A poetry slam for teens

Any aspiring Emily Dickensons or Shakespeares, those with an affinity for poetry or even just teens proud of where they're from - all of the above, as long as they were between the ages 14-19 or 9th-12 grade, were invited to submit a poem by February 15.
    After weeding through submissions, the top 15 poems and the poet behind them was promised the opportunity to perform at the minor league poetry slam. On February 20, at the local Milepost 111, the teens would brave the crowd and perform their poems to an audience and judges.
    "I think it will really boost the teens self esteem and confidence," said Lisa Lawless, Cashmere librarian who was a major coordinator of the event.
    The junior poetry slam was organized by the Cashmere Public Library and the Cashmere High School English teachers, particularly English teacher, Karen Gemeinhart. Lawless said the idea stemmed from a training through North Central Regional Library. The library already had a relationship previously formed with the Cashmere High School English department through events like the library card drives, so the two entities to partnered up to put together the poetry slam.
    "It was all about outreach and working with the community more," said Lawless.
    The theme to drive the narration of everyone's poems is "Where I'm From" and each teen will use creative liberty to spin the poem - not just around their home base, Cashmere, but rather what piece of their background, home or lifestyle makes them who they are.
    "I felt like it was a theme everyone could relate to. This doesn't necessarily mean a poem about Cashmere - it could be a poem about the last person in the lunch line," explained Lawless. "For me, I'd say I'm from Apple Jack pancakes with peanut butter on top because that's something I grew up with. It's more so your background, a certain part of your life - what you consider part of you as a person."
    Each of the four talented poets who win will be given prizes that were locally donated by  and one top poet will receive $100 for this work. The Friends of the Cashmere Library are also contributing the grand prize - which the audience will be voting on. The other poets who will receive the prizes will be selected by a panel of five judges.
    "The audience gets to vote and then their top pick, they'll get to write a little positive note to the top person they pick, so that'll be positive feedback for them," said Lawless.
    Lawless chose the judges randomly from the community based on their personal interest in poetry, a compatible background and of course, individuals that would be non-biased.
    "The teenagers who make it for the final cut, because we're doing fifteen, they have a very good chance of coming home with some prizes," said Lawless. "There are quite a few very nice donations from businesses in town and also Friends of the Library are doing the grand prize."
    The prizes donated vary from two weeks unlimited at local yoga hotspot, Mission Movement and the often frequented, Crossfit on Sunset Highway to gift certificates to local eateries like Weeds Cafe, Brian's Pizza and Bowling and milkshakes from Doane's Valley Pharmacy. Jerry's Auto Supply, Salt Creek Apothecary and Milepost 111 also donated prizes.  
    Beyond the prizes and the thrill of being in the spotlight, the teens will also take home the glory of being brave enough to express themselves in front of their community.
    "Poetry is a way to express yourself and the community, their parents, their peers are going to be there and so encouragement is happening," said Lawless. "I feel like Cashmere is a really awesome community because I see how they like to support each other."