Community of young poets who will continue to use their voices to inspire and create change in their communities.
Hi my name is Sailee Charlu! I am a spoken poet. I am a highschooler at the Orange County School of the Arts studying in the conservatories of creative writing and visual arts. I have a deep interest in socio-cultural divides and educational equality. As a result, I have learned to express my experience as a professional spoken poet with the California Get Lit Spoken Poetry Troupe. As the lead prosecutor of my Mock Trial national team and founder of the National Civic Leadership of American OCSA chapter, I have a deeply-vested interest in the art of communication and leadership in the youth!
Hi my name is Robin Kim. I am an attorney for the OCSA Mock Trial team, a member of OCSA’s Student Culture Executive Board, and the founder of OCSA Keeping the Culture. My passion for public advocacy and activism drives me to educate children in underserved communities about the power of their opinions and stories, equipping the next generation with the skills to stand up for what is right.
The Lit League is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underserved middle school students through the art of slam poetry across Santa Ana and Orange County. Our mission is to foster creative expression, fuel bilingualism in our Hispanic students, build confidence, and create a platform for young voices to be heard. We offer a dynamic blend of in-person workshops, Zoom training sessions, and online resources to equip students with the skills they need to excel in poetry and performance while teaching skills that will benefit them in academics and their professional careers. Throughout the year, students will join teams that work together under the guidance of teen coaches or mentors. They will be exposed to professional slam poets, learning the art of crafting and performing poetry and the power of storytelling. The culmination of this program will be a slam poetry competition in which participants showcase their work, compete for prizes, and celebrate their growth. Our goal is to create a supportive community of young poets who will continue to use their voices to inspire and create change in their communities.
When Sailee attended her school’s first spoken poetry meeting, she had no idea what to expect. But when she heard members of the competitive GetLit Poetry Performance team perform, she was hooked. The rhythm, the emotion, the raw authenticity—it was mesmerizing. She started attending workshops, auditioned, and earned a spot on the team of 15 on the Get Lit National Spoken Poetry Troupe. Performing spoken poetry quickly became her greatest emotional outlet, helping her process feelings, build confidence, and connect with others.
While tutoring at local elementary and middle schools, she realized many students had never been exposed to spoken poetry. These schools lacked the arts programs that had empowered me to find my voice. Determined to bring this opportunity to others, she, along with her partner, Robin Kim, founded The Lit League. Together, this program blended rhythm, acting, and storytelling to empower students to find their unique voices.
Spoken poetry is a thrilling blend of prose, rhythm, and song that fosters connection and builds confidence. It allows performers to articulate emotion in a way that is raw and impactful. Through workshops, performances, and a supportive community, The Lit League introduces middle school students in underserved communities to this powerful art form. By making spoken poetry accessible, we not only fuel creative expression but also inspire the next generation to realize that their voices matter.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul……
What we did to the earth, we did to our
daughters one after the other……
I tend the mobile now
like an injured bird……
Discover our comprehensive spoken poetry education approach created by our team with guidance from professional slam poetry professionals. Our curriculum combines classic poetry with original spoken word response to empower and embolden student expression while strengthening social-emotional skills.
Marcus Omari is a critically acclaimed poet, writer, performer, and instructor who teaches poetry programs across Orange County. He’s known for his spoken word performances and has authored several chapbooks. He’s a six-time National Speech and Debate Award winner and has been featured on TV shows like VERSES & FLOW on TV One. He’s also the founder of the Poetic Reform Party.
Statement: Dharma Lemon is a writer, teaching artist, and activist from Los Angeles County. She is involved with an organization called Get Lit – Words Ignite. Her work focuses on topics like feminism, body positivity, the environment, and racial injustice. She is known for her passionate writing and activism, having performed alongside celebrity activists and participated in various events, including “Artists for Amazonia”.
Before our camp…
of all students did not enjoy and/or like poetry from their personal experience
of all students were not confident in speaking and performing in front of others
After attending our camp…
performed their poem for the first time and loved it
wrote a poem for the first time
of students found an appreciation in public speaking
were inspired by listening to their peers
of our students felt more confident in expressing themselves through poetry and public speaking
Marcus Omari is a critically acclaimed poet, writer, performer, and instructor who teaches poetry programs across Orange County. He’s known for his spoken word performances and has authored several chapbooks. He’s a six-time National Speech and Debate Award winner and has been featured on TV shows like VERSES & FLOW on TV One. He’s also the founder of the Poetic Reform Party.
Dharma Lemon is a writer, teaching artist, and activist from Los Angeles County. She is involved with an organization called Get Lit – Words Ignite. Her work focuses on topics like feminism, body positivity, the environment, and racial injustice. She is known for her passionate writing and activism, having performed alongside celebrity activists and participated in various events, including “Artists for Amazonia”.
Olivia le is a talented youth spoken poet. As a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, she has won state and national poetry competitions and was a finalist for the California Youth Poet Laureate. Her work has been published internationally and she is a 2-year Get Lit Player with Get Lit-Words Ignite. She used spoken word to share about her experiences and raise awareness on social issues.
