From Classroom to Stage: The Power of Youth Poetry

ArtsXchange Outreach is easily one of my favorite parts of this work—it’s where I get to carry a love of language directly into the community and watch it take root. For more than a decade, I’ve partnered with Beacon Hill Middle School, home to a dedicated Poetry Club where students collaborate with local poets, sharpen their voices, and prepare for their annual slam.

Uma, Cailin, Theresa, and Kimberly

This year’s group brought both skill and heart. Seventh graders Mila, Uma, and Madeline, alongside eighth graders Lucy, Laney, Kimberly, Liv, Lilly, Cailin, Sylvia, and River, showed up ready—curious, and deeply engaged with the prompts.

The annual slam itself has a powerful legacy. Seventeen years ago, educator Stacey Daniels introduced slam poetry to her 7th grade English Language Arts classes as a way to open new pathways for expression. After her passing in 2012, the event was renamed the Stacey Mama Daniel Poetry Slam in her honor. Her spirit—nurturing, affirming, and student-centered—still shapes the energy of the room through the teachers, staff, students, and volunteers who continue the tradition.

The Beacon Hill Poetry Club 2026.

This year’s slam, co-hosted by Renita Walls and Teaching Artist Theresa Davis, took place on April 23 at Decatur High School’s auditorium. The performances were unforgettable. Kimberly took first place, followed by Uma in second and Cailin in third. Kimberly was then invited to compete in the Spring Fling Poetry Slam the very next evening—where, at just 14, she advanced to the second round in her first adult competition.

The Poetry Club returns in the fall, and the door is always open. If your child’s school is interested in bringing ArtsXchange teaching artists into the classroom, feel free to reach out to Theresa Davis at theresa@artsxchange.org.