Tribute to Len Kweski Garrison 1943-2003
2003 London Teenage Poetry SLAM
2003 London Teenage London Poetry SLAM Final
Project Objectives
Project Format

"Remember what we inherit today has been won with the bloodshed and
sacrifice by others yesterday."

Poet, educationist, historian, photographer Len Garrison’s achievements are so impossible to make reference to in the entirety that it would take several biographies to tell the full story. Len Garrison’s profound legacy stems from his extensive academic research alongside the creating and developing of initiatives, giving profound impetus to the growth of a more multicultural curriculum in British school.

Garrison’s focus was a black ad the cultural experience of diaspora communities in Britain. His aim was for strengthening the sense of identity of people from different ethnic groups by acknowledging their contributions in Britain. Garrison pioneered education packs, spawning schemes for children and young adults with an emphasis on the arts. The Penmanship Awards for Creative Writing, for example, helped launch successful careers of many renowned authors.

Len’s projects and establishments including: the African and Carribean Educational Resource Centre, African Family and Friends and the Black Cultural Archives are a distinct testament to his vast career.

The Inner London Teenage Poetry SLAM is dedicated to the memory of Len Garrison and Lynk Reach is honoured to name this event The Len Garrison Annual SLAM in the future.

It is pioneers like Len Garrison and other like him who inspire us and take us all forward to a brighter future.

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Lynk Reach's main project for 2003 was the Inner London Teenage Poetry SLAM. This was a Spoken Word Poetry project aimed at engaging a diverse range of pupils.  The final SLAM event, which was held on the 14 June at the Bloomsbury Theatre, proved a great success!

Poet Coaches for 2003:
Peter Kahn
Ekere Tallie
Fatimah Kelleher
Jacob Sam-La Rose
Malika Booker

Other artists supporting the project include Michael Lord and Arlette George.

Schools who participated in the 2003 Inner London Teenage Poetry SLAM were:
Archbishop Michael Ramsay Technology College, Lambeth
Charles Edward Brooke School, Lambeth
Hackney Free and Parochial School, Hackney
Haggerston School, Hackney
Kingsdale School, Southwark
Kingsland School, Hackney
Oval House Team, Lambeth
Stoke Newington School, Hackney

Lynk Reach worked with Peter Kahn, who pioneered this work in Chicago, where he has taught English for the past seven years. He was the lead teacher and Artistic Director for the project. We welcome Jacob Sam-La Rose, who was the Assistant Artistic Director and one of the poet coaches in this year's SLAM. SLAM 2004 promises to be another exciting poetry event aimed at teenagers, but with a broader spectrum of schools involved. We have had interest from other London Boroughs, as well as Milton Keynes, to be a part of the future of this exciting project.

The American National Teen SLAM Team from Chicago visited London from 11-18 June 2003 as part of an exchange to perform at schools and participate in the Poetry Society’s Respect SLAM and the final SLAM event.

The 2003 Inner London Teenage Poetry SLAM, was funded by the Arts Council, Learning Trust Hackney, Lynk Ray, Hackney Local Network Fund, Lambeth Endowed Charities, Creative Partnerships, Southwark Council, Oval House Theatre and Renaisi.

The publication from the 2003 SLAM, Where I'm From, Where I'm Going, which consists of the poems and a CD of the finals, was submitted for the Arts Council Raymonde William Publishing Prize and was awarded the runner- up prize at a presentation ceremony in Birmingham on June the 30th, 2004.

Congratulations to all the schools and poet-coaches who contributed. The educational trip to Chicago by the Highest Scoring Team, Charles Edward Brook School, was a resounding success. This resulted in the publication of their journal, Southside Voices.

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‘Wow what a day! This year’s first Inner London Teenager Poetry SLAM was positively electric. All participants presented peak performances, voicing their exceptionally rehearsed rhythmic poetry to an excited audience rushing on adrenalin. The 2003 trophy went to Charles Edward Brooke, Lambeth. “We thought our performance was good – but not as good as some of the other SLAM teams so it’s like ra…!” said team member Clara Bakosi.

“I’m overwhelmed”, breathed the team’s poet coach Malika Booker, “I can’t believe we won!
I’m elated, absolutely delighted”, agreed Jennifer Watson, the school’s Teacher Liaison. The girls were extremely excited about their trip to Chicago in October. Lynk Reach will keep you up to date with reports on their stay so watch this space. As of next year, SLAM will be named The Len Garrison Poetry SLAM 2004 in memory of Garrison’s profound contribution to creating a more multicultural Britain and particularly in inspiring young people to write their own history.’

Nadia Gilani
June 2003

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•  To raise achievement of a diverse range of pupils by increasing students writing, revising, editing and performance skills and participation in out of school activities.

•  To raise SATS and GCSE test scores and national standards by connecting to Slam Scoring/Rubric.

•  To improve teachers’ ability to integrate poetry into the curriculum in an engaging way.

•  To enable students to become a part of a poetry community.

•  To provide poets with teaching experience and opportunities to collaborate with other artists.

•  To enable all participants to interact with other students, teachers and poets from around London and the United States

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•  Training led by Jacob Sam la Rose on teaching, writing and performing Spoken Word Poetry for established and up-and-coming poet coaches in January/February 2004.

•  An INSET session at a central location led by Jacob Sam la Rose in February 2004 for teacher-liaisons from participating schools on “Integrating Poetry Throughout the Curriculum”. The sessions also train teachers how to run classroom SLAMs.

•  Four day residencies with two Year 10/Sixth Form classes in each school led by poet coaches. Sessions cover original student writing and performance. The Teacher-Liaisons in each school hold classroom SLAMs to determine the school team of five in April/May 2004.

•  After-school ‘coaching’ sessions held for each team covering writing individual and team pieces; constructive criticism from peers and coach and performance topics/rehearsing in April and May 2004.

•  A Community Gathering with all involved, held at Oval House Theatre on Saturday 22nd May 2004 to build a sense of community and mutual support to counter the competitive nature of a SLAM.

•  Nine teams participate in the final SLAM event took place on Saturday 26th June 2004 at Bloomsbury Theatre and included three guest judges: Zena Edwards, Peter Kahn, John Siddique, and a moderator, Jawal Taylor. The performances consisted of two theme-based rounds for each team.

• Poet Coach workshops are supported by Assistant Poets trained by Selinah Jeremiah.

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