Laurie and her team are amazing! It was very easy to book a presentation with her resident professional and student poets. At the poetry recital, the poets address real-world issues facing teens today. Also, the audience is encouraged to participate. Afterwards, when my students submit an evaluation of the event, they unilaterally write that they did not know that poetry could be so meaningful and emotive. Get Lit.- Words Ignite! is a wonderful program!
Get Lit is an excellent resource to support students with using their voice through poetry. It helps to develop strong leaders as well as future advocates for change.
I bring a team of students to compete in Get Lit’s Classic Slam every year. The staff are always friendly and helpful, even as they are dealing with 100s of nervous and excited kids. The program they put out is incredibly instructive for students, introducing them to poetry on a variety of levels. They just get kids interested in writing and poetry in a way regular school does not always. I have had several students attend their Saturday workshops and they have grown immensely from these. The skill and care Get Lit staff at all levels provides is irreplaceable.
I am a high school Language Arts teacher in the Los Angeles area. While California has many programs to promote student skills and well-being, I feel that the most effective program is Get Lit Words Ignite. Originally a literacy support initiative, Get Lit Words Ignite expanded their offerings to meet the needs of the communities that they serve. I'm proud to say that I've participated in the spoken-word Classic Slam for over ten years. Each year, Get Lit impresses my students with their enthusiastic support of local youth artists. More importantly, so many of my students have found their future pathway from their connection with Get Lit. I am not exaggerating when I say that this little non-profit, filled with big hearts, is a life saving program.
HANDS DOWN THE BEST YOUTH ORGANIZATION ON THE ENTIRE WEST COAST! There's nothing in the world like Get Lit! It is an honor and privilege to have access to this non-profit in any capacity - whether a student, volunteer, or teacher, the work of Get Lit just transforms you. 10/10
Get Lit is doing transformative work in schools - like their slogan "Words Ignite" says, their programs ignite enthusiasm in both students and teachers. As an ELA teacher, I have attended two of their Poetic Convergence events, and both were enlightening, inspiring and empowering. After watching performances by students who have gone through the program, it became clear to me that this program has the ability to change lives. This year, Get Lit will be bringing that power to the school where I teach, and I am thrilled that my students will have this opportunity.
The ways in which Get Lit taps into the abundant creative networks within Los Angeles to mentor and empower our youth is impressive to me. I've been to about five of their events and every one of them, I've seen not only students empowered, but also educators inspired by the work that GetLit has produced to continue thinking of creative ways to make learning authentically relevant for our students.
I have been able to work with Get Lit Words Ignite for almost 3 years at my school sites. The programs they implement with students is absolutely amazing! Students are highly engaged, love to attend the weekly sessions we plan and enjoy learning and writing about poetry. Students also love the artists that Get Lit provides. They can connect with the students and make it an enjoyable experience! I have also recommended this program to other friends and colleagues as well. And the final Blitz performance is also amazing! My schools love watching the performances!! Everyone I have met within the organization is very welcoming and passionate about what the do. I have also enjoyed Get Lit personally by attending events outside of school to watch artists perform and showcase the art of poetry and spoken word.
As a poetry teacher, Get Lit Words Ignite revolutionized the way I teach and view poetry. Before using this program, I often found it challenging to make poetry feel accessible and exciting for my students. Get Lit breathed new life into my classroom. By blending classic poetry with spoken word, this program made poetry come alive in a way that is dynamic, interactive, and deeply personal for my students.
One of the most powerful aspects of Get Lit is its ability to bridge the gap between traditional literature and modern expression. Students connect with classic poems on a deeper level because they are encouraged to write their own responses through the lens of their own experiences. For many, this program has sparked a newfound appreciation for poetry as a form of self-expression, rather than something abstract and distant.
The performance aspect is another game changer. Seeing my students perform their poems has been an inspiring experience — the confidence and passion they bring to their words is remarkable. This program has not only helped them hone their writing skills but also find their voices in a way that feels both empowering and meaningful. For many years my school has sent a team to the Get Lit Classic Slam competition, and brought our students as spectators. Watching their peers perform and seeing students from other schools interpret poems from the same anthology they used in class was yet another incredible way for them to experience poetry and spoken word. The energy in the room was electrifying, and the exposure to so many different voices, styles, and interpretations added even more layers of depth to how my students understand and appreciate poetry.
My daughter participated in the Get Lit program for four years, in high school. It was transformational. She grew so much - it improved her academics but she also grew as a person. She found her voice and an incredible outlet to express herself creatively. So much so, that she is majoring in Creative Writing at a top college on the East Coast. I have watched so many of her peers and other young people find their voice by participating in Get Lit. This program gives young people a sense of agency. It provides them with a powerful mechanism to turn their challenges into beautify art that impacts others. I am attaching a video of my daughter performing at the finals of the Get Lit Classic Slam this past year.
As a school system superintendent, I deeply value GetLit Words Ignite programs. They engage my students deeply, personally and academically. My students learned to write well and use their voices for good. My students want to come to school specifically to participate in Spoken Word. A total game changer!
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As a school system superintendent, I deeply value GetLit Words Ignite programs. They engage my students deeply, personally and academically. My students learned to write well and use their voices for good. My students want to come to school specifically to participate in Spoken Word. A total game changer!
