Rooted + Radical Youth Poetry Festival Finals

Poets from all over Chicago take center stage for a chance at being an all-star finalist. These youth poets represent the best performers this city has to offer in a high-energy, multi-genre poetry showcase celerbating that raw talent and powerful stories of our times.

This unforgettable night will feature performances from the city’s brightest young voices, accompanied by special musical guests, and the flyest audience in Chicago. Don’t miss this chance to witness the next generation of poetic legends in action!

In Chicago’s contemporary landscape, there is a desperate need for a space dedicated to the voices of young people who face violence and segregation on a daily basis, a safe place that provides a platform for youth expression and celebrates the narratives of teens from every corner of the city. Young creative people need mentors to guide their writing to a level that sparks real change in themselves and their communities. YCA’s programs serve as an introduction to and immersion in a vibrant literary community that transcends cultural and socio-economic boundaries.