Today's Feature: Lyrikal Storm

4/29/2013

National Poetry Month Celebration

Lyrikal Storm is a performance based spoken word/poetry group headquartered in Riverdale Maryland. Award winning teacher and Poet Neville Adams galvanizes students to serve as youth activists and champion humanity via the spoken word. Lyrikal Storm started out with just ten students and in eleven years has blossomed into the largest and most prolific teen poetry group in the Washington Metropolitan area. In 2011, the group was blessed to have Clint Smith, who ranks fifth in the world as a slam champion, coach and mentor students in slam poetry.

The primary objective of Lyrikal Storm is to hone poetry writing and spoken word skills through workshops, participation in poetry readings, and competition. Five core principals guide Lyrikal Storm: (1) Knowledge is essential. (2) Community/global awareness and involvement is a civic duty. (3) Strive for sophistication, mediocrity is not an option. (4) Critical thinking and speaking is key to mobility. (5) Once a member, always a member. Currently, Lyrikal Storm is scheduled to perform at the Remembrance Foundation Harlem Renaissance Festival and compete in two slam festivals: Louder Than A Bomb DMV and Brave New Voices.

Press:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/31/AR2007013101088_2.html

http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/011008/hyatnew180601_32358.shtml

http://ww2.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2004/200452/laurel/news/251974-1.html

http://ltabdmv.tumblr.com/

Connect:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyrikalStorm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyrikalstorm?fref=ts

49 Comments

Kristin Gibbs link

4/29/2013 04:56:45 pm

LyricalStorm is exactly the type of performance group needed to inspire young people today. My daughter, a freshman in high school, stumbled into "Poetry Outloud" by accident and ended up winning her high school poetry contest, the regional contest and performed very well in state competition as a freshman. If LyricalStorm can continue to inspire and give a forum for our youth to enjoy poetry, I support them 100%

Yvonne Brown

4/29/2013 10:51:24 pm

Thanks for your support Kristen and Congrats to your daughter! Best wishes to you both!

Kieran link

4/29/2013 06:02:46 pm

I'm always asking my children to find an interest, find something that you can enjoy and carry with you through life. I would love to find something similar to Lyrikal Storm here in Ireland. My daughter would love it.

4/29/2013 10:52:45 pm

Thanks for your support Kieran! Maybe your daughter can spear head the first ever poetry group in your area in Ireland? That would be fantastic!!!

Rob link

4/29/2013 10:29:29 pm

I really like how he interacts with the kids in the video... he inspires them!

4/29/2013 10:55:59 pm

Mr. Adams has a natural gift at bringing out the best in his students and it means a lot that this comes through in the video for you. Thank you for your support Rob!

Tina link

4/30/2013 12:14:11 am

OH, another one!!! When I saw your post this morning I was SO EXCITED to read another poem! Thanks so much! Each one is an inspiration to me.

Tiffany Hampton link

4/30/2013 12:27:08 am

That was dope! Those kids are amazing talents :)

Loretta

4/30/2013 01:02:18 am

When my son was a little boy, he loved Rap. I wish he would have had a group like this! Now that he has 4 boys of his own in Indiana, he could start a group like this! Thanks for the inspiration!

Alexandra McAllister link

4/30/2013 01:06:01 am

Such a beautiful and inspiring video. Love the way he interacts with the children. Thanks so much for sharing, Yvonne.

denny hagel link

4/30/2013 01:21:46 am

What a wonderful opportunity for our young people to create and share what they are passionate about! High Five to all involved!

Meli link

4/30/2013 01:39:22 am

What a great concept and inspiration for others, not only teens! I love the name of the group.

Carla J Gardiner link

4/30/2013 02:41:07 am

It's exciting to see there are still teachers out there looking out for the well-being of our future generation. Good job to both supporters, teachers and students.

Fred link

4/30/2013 03:24:16 am

Great opportunity!

Felecia Armstrong

4/30/2013 03:37:18 am

This is beautiful what they are doing if we could get more adults and children to interact in a positive manner it could change a lot of young lives. Great work!!!!!!

Veronica

4/30/2013 04:01:56 am

A teacher that takes interest in the development of students....so great!

Tom Holmberg link

4/30/2013 06:16:07 am

What a great movement! These are the types of programs that inspire the future leaders of our country. Congrats to the students and adults for enabling them to inspire themselves.

Paradox link

4/30/2013 07:02:16 am

Love the works, insightful and creative. Peace love and prosperity to you all.

Dov Shapira link

4/30/2013 07:29:46 am

It is awesome to expose kids to all type of art.
Thank you.

Meryl Hershey Beck link

4/30/2013 09:04:56 am

Sounds like a wonderful program for the children. Thanks for sharing!

Robin

4/30/2013 09:22:03 am

What a fabulous group :) Thanks for sharing.

Kayla Whetzel

4/30/2013 11:28:37 am

As a student at Parkdale High School, I always enjoyed hearing Lyrical Storm perform. It's amazing to hear what some of friends have to say and what they can write. It is truly an inspiration to me to continue writing poems.

Heather Petersen

4/30/2013 12:14:56 pm

Those kids have amazing talent! Thanks for sharing!

Bradley Finnearty link

4/30/2013 12:42:46 pm

Sir Ken Robinson in a 2006 Ten Conference speech talked about how schools are killing our kids creativity, and how the old "industrial model" of education has to change. What is being done here works well with encouraging that creativity and allowing the child or youth to grow and find their future. I like it.

Jazmine A.