I joined Get Lit when I was 16 years old, and it completely changed the trajectory of my life. Before becoming a Get Lit Player, I used to write poetry, but I never shared it with others. I was so terrified of someone finding my journals and reading, what I felt to be, the most sacred parts of myself. Diane helped me develop confidence not only in my voice, but in myself, and showed me that this self is something worthy of sharing; that this self is worthy of being heard.
When I was 17, a few of the Get Lit Players traveled to NYC with Diane. Coming from South Central Los Angeles, this trip really opened my eyes and showed me there was a whole world out there waiting to be explored. & poetry was my ticket into this new world. I decided to apply for colleges in the city that never sleeps. I got accepted into the college of my choice, where I studied poetry, creative writing, and cinema studies. And while I rarely slept, I always dreamed.
Because of the confidence I gained at Get Lit, I became someone bravely shared my voice. When I was offered the opportunity to become a teaching artist, I jumped at the chance to share the gift of poetry with students all across California.
I am so grateful for the ways in which Get Lit has transformed my life, and it fills me with great joy to see the impact that poetry and the arts have had on my students.
Now, as a supporter of Get Lit, I get to witness how Diane’s vision consistently opens doors for young creators. We are all changed because of her passion.
I have been involved with Get Lit for well over a decade, first as a volunteer and then as a member of the Advisory Board. Having had the opportunity to work closely with the leadership team, and to observe first hand the impact of the work on a generation of students, I am constantly amazed by the creativity and innovative thinking that drive this organization. As a former studio and nonprofit executive, I have had the opportunity to contribute my expertise to various Get Lit projects over the years - from Gala event production and fundraising to the launching of new program initiatives, and have been pleased to see the organization continue to evolve, always in service of its core mission.
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I met Diane Luby Lane, the founder of Get Lit, when we were fellows in a leadership development program through the Southern California Leadership Network - a program of the L.A. Chamber of Commerce. I was captivated by the vision of Get Lit and profoundly impressed by Diane's commitment to excellence, her willingness to challenge herself and her openness to change as a nonprofit leader, which led me initially to volunteer and donate and finally to join her Advisory Board, where I have been proud to serve for a number of years. The mission of Get Lit - to increase literacy amongst high school students through an innovative spoken word and performance poetry program produces such extraordinary effects that it really has to be experienced to be fully understood and appreciated. I've had the immense pleasure of watching young students ( struggling with issues of race, gender, immigration status, poverty and homelessness) evolve into young adult leaders in the community and in many cases, launch artistic careers of their own. What I love most about the organization is its capacity to see beyond the current programs it offers and to continually evolve to meet the needs of the young people it serves. The establishment of the annual Classic Slam, the publication of "Get Lit Rising," the feature film production "Summertime" and the release of its first spoken word album "6 Feat," have all been the result of vibrant public/private/philanthropic investment and partnerships, which speaks to a capacity for collaboration which is key to the growth and endurance of a nonprofit. I can promise that anyone who becomes involved in supporting Get Lit will gain far more from the experience than they can ever give.
I worked as a summer intern at Get Lit and had a wonderful time. The organization's mission is to empower people, especially youth, through spoken word poetry and workforce development, so I had the opportunity to help them create and run free programming for LA-based young adults. It's a very arts-driven and passion-driven organization, so I recommend checking it out!
Get Lit has always been an extension of love, light, support, encouragement and authenticity to the lives of the next generation of artists and creatives. As the newest board member, to witness the efforts of the mission FIRST hand and to be apart of the movement that this organization has created has been an honor. It’s not just the success but the testimonies that these children and their families share that is living proof of Get Lit’s purpose and passion— to give back through education and authenticity!
I was introduced to Get Lit Words Ignite in 2017 when I interviewed two Get Lit poets on my podcast. Their wisdom and creativity touched me so deeply. I left changed and knew I wanted to engage further with the young poets and the incredible organization that was offering brave, connected and encouraging programs for learning and expression to youth all over Los Angeles. Since then, I have been a donor and Board Member (2018-2021), which has offered the opportunity to champion the brilliant and needed work that Get Lit Words Ignite does for young people here in Los Angeles and now globally online (during and post-COVID). Get Lit Words Ignite provides a much needed safe and warm landing pad for teenagers and young adults to find their voice, work through personal and collective trauma, and build ongoing community. Their impact is notable and the evident growth and improved well-being of the people they touch speaks volumes to their care and expertise in this field. Get Lit Words Ignite has been a trailblazer in supporting artistic expression, remembering and expansion amongst the individuals and communities they serve. It has been my honor to support and serve their mission for the last 6 years.
The genuine care, love, and passion that the Get Lit team pours into the youth they work with is made abundantly clear through the art the youth produce. I have remained in awe of the Get Lit program for 3 years now and continue to be blown away by the impact of this organization. The young people who participate in Get Lit's programs make me so excited for the future leaders of this world. Get Lit is, to put it simply, changing the world through poetry!
This is my twelfth year partnering with GetLit and what I am most inspired by is the personal and professional growth it offers for students. There are weekend classes and open mics and trips to Washington DC and New York. There are leadership opportunities and performance opportunities and work experience. All of this provides space for kids to realize that their voices matter. GetLit brings unique value to the promotion of literacy. Classrooms all over the county, the state, the country and now the world can play with classic and original poetry! With UNI(VERSE) young poets have the ability to share their work with anyone out there and get vital feedback on the effect their writing choices have on diverse audiences. This kind of relationship between writer and audience is rare and, for younger writers, it is invaluable in learning about what works in the work.
