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES to make the DMV Youth Poetry Slam Team??

THE BNV FESTIVAL is always a transformative experience, as youth poets ages 14-19 come together from across the globe not only to share their work, but to learn about how their words can affect those around them. To inquire about how to qualify for the 2021 WBL Youth Poetry Slam Team, call 301-237-6684 or visit wblinc.org/slam

THE 2019 Words Beats & Life DMV Youth Poetry Slam Team - left to right:


Mi'jan Credle -Prince George's 2019 Youth Poet Laureate


Aakiyrah King - Hillcrest Heights,MD


Azizi Byrd -Washington, DC


Xxavier Boone -Washington, DC

THE 2021 Words Beats & Life DMV Youth Poetry Slam Team - clockwise from top left: 



Deja Epps - Upper Marlboro Youth Poet Ambassador


Jamie V - Towson, MD


Yanina Chicas -Cheverly, MD


Sainey Ceesay - Prince George's 2021 Youth Poet Laureate



2017 Words Beats & Life Youth Poetry Slam Team - from left to right:


- Samantha Jackson- Prince George's 2017 Youth Poet Laureate

- Jasslyn Ford - Fort Washington Youth Poet Ambassador

- David Estes - Oxon Hill Youth Poet Ambassador

- Salihah Aakil - The 2017 DMV Youth Poetry Champion

FOR 5 YEARS, Dialect has been contracted by the great people at Words Beats & Life to prepare a slam team for the Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Festival, an international conference of teen poets which is held each year at different cities across the U.S.  

THE 2022 Words Beats & Life DMV Youth Poetry Slam Team (left to right)


Keenashae Pennicooke, Laurel Youth Poet Ambassador

Jordan Culmer, District Heights Youth Poet Ambassador

Natalia Pena, Alexandria VA

​Demari Kline, Upper Marlboro Youth Poet Ambassador