Poetic Notions: Georgia's Intercollegiate Poetry Slam


Poetry and performance came together as Art as An Agent for Change held its first, Poetic Notions: Georgia’s Intercollegiate Poetry Slam, an event meant to bring together poets from colleges all over the state of Georgia. The event covered two nights and featured a youth and collegiate poetry slam. The Youth Poetry Slam was held on April 18, and Shaniece Mason of Milledgeville slammed the competition, winning the $100 prize and A.A.C.’s coveted Youth Poet of the Year award.
















Shaniece Mason (A..A.C. Youth Poet of the Year)

Kiera "Miss Haze" Nelson (A.A.C. Poet of the Year)

Poetic Notions was held on April 19, and Kiera Nelson, a sophomore at Georgia State University, took away the grand prize of $200 with her poem, “Slam School.” Here, A.A.C. talks to Kiera about her big win.

A.A.C.: How did you come up with the idea for your poem?

Kiera: because I’ve been to so many poetry slams, and I heard a lot of the same types [of] poems. I said, ‘it’s kind of like school; in every school you have the same types of people, so I kind of just spun them together.

A.A.C: Had you been in other poetry contests?

Kiera: Yeah, a lot of them. That’s what I do-slam.

A.A.C.: Did you think you would win.

Kiera: No, not really. I didn’t know what to expect because I’d never been to Milledgeville before.

A.A.C.: What was going through your head when you were announced the winner.

Kiera: To be honest I thought, ‘Well I’m going to the mall tomorrow!” [laughs]

A.A.C.: How long have you been writing and performing poetry?

Kiera: I’ve been writing for eight years; I’ve been performing for five.

A.A.C.: Have you won any other contests?

Kiera: Yeah, I won V 103 poetry slam and a lot of other local poetry slams.

A.A.C.: Do you have any advice for aspiring performance poets?

Kiera: Just know your audience and know your competition because once you know what kind of audience you have, you’ll know what kind of poetry [to write]. You kind of write stuff that’s different but that people still like.

Art as Agent for Change plans to keep Poetic Notions in Milledgeville in 2009 and is hoping to make the event larger for the coming year.

A.A.C. Youth Poetry Slam 2008 Award Recipients

A.A.C. Youth Poet of the Year: Shaniece Mason (Baldwin County High School)

Runner up: Danielle Edwards (GCSU’s Early College Program)

Honorable Mention: Raven Hill (Carrera High Achievers Program)

Poetic Notions 2008 Award Recipients

A.A.C. Poet of the Year: Keira Nelson (Georgia State University)

Runner-up: Nadirah Ross (GCSU Alumni)

Honorable Mention: Genae Carter (Georgia Military College, Millegeville Campus)