This year I had a guest teacher from GetLit visit my classes. He happened to be my student 14 years ago. He is the best example of the transformative power of GetLit. They take a young person who has already been shaped by negative circumstances and they give him a pen and a microphone and the result is pure light. Then we all see everything more clearly.
For most of my life I've taught English language arts to student of low socioeconomic status. Always seeking ways in which to engage my students in the power and value of language, I stumbled upon Get Lit - Words Ignite in 2012, and I've been a disciple ever since. I have watched this non-profit grow from its humble beginnings to the internationally acclaimed powerhouse that it is today. The Get Lit team has grown in personnel and services tenfold over the years, igniting passions and sparking performances in schools in the Los Angeles area, and indeed in classrooms around the world. The art of expression, with a deep foundation in learning from the world's literary giants, has transformed lives in ways far beyond I what I could have ever imagined. In my forty years as an educator, I have never worked with such a welcoming, passionate, artistic and focused organization that empowers teachers to convince learners of the power of words and help them to achieve successes in the language arts--as Get Lit!
I write this review as a former Get Lit Player whose involvement in Get Lit brought me closer to several dreams and opportunities. Get Lit supported me throughout high school and beyond, providing professional development opportunities and an expansive community of radiant creatives. My extracurricular work with Get Lit shaped my college applications and resumes, equipping me with the tools I needed to excel in post-grad life.
Get Lit Words Ignite is such a necessary organization for youth in this world. Their dynamic curriculum both transforms and saves lives. Students are introduced to a wide range of both classic and contemporary poets and are guided on a journey that allows them to connect with poems on a deeply personal level by engaging students in the writing process as well as helping them hone their performance abilities. The result is a forever-changed young person who has discovered the power of their voice as well as the power of poetry. Get Lit not only increases literacy rates through poetry, but the organization also empowers youth by igniting their ability to express themselves, ushering students into a tightly-knit group of creatives, and affording them once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to maximize their artistic and creative potential.
Get Lit has been a wonderful gateway into the arts and emphasized the importance of arts education to me. I've been both a student of the Get Lit model and later had the privilege of teaching it to students in summer school. The wonderful people of Get Lit are what bring this organization to spectacular places and make it feel like a secure community. I never thought a future in performing arts or writing could be in my future, but Get Lit has changed that perspective. It has provided resources to so many students that would not have had them otherwise.
Get Lit Words Ignite does extraordinary work for young people, but I have to speak about their work for all the teachers out there. I have rarely experienced such engaging, inspiring, transformative professional development as that which is offered by the Get Lit luminaries. They have helped me center student voice and choice, creativity, deep literary analysis and--most importantly--JOY in my classroom, far beyond the spoken word unit and poetry slam season. They have helped me make my work with students so much more enriching and rewarding with their brilliant approach to language arts. I cannot sing their praises enough. I wish every language arts teacher could experience one of their teacher workshops and bring this work back to their classrooms for their students and themselves.
Get Lit has had a steady growth trajectory since I've known them for the past 8 years. They have been able to reach more students every year that are especially in need of an academic program that not only teaches them vital skills in self-refelction but in articulating how they feel to the exernal world. Get Lit has found an amazing intersection where education, engagement of youth, therapy, and community building can happen at the same time. In a world where youth are often ill-equipped in the skill of communication and where traditional education is leaving many kids behind, Get Lit has been able to shine the light on students who haven't found the right vehicle to teach them critical reading and giving them a voice and equipping them with skills that they carry on to their adult life. Get Lit's recent growth has been to adapt their curriculum to the tech-leading world we live in. This is allowing for a global outreach to help students that aren't just local. At the same time, they have been able to be a cohort to the LAUSD system to adapt their approach to poetry that will expand that platform to educate students in Ethnic Studies. Their film and music departments are quickly becoming a natural expansion of their multi-media curriculum allowing more kids to get involved in the Get Lit community and also give the student poets to work on multiple skills. The founder, Diane Luby, and her Get Lit team fiercely guards and honors the space between teachers and the student. The magic of the mentoring and nurturing that the teachers administer while teaching the Get Lit cuuriculum and coaching the poetry teams is pivotal for many students, during the developmental years. Living in a world where many are feeling unheard, unseen, and alienated, Get Lit is providing a safe space and a platform for kids to connect, learn and shine.
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Get Lit Words Ignite is a poetry education program that has touched the lives of thousands of youth poets that have either gone through their program or witnessed the youth poets' performances. As a Board Member, I've seen Get Lit grow from a grass-roots organization that survived on the passion of the founder, a handful of poets and volunteers. Now, just over a decade old, Get Lit has become a multi-faceted platform that is enabling poetry to be a vehicle for these young students' talents to lead to roles in: leadership, education, arts, activism, entertainment, music, brand building, and fashion. They are paving the way and enlightening the art and education world that poetry can not be contained in some dusty books or a small theater. The Get Lit poets are performing all around the world from their local schools, Lincoln Center, the UN, to the White House.
Through this program, lives are being changed. Students are encouraged and given the tools to find their "voice", build self-confidence, while honing their writing and critical thinking skills. With the support of their community of peers, teachers, and the Get Lit executive team, these kids realize they are not alone in their journey.
