nonprofit organization

The Lit League

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.

Mission statement

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, 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.

LIT LEAGUE ANTHOLOGY

Hope is a thing with feathers

by Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul……

Postscript

by Marie Howe

What we did to the earth, we did to our
daughters one after the other……

Text

by Carol Ann Duffey

I tend the mobile now
like an injured bird……

WorkBook

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

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

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

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.