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BUILD25: Spoken Word Poetry Contest at BUILD25

Learn more about BUILD25

We are excited to announce that we will hold a spoken word poetry contest, the winners of which will perform their piece during the BUILD25 opening plenary on December 2 in Los Angeles, CA. For more information about the conference, be sure to check the event page often.

We are looking for…

  • A spoken word piece not longer than five minutes which captures the essence of this moment in history.
  • Discussion, through the piece, of issues that intersect with the well-being of young children, such as immigration, the state of education, healthcare, mental health, etc.
  • Authentic and bold sentiments. We hope to create a safe space where you feel brave enough to express the thoughts that many people privately think or share in personal conversations. Please note: None of the pieces will be reproduced or published without the author’s consent.
  • And while this time is triggering for many, we encourage you to conclude all pieces with a hopeful outlook, a call to action, and/or an introspective question for the audience to take back to their daily lives. Simply put, you are being asked to represent the difficulty of this time with a balance of reality and a spirit of hopefulness.

What to know ahead of your submission:

  • Selected winners will perform their spoken word poetry during the opening plenary on Tuesday, December 2.
  • The BUILD Initiative is committed to selecting at least one submission from conference participants.
  • Any spoken word submission can be inspired by others but must be original and cannot contain segments of another author’s poetry, book, etc.
  • Compensation for each selected piece is $2,500.00.
  • Winners will be selected by November 17, 2025.
  • The BUILD Initiative reserves the right to edit as well as provide feedback and delivery coaching for the selected piece.

To participate, please follow these steps:

  • Complete this form by October 31. Submit both the written piece and a video recording of you/your group performing the piece.
  • Acknowledge that the piece submitted is original work. If others inspired the piece, please share by whom or what piece.

An external committee will evaluate all submissions to ensure the integrity of the process. Contest winners will be chosen based on:

  • Originality
  • Alignment to theme: Heart of the Matter
  • Authenticity of voice primarily but attention to tonality and delivery of the piece as well
  • Impact of closing

Questions? Email us at Info@BUILDInitiative.org.