Unlike many kids in high-school that are under anxiety or burn-out from competing to get to a goal that they don't understand or believe in. These poets have inspired me with their talent, focus, and commitment to their craft. They are motivated by the sheer joy that comes from their art.
The relationships that I've had with the Founder and Executive Director- Diane, the executive team, and fellow board members are based on the shared tenets: passion for poetry, believing in the power of the arts to better peoples' lives, and commitment for creating opportunity for these kids.
Get Lit has a way of embracing you- making you feel like all of us have something to contribute and that each of our gifts are valuable. I feel lucky and honored to be a part of their community.
Get Lit is an organization whose name reflects its purpose--to light a fire under the youthful citizens in our communities; to give them venues and support in finding and sharing their voices. I had the amazing experience of being one of the judges for a Get Lit Classic Slam and came away from the event inspired, hopeful and grateful these young voices are getting the guidance they need! Brava, GETLIT!
My experience as a GLP in the past two years has the most incredible thing I have been apart of. The way Get Lit Players has allowed me the space, love, and support to grow within my craft with a community that believes in me more than I do myself is invaluable. GLP is the reason why I can confidently call myself a poet and why I continue to write in my lulls of inspiration—because I now see a tangible future as a successful writer. In June, I was titled the Los Angeles County Youth Poet Laureate, and Get Lit has supported me throughout my whole journey. I am BEYOND excited to continue my relationship with Get Lit.
I came to Get Lit as a judge for their annual Classic Slam many years ago, and I haven't looked back. The expression that they are able to inspire in young people is unmatched, the excitement at sharing vulnerability and emotions -- two taboos so many of us take a lifetime to overcome.
I went on to work as a Teaching Artist with Get Lit and help run educational programming during the pandemic, and I was amazed at how flexible and resilient the small team was. Everyone here is passionate about their work, and it creates a culture around it of love for art.
I still work with the organization on occasion, and know I and so many in our community have benefitted from the education and energy that Get Lit brings to the world.
I am a special education teacher at Cleveland Charter High School. My students have enjoyed the Get Lit club performances over the past 4 years I have taught at CHS. I am amazed by the creativity, honesty, and deep personal discovery and expressions that arise from students who participate. Last year Ma. Kurnick, the Get Lit teacher invited one of my special education students to join the club. She had heard her read her bio poem at a teacher’s professional development meeting. Ma. Kurnick was not deterred by the fact that one of her disabilities was memorizing and she struggles with reading. She said she loved her energy and she would be perfect. Get Lit has changed this young ladie’s life. The student was always angry and had a bad temper. Get lit allowed her to channel some of her anger and actually be a part of something bigger than her self. I have watched her grow and become self-confident. This self-confidence helped improve her grades and has helped her channel kindness. Miss Kurnick always make sure that she had shorter poems to memorize. I am so proud of this young lady and mesmerized by the spoken word that she shares. When one special education student has success it is good for all of my students. They believe that they are capable of overcoming fear and trying new things. Get Lit should be a part of the curriculum. Thank you so much for finding this incredible project.
Investing in and supporting Get Lit's work has been an invaluable experience. Their talent for unleashing youth creativity and uplifting the diverse voices is a testament to their curriculum, community, staff and vision. We have been equally inspired by their poets as we have been by their artistry and believe in the impact Get Lit is having on the next generation.
For the last seven years, I have coached a Get Lit team for my school and used Get Lit's resources in my classroom. Get Lit has allowed my students and me to grow immeasurably. The combination of a strong curriculum, an amazing amount of outreach and support, along with a true belief in the power of poetry to shine a light on social justice and the power of the individual, has made Get Lit absolutely essential in my work. What surprised me even more than my student's growth from Get Lit is my own personal growth.
It is difficult to tell which has a more significant impact on students; learning that their own story has just as much power and importance in the world as anything they read in a classroom, or reading poems that deeply reflect their wishes, dreams, and passions. With Get Lit's curriculum and amazing opportunities, they get both. Over the ten years that Get Lit has been a part of my teaching, (at a large Title One public high school in Los Angeles), I have seen students who hate writing even more than they hate school find themselves with poetry. Thank you Get Lit for helping a teacher to have a new career in the same classroom, and for helping our youth to find their own true voices.
A wonderful organization that has brought so much to my life and gave me opportunities beyond my wildest dreams. I became a part of Get Lit in high school, when I didn’t have as many opportunities to grow my creative voice. And through Get Lit, I found an artistic community so supportive and welcoming to me and I couldn’t be more grateful for all that Get Lit has done.
It's clear that GetLit is incredibly dedicated to serving the youth. They're constantly creating and adapting programs to meet students where they're at. Whether that's with no poetry experience or a natural aptitude for screenwriting, there's an opportunity for you at GetLit. Over the last three years, I've participated in their Saturday classes, the Emerging Writer's Fellowship, GetLit Players, and the annual Classic Slam, and I've loved every minute of it.
No matter your familiarity with the creative arts, I think everyone could use a bit of GetLit in their lives. The community is so uplifting and supportive-- it has given me hope, strength, and self-confidence in some of the most difficult periods of my life. Years before I ever encountered GetLit as a nonprofit, I watched Maia Mayor (a poet produced by GetLit) 's poem, 'Perfect', on YouTube. It made me feel seen, somehow less hopeless in my own circumstances. When I could barely process how I felt about situations, poetry let me borrow others' words to be able to understand. And with the support of GetLit, I've come to be able to write them.