4/30/2013 12:58:10 pm

Seeing my peers participate in lyrikal storm makes poetry more relatable to me since i can sympathize with what they are writing about

Maria Fontaine link

4/30/2013 02:49:04 pm

I always placed my kids in all sorts of arts media, singing, dance, music, etc. and hope to peek their interest, it did my youngest son is now a pro musician and has been up for 3 Grammy's, hasn't won yet!!

Julie Wilson link

4/30/2013 02:54:48 pm

poetry is such an influence on young people. They get lost in reading it and writing it. Thanks for sharing

Todd link

4/30/2013 03:43:14 pm

Great job to give kids an outlet of expression..

elijah estes

4/30/2013 10:59:36 pm

The seriousness and dedication in there voice is inspiring

Explode Your Biz Online @NormaDoiron.NET link

4/30/2013 11:24:49 pm

Another great peak into your world Yvonne !
Very Inspiring !!
Thanks :)

anita link

4/30/2013 11:38:01 pm

My daughter and I love poetry. I have tried to get my sons to read as well but they prefer other non fiction.

JasmineBW

5/1/2013 10:31:53 am

Lyrikal Storm artists strike their magic once again!

Lovely Ruth R.

5/1/2013 10:42:00 am

Lyrikal Storm poets in general:

I would say that overall, they are the ones that should be supported for. They are young. There's more in the future they can grasp. They are young. There's more in their voice that society should listen to. The cries of our generation should be upheld as very significant, especially these young poets. They are the ones that stood up for the pains of our current generation. I acknowledge them a lot; since I am a person in the same generation.
Michelle Mutisya - I love how she described herself in such a unique way. Her poem, despite its shortness, tells a lot about her social status, emotions, identity, what she thinks of herself, and especially her personal history.

Francisco S

5/1/2013 01:32:57 pm

It's great that Lyrikal Storm is a part of my school. It inspires young people to really express themselves through poetry. The words they speak are wonderful.

Dawn Lanier link

5/1/2013 09:43:25 pm

Wow - how inspiring! This is such a worthy cause and wonderful to see in motion. Our kids need more outlets like this. Thanks for sharing.

Carele Belanger link

5/2/2013 03:40:28 am

Always great to hear these teens' poetry! thank you

5/2/2013 06:21:59 am

This is something dear to my heart. The age group I love to work with and have been for nearly 10 years. Creative expression my humble tools for building relationships. May the all continue to protect our youth and the people like ourselves who continue to initiate them into adulthood in a safe, creative and expressive way. 'If you really knew me' you would know that I feel every effort we make with our youth is a deposit into the pension of the planet we will inhabit, for they will be the adults to our second childhood. Namaste

Daniele Holmberg link

5/2/2013 07:24:11 am

Lyrikal Storm sounds like such an awesome program! Thank you so much for sharing! :)

Delia @ Blog Formatting link

5/2/2013 11:40:48 am

Isn't is great when our young people can share and be proud of what they are passionate about! Bravo to them and thanks for sharing!

Cristian alvarado

5/2/2013 02:12:08 pm

I like the fact that they make poetry sound so interesting and put so much energy into it

Thomas Velez

5/2/2013 11:02:27 pm

I know how it feels to be bullied and also know how it feels to want to end it all. Its the people who are to persever that have have my respect. CC i dont know you but ive heard about you and to speak about your experence know or not gives others power

James Long

5/3/2013 10:06:37 pm

I like how lyrikal storm is making these peers easier to express themselves. Letting everyone know from their experiences and i know that's hard. So, all my respect and support goes out to my peers!

Danielle

5/5/2013 01:02:14 am

Mr.Adams - Im horned to have had you a teacher for two years. You are an AMAZING teacher and role model.
Lyrical Storm - is young talent group of children letting there voices he heard. Lyrical Storm is inspiries young children in the DMV to be more involved in poerty. They make another teens stop and listen to there stories we can relate to.

Lois A. Ntow

5/5/2013 08:59:45 am

I am a very a proud student of Parkdale High School. I really proud of my peers and the teachers who are inspiring them to express themselves by poetry writing.A special shout out to Mr. Adams and Mr. Clinton Smith.

Vaskia B.

5/5/2013 01:21:08 pm

It is wonderfull how one can interact and inspire others. They express themselves using words, but not just any words, the words that become alive and real as it is spoken. Sharing these words that others can relate to and even undertsand.

Carl Mason-Liebenberg link

5/6/2013 08:26:03 pm

Great program! thank you for sharing with us!!

Evan Flores link

5/10/2013 08:20:27 am

Lyrikal Storm is just a testimony of how teens across this country can have such powerful words. See poems are just more than just words being put together to entertain. Lyrikal Storm proves that no matter how old you are or how young you are , your voice can be heard and when your heard your word becomes power. This poems are real life situations that many teens are age can relate to, if people would take the time out and listen to the real stories rather than that junk that these entertainers try to portray.

Belleh A.

5/14/2013 12:20:19 am

Its wonderful seeing my fellow peers out and performing. It'v very inspiring to see them out there expressing their selves.

Jessica N.

5/16/2013 12:11:50 pm

Lyrikal Storm is what led me to discovering my passion for writing! All writers have untold stories, obstacles. Behind everyone who smiles after the applause from their audience after performing a sentimental piece, is a recollection of painful memories, or observations of injustice. With each performance, there is peace, there is a step towards our own peaceful justice. All writers develop their writing style; some find rhyme schemes as easy as pie, others use metaphors, to convey underlying themes of societal practices. Who would've though to use Social Security like that! I honestly admire Mr. Adam's work with our youth and I couldn't be anymore greatful for Lyrikal Storm, not only for my growth as a person and writer, but for the performers I see here and have heard in previous year. Much luck to all Lyrikal Storm, past and future generations!