Sitting in the community GetLit has created, whether in the classroom, over Zoom, or onstage, I've been able to connect with people on a profound level. It's made me believe again in the power of the arts and the power of my generation. It's difficult to put into words, how it feels to sit with other students and feel the power of their writing, and realize that they feel that way about me. I've laughed and cried with essential strangers, and it's really opened my eyes about the struggles that we all face. It's made me hopeful, to realize there is a way we can face them together.
Even though the focus with GetLit is not on mental health support, it is one of the most healthy and positive influences in my life. There are lots of programs that encourage students to write, but GetLit is unique because it offers our youth the tools and support to confront difficult emotions. It's helped me navigate my parent's divorce, an abusive relationship, Covid isolation, and my apathy resulting from our country's political situation. It's honestly a gut-wrenching experience, to write about some of the hardest emotions I've ever encountered, but I was really lucky to have amazing coaches who believed in me and genuinely wanted the best for me.
Everyone on the GetLit staff is amazing. They're creative, they're funny, they're professional, they're supportive. They're an incredible resource for people of any age. Having been involved with GetLit in several capacities, as both a student and an associate performer, I can say that all levels of GetLit admin are incredibly skilled in their roles and dedicated to the work that they do. I will forever be grateful to GetLit for introducing me to so many people I admire. When you walk into a room, there is something to learn from everyone, and often opportunities to do so. It's an incredibly valuable thing for a student in high school to experience.
I honestly can't recommend GetLit enough, because it's so much more than having kids read and write poetry. It encourages students to share their stories and creates a welcoming community for everyone. It inspires us to explore creativity in whatever avenue that excites us the most. It creates opportunities for kids of every background to learn and teach. It connects us to each other, it cultivates authenticity, public speaking skills, and professionalism. More than anything, GetLit has helped me rediscover my voice. I hadn't even realized that so much was missing.
From a student of the program to now teacher of the program, Get Lit undoubtedly has a positive impact on youth. I've had the privilege of working with this organization for over 10 years and within that timespan I've witnessed countless times the change it has made in classrooms across the country. The Get Lit Curriculum provides students with the tools to reengage with their education and regain control of their lives. I serve as an example of this miracle. I began high school hopeless and disinterested, earning less than a 2.0 GPA my sophomore year. I honestly didn't think I would get my high school diploma. That all changed once I joined Get Lit. The Get Lit Curriculum empowered me to share my voice and focus on my future. Because of Get Lit I've been able to perform at the White House, have my own play produced, and most importantly receive my high school diploma. I am forever grateful for what this organization has given me and it is a honor of mine to help give those same opportunities to today's youth.
It's been about 6/7 years now since I first connected with Diane and team... and I cannot express how blessed I feel to be able to have gotten to know and work with them all these years.
They are an incredible group and organization of awesome people that truly care about the cause, and making real and meaning impact on the kids and the community they serve!
They inspire me every time and I am grateful for their friendship and the work they do!!!
Get Lit is a truly wonderful organization. I've spent the past 5 years working with them on a variety of projects in the television and documentary space. The team is fantastic and the students who pass through this program and incredible young people. Love, respect, kindness, support and education radiate from this program. Not to mention the gift of some amazing poetry!!! The faculty truly care about the students and are so thoughtful and generous with their time. I cannot say enough great things and hope to continue working with them for many years to come!
Get Lit has been the connecting piece between my voice, my message, and the world. It’s members and mission have helped me share myself with others and voice truths that can only be voiced through spoken word. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve gained through working with them!
My experience with Get Lit started with hosting the Classic Slam preliminaries in 2017, and then hosting Classic Slam finals the following year. I was completely enamored by the competition, impressed by the dedication of staff, and inspired by the excitement and investment of the students. As a poet who's been in the arts and education community for 10+ years, no other organization like Get Lit exists. Their missions is sincere, and I have seen the impact that this organization makes on students first-hand, giving them tools to express themselves through writing and performance. These students are able to develop skills that will benefit them in any sector of their lives, and build relationships with other young poets who they can see themselves in. The level of community that Get Lit generates– uniting young creatives, professionals, and activists through the power of poetry, is exactly what I want for the entire world. I often think about what I would have been able to accomplish if I had Get Lit when I was in high school. I sure needed it, but I am equally grateful to be a member of this community as a learned professional, who can now offer experience and expertise. I have worked as a teaching artist and mentor, and from first-hand experience can say that Get Lit's teaching artists, mentors, and coaches are some of the best in the country– a few are my peers, and other have been my mentors in various capacities as well. Get Lit recruits the best of the best, and has been able to maintain consistency despite difficult circumstances because they are invested in their students. Even through a global health crisis, the overall time, dedication, rigor, and work ethic it takes to run an education non-profit did not waver, but adapt. I would love to see Get Lit expand their capacity to touch the lives of even more students. Students need an outlet. They need teachers who are highly trained and genuinely care. I'm thankful for my involvement with Get Lit, and gladly vouch on their behalf. We need the compassion and values of this organization now more than ever!
I'm a producer (A24 VAL documentary, Cinema Twain, Shakespeare High), an entrepreneur (SparkRIse.com) and an Educator (Co-Founder - VIP High School, CA Charter Teacher of the Year).
I've worked with nonprofits large and small but the simple fact is THIS.
When it comes to direct impact, transformational, data driven trackable results, pure creativity and innovation at all levels, well...Get Lit
towers among the rest. I've witnessed this up front, personal and first hand in our schools, communities and the City of Los Angeles. Now GET LIT
is poised to "move the needle" in Literacy and Arts on a global scale. Go GET LIT.
GetLit Words Ignite awakens a flame within all writers, proving that literature can propel us to our dreams. GetLit taught me how to harness a voice I did not know existed, how to cultivate connections with strangers that are now lifelong friends. I've expanded my knowledge of poetry, performance, but more importantly how to be my authentic self through spoken word. Through this nonprofit I've strengthened my writing skills as a form of expression, preservation, and hope-- GetLit taught me how to find myself even when I didn't know I was lost in the first place.
Before joining Get Lit I felt as if I was in a constant state of imposter syndrome . I dealt with anxiety attacks that would make me shake when I talked to people. Big thanks to Diane Luby Lane and all the amazing people at Get Lit for seeing my potential and positively encouraging me out of my box. They have taught me coping skills I will use for the rest of my life. Get Lit helps people like me. I lived in Section 8, struggled financially, had a low self-confidence and was considering dropping out of high school . Get Lit helped me get poetry gigs that went to my bills, food, encouraged me to complete high school , and now I feel so much self-love I can't even believe I'm the same person. I have seen time and time again teens like me get the love we need to move out of tough situations. Get Lit is full of angels. This non-profit is a godsend. I don't know where my friends and I would be without it.
Get Lit provides such a special place for young people to express themselves. It is so much more than a literacy program. It is a place of belonging, comfort and encouragement that envelops young people while helping them find their voice - in addition to increasing high school graduation, college acceptable and scholarship rates. Every conversation I have had with or around Get Lit has always circled back to the kids...the poets. They are at the center of all organizational efforts.
Get Lit is a non-profit that expands our world and creates MAXIMUM JOY for its kids, teachers, schools and donors! Get Lit makes literacy relevant to young students by giving them voice. It amplifies their creativity and gives them a haven to express and develop themselves as confident young people. The Get Lit curriculum is financially accessible to schools, kids and donors. I love giving money to Get Lit because I know every penny expands exponentially to build a solid educational foundation for each student and from this foundation, each young poet generates a more dynamic future for themselves and for our shared world.
I was introduced to Get Lit when a friend invited me to see DANTE, a play written and performed by the Get Lit Poets. Not only was I blown away by the students' art and talent, that night, I was inspired to face a difficult personal decision that I had been avoiding. Later that week, I returned to a second screening of the play, and again was so impressed. I decided that I wanted to give back to the students and support Get Lit's mission in any way that I could, because they had given me such a huge gift. I decided that day to join their Free Verse Board for emerging professionals. As someone whose worked in education and coaching my entire life, I see Get lit as a model for what education should be - something that engages the senses, emotions, and imaginations of young people, as well as inspires them to be change-makers in their communities. Get Lit accomplishes this mission through a literacy curriculum designed to be simple, yet profound. Get Lit's programs and poetry competitions provide passionate young artists and creatives a space to develop their skills and have access to the equipment, mentorship, and resources they need to bring their visions to life - on paper on in digital media. This is exciting because it is art and media that influences culture, popular opinion, activism and ultimately policy reform that creates safer, more just communities. Get Lit's work in education goes beyond the classroom and cultivates students who are empowered to use their voice to make change in big ways. I am excited to volunteer my time in supporting their mission and vision.
Everything that Get Lit-Words Ignite does is golden! They are helping and inspiring young people throughout LA and the world. In a moment where everyone needs a channel of expression and connection, Get Lit offers both in the most profound and beautiful manner. Plus, Get Lit is consistently inspiring students to use writing as a tool of expression and healing. I am honored to work with them as a Board member, visiting artist and more.
"Truly life-saving & changing" is not a cliche when describing Get Lit. As a student who grew up through Get Lit's Saturday Class, GLP, and now Literati program, I have witnessed firsthand the real magic that Get Lit shares with its young people.
My first big experience with Get Lit was when they came to my middle school. A handful of young adults built a stage with their words and enlighten a syrup-sticky auditorium full of pimply-middle schoolers. I was fortunate to be in the crowd because my school had Get Lit's curriculum. This show, also known as a Blitz, was electric! Mila Cuda, Pathum Madigapola, and Kyland Turner performed, sending their stories through the crowd like shock waves. Weaving what was original to them into poems.
I am now close friends to those 3 super stars. Because when you join Get Lit, you become family. In their Saturday classes, young writers grow beyond where their roots and love for poetry started. And you learn that your peers are not your competition, but your comfort.
All throughout my years at Get Lit I have felt at home(not a cliche!) Every single poet you meet sees you and welcomes you. Every teacher and staff member shines a light on your voice and guides you. I am the whimsical person I am because of Get Lit. Not because they taught me to be this but because their specialty is seeing YOU, that soft person hidden away inside themselves needing love to grow. And so I grew and become more myself and wrote and performed and still see myself today in every young person who needs poetry, who needs Get Lit.
I have been aware and involved with Get Lit - Words Ignite nearly since its inception. Founder Diane Lane and her husband Tim do amazing work to help young people gain confidence, a vision and a path to a better life. The Get Lit staff are selfless in their dedication, planning, organization and fulfillment and follow through of their plans. Every time I check in with Diane and the Get Lit players to see what they have going on and hear the plans and strides they have made, I am truly amazed. The work that is accomplished and the advancements that young people make are typically the progress that big corporations make. But they accomplish so much with so little because they share a passion and a heart for the opportunity and the chance to make a positive contribution to life and to the lives of others. This program provides an opportunity to positively affect generations. I find what they do and accomplish simply remarkable. They make a difference; a clear, positive difference.
My daughter Violeta began her 5th grade below average in reading and fluency. With only 3 months of attending the Get Lit program in Fall 2016 her literacy and fluency scores soared up to above average by Spring. Her MAP scores in Literature, Informational Text and Vocabulary Acquisition went from 212 to 219 in one quarter.
I believe that Get Lit has given my daughter lifelong learning, in communication skills, and an increased self-esteem, inspiring her to question the “why” of the world. It should not be overlooked that Get Lit’s program includes teaching professionalism, respect and punctuality; values that should be instilled before our youth enter high school and begin navigating their future.
She has learned to engage in the critiquing process of writing such as the elements of fiction, poetry and plays. She has an awareness for social justice in today’s turbulent and inflammatory political setting. Violeta has learned to engage in meaningful conversations far beyond her age.
Most importantly it should be noted that the amazing, talented and truly caring, teachers are the real gems of this treasure of talent. Get Lit has created a priceless unique and safe space for our youth to create. Not only has she gained literacy skills, she has gained breadth and depth of humanity.
As a result, my daughter is now a 14 year old LatinX spoken word artist. At just 10 years old, she became the youngest performer with Get Lit-Words Ignite; performing classic and original poems to promote literacy and language arts in schools.
She is a published poet who uses her words to powerfully cope with stressors in her life and to advocate for humanity. She speaks on climate change, LatinX-girl power, immigration reform, DACA and gun violence. Most recently her poem on gun violence was one of 3 in the country chosen for publication by CNN. Her most recent performances include opening for Jane Fonda and Joaquin Phoenix at Fire Drill Friday, speaking alongside Mayor Eric Garcetti at a Second Home gathering for the Environment, featuring at the National Teachers Association, the Long Beach City Council, and at A Day of Unreasonable Conversation at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, where John Legend opened for her. She was also a featured artist in an international Puma campaign with Cara Delevingne, recorded in London.
Follow her adventures on Instagram @LaPoetaVioleta
I was searching for a place to focus the girls’ boundless energy - where they weren’t just giving charity but seeing how much good work teaches you, gives you - much more than they can ever give, they receive - so that they give freely without it being “charity.” Diane Luby Lane, the Founder and Executive Director, changed everything for our family with regard to being in LA - our work, our spirit, everything. Our daughters volunteer, interned, take classes. We volunteer and wish we were young enough to take classes. The light GetLit gives is profound because it doesn’t only shine on those remarkable Poets but everyone it touches.
Electric, invigorating, game, Get Lit literally changes lives through words. I've seen countless examples of children whose lives are irrevocably changed for the better because of the curriculum, because of the teachers, because of the poems. Words heal. Get Lit inspires teens all over to be the best version of themselves and to create content that effects change.
Our family's experience of Get Lit makes us want to tell everybody about the amazing work this group of dedicated people do. Not only have their free poetry classes and seminars engaged our teen in writing and helped build self-expression and self-confidence, but we've seen these classes also foster a community of diverse, supportive peers. This organization is one of those rare groups that feels truly representative of the great diversity of Los Angeles, and feels welcoming to all. On top of their dedicated programs, they also organize a poetry slam competition in LA schools, and it's a highlight of the year for so many students. They have made writing and creativity fun and rewarding for LA teens and shown how it can lead to different careers..
I've been with GetLit, Words Ignite for just about 6 months and have seen incredible impact on this community and with their students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. GetLit transitioned quickly and efficiently to providing their workshops and events virtually. The Grand Slam was done so beautifully and the poets were incredible! Students are provided a safe space to be creative, explore, and build community. The artistry is inspiring!!
The shortest answer is get lit changes lives. I have never met a more compassionate and caring person than the founder Diane Luby Lane! She goes out of her way to make sure you feel seen and included! As well as the numerous staff and board! They show up for you, which is wild cause that was something I had never witnessed before. To be honest I didn’t really show up for myself prior to get lit. I am so honored to have this org apart of my memories and heart, it has truly shaped me into the person I am today and I’m so grateful for all the opportunities and conversations I’ve had with them. Thank you so much!!
I was privileged to attend the 2019 8th Annual Classic Slam (“Manifest”) in Los Angeles, where youth from over 50 LA Unified Schools performed & competed in classic and response poetry. Many of these students are recipients of “Lit Kit” in school curriculum. Amidst the electric creativity over 3 days, there were interactive workshops & panels on mental health. As an observer & writer, I was heavily impacted by the fierce power of self expression that emanated from each & every youth that filled the venue. Snapping, shouting, spewing outbursts of support they came together not to just necessarily win the competition, but to breathe fire into distinguishing themselves from others, wearing their personal beliefs, needs, fears on their sleeve, validating themselves & their concepts. The energy that jettisoned this event was palpable in a way that lifted & reminded me that conversations can change the world. We all have a voice yet the youth of this world have more to say. This is what Get Lit promotes, nurtures and embodies. There is no silence in their manifest, only encouragement for our youth to stand tall & speak up, more than ever, in a time & age when it desperately needs to be heard.
Get Lit is an extraordinary organization! Authentic to the core. I have witnessed young people in their programs find their voice and sense of leadership over and over again. Their programs are delivered with excellence and rigor. I believe deeply in the work of this organization!
Nothing but great things to say about this powerhouse organization. They do what they say and say what they do. Literacy is their goal coupled with the giving young people who feel silenced a voice. Not much could be better. My daughter grew tremendously in her time with Get Lit and their open arms helped her develop into a expressive woman. We continue to involve ourselves in their good deeds when possible. Simply can’t recommend them enough. All the people truly embrace the mission and the young folks who “graduate” remain active in Get Lit into adulthood because it feels like the home they may never have had anywhere else. I believe in this organization with all my heart.
Get Lit is a truly transformative organization. Both the scope and depth of their reach is remarkable. As someone who has been a student who participated in the Get Lit Classic Slam, a forum where I felt empowered to express my words and my voice, and an intern in the education department, I can say that every day I feel truly lucky to be surrounded by inspiring people and inspired poetry.
My daughter received top notch instruction and support. This program is incredible for young people. They make great friends and learn to work hard towards their goal.
Get Lit - Words Ignite is a fantastic organization. It's about poetry and literacy, but it is also about empowerment, inspiration, coming into your own. As someone who has gone through the program, I can confidently say that Get Lit has changed my life. I have met countless mentors and made lifelong friends at Get Lit. Performing with people and writing poetry together brings you so much closer to the people around you. There is nothing else like it. Get Lit has given me life long skills. It has taught me how to believe in myself, how to collaborate with other people, how to write and edit my work, how to get feedback and adjust, and how to trust the process. It has given me work experience by allowing me to freelance and perform poetry at different venues. Additionally, the film program gave me an opportunity to make movies and collaborate with poets. We were flown to San Francisco to present our film at the Student Voices Summit, where we won first place. Get Lit gave us the resources to make stuff and get our art out there. Get Lit is truly a remarkable organization that provides so many opportunities for young people, it's almost impossible not to get involved and grow as a poet, a performer, a filmmaker, an educator, and simply as a person.
I have donated to Get Lit and recently hosted a fundraiser at my home for them. It was an extraordinary event with fantastic musicians, such as Jackson Brown and Barbara Morrison and the incredible Get Lit players. As the widow of a politician I have been involved in many fundraisers, either as a donor or as a recipient and it is always my primary concern that the maximum amount of money goes toward making positive change. I can say unequivocally that I have never felt more satisfied with the bang I got for my buck in contributing to Get Lit. The impact this organization has on the lives and destinies of young people is nothing short of phenomenal. To see teenagers learning great literature and using it as a tool to tell their own stories is a beautiful thing. I wish every high school in America could have a Get Lit program in their curriculum.
I've been working with Get Lit-Words Ignite for over 9 years and it has developed me into the artist I am today. From being in this program I have received the opportunity to be mentored by masters within the field of performance poetry. It has enabled me to travel cross country speaking and facilitating workshops for countless youth. Most of my identity has been inspired by the lessons and skills I have learned in Get Lit. I wouldn't be the artist, much less the person, I am today.
Get Lit is an incredible organization that helps youth find their voice. Building confidence , critical thinking and artistic creation. They do a wonderful job and I could not sing their praises more.
Get Lit - Words Ignite absolutely changed the entire course of my life.
I met Get Lit when I was just 18 years old, when I auditioned to become a Get Lit Player. The Get Lit Players are a traveling troupe of poets who go around schools in the greater Los Angeles School District and beyond to perform poetry, speak about their lives, and get kids excited about literature and literacy. I, thankfully, made the team, and little did I know, it would change everything about my world.
I started getting paid to perform my poetry in front of hundreds of people, was flown out to New York to see the last night of Hamilton with the original cast, and as a result, now work in non-profit development, as well as teaching and performance artist work.
If I had never met Get Lit, I have no idea who I would be as a person, or what I would be doing. Get Lit helped me find my voice, and made me aware that I even had one. And after helping me find it, Get Lit also helped me amplify my voice by offering support spaces and platforms for voices like mine to speak.
Growing up in an Asian American household, I did not get a lot of reinforcement to speak my mind or talk about how I feel. My expression was repressed. Get Lit feels like coming up for air when you've been holding your breath underwater.
I am lucky to say I have experience with Get Lit as both student and teacher. In high school, their curriculum helped me realize that poetry was an art that I loved and cherish to this day. I fell in love with the work that I began to volunteer and tried out for their poetry troupe. Through this group I received professional writing and performance training for free!! Following this I was able to receive professional development and eventually work with the organization as a teaching artist. This organization has helped develop me from high school through college. The staff was loving and the mentors were brilliant. I have nothing but good words about this organization!!
I first got to know Get Lit several years ago when I began volunteering for them. Get Lit is not simply a curriculum that stems the increase of illiteracy in "at risk" youth. It is profoundly effective in motivating students to read more, learn more, write more and build confidence in themselves. Get Lit is a community that embraces all who participate in it. A safe haven where youth can express themselves and be embraced. The program turns out some of the most incredible "spoken word" poets who must be seen and heard to truly understand the scope of this amazing organization. I am profoundly moved by the important work Get Lit does and the results I see in front of me on a daily basis.