amplifying
youth voiceS
with spoken word

Curricula and programs that inspire literacy, wellness, and creativity.

EdSource: "LA arts education group fights falling literacy rates through poetry"
L.A. Times: "‘Our Words Collide’ documents 5 L.A. teen poets testifying to spoken word’s transformative power"

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Whether you’re into poetry, film, or music, Get Lit has a place for you: free Drop-In poetry classes, the Poetic Screenwriters Lab, Mixtape Masterclass, and so much more.

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EDUCATORS
YOUTH PROGRAMS
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the film lab

free 12-week program for young creatives

Apply today to become part of Get Lit's FILM LAB, a free program for young artists ages 12-20 that want to create for film and television, beginning with poetry as an inspiration point.

With courses in screenwriting and production, students choose between two pathways that include 1:1 mentoring with teachers working in the field of film & television, access to equipment during office hours, and an open invite to special events and workshops! 

apply today

If I Awaken in Los Angeles

SAVE THE DATE

If I Awaken in Los Angeles is a multi-media production blending Spoken Word, music, dance, and video to tell the story of Los Angeles. Spanning the history of its Indigenous stewards, to modern day city living, the audience will travel through several neighborhoods of Los Angeles (South Central, The Canyons, Boyle Heights, Chinatown, Koreatown, and more), ultimately transformed by the spirit of the communities they’ve encountered.

Amidst the devastating fires that have shaken our city, If I Awaken In Los Angeles is a love letter to the City of Angels.

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The Hottest Poetry Competition in the Country is Here

Your block. Your story. Your voice.

Deadline to Sign Up: September 30, 2025

$40,000 in Cash Prizes. One City. Endless Inspiration.

We just released our live Spoken Word album If I Awaken in Los Angeles, featuring an all-star lineup including:
‍
Luis Rodriguez (LA Poet Laureate, Always Running)
Dante Basco (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Hook)
Samantha Rios (LA Youth Poet Laureate)
Grammy Award-winning Cheech Marin
Grammy Nominated Jackson Browne and
Joy Harjo (Three-time U.S. Poet Laureate)
With original music by Grammy-winner Derrick Hodge

If I Awaken is our love letter to Los Angeles; from Leimert Park to Malibu, Boyle Heights to Koreatown, Little Tokyo to Watts.

Now, we want to hear about your LA. Win Your Share of $40,000.
‍
‍Competition Rules:
1. Students & Teachers log in to Uni(verse) today.
2. Listen to the album.
3. Select a track to respond to.
4. Write a poem and record a video of yourself performing it.
5. Upload the poem and video performance to Uni(verse).

Poems will be judged by a panel of professionals as well as Uni(verse) community members. 

The Prizes:
‍
‍STUDENTS
- 10 People’s Choice winners: $1,000 each | 10 Judges’ winners: $1,000 each
‍
TEACHERS
- 9 teachers with the most student submissions: $1,000 each
- Teacher with highest submissions: $2000
- 10 Teachers’ poems chosen by judges: $1,000 each

Deadline to sign up for Uni(verse) is September 30, 2025.
The competition runs from Oct 1-20, 2025. Winners announced in November!

Sign up today

IF I AWAKEN IN LOS ANGELES: Student Poetry Contest

A love letter to LA, written by its future.

‍Join students and teachers across the city in a powerful, creative celebration of Los Angeles. Inspired by the new poetry album If I Awaken in Los Angeles, students will write and perform original response poems—and compete for over $40,000 in prizes.

Contest opens: September 29
Submissions close: November 07 @ 11:59PM PST
Winners announced: December 1

Learn more + Enter the contest

POETIC
CONVERGENCE 2025

October 25, 2025

“Say it Matters” - Ruth Awad

The Poetic Convergence is a one-day convening of teachers, student leaders, arts champions, and poetic giants for the purpose of creating and sustaining poetic communities inside Los Angeles county schools and their neighborhoods. 

The Poetic Convergence offers attendees interactive workshops, engaging keynotes, and youth-led town halls to build community and creativity among our schools. 

Want to partake in this transformative event? Join us to positively shift the educational experiences and outcomes of our youth.

RSVP NOW

IGNITE YOUR VOICE

Get Lit provides the creative outlet, community, and work experience that transforms students into artists, activists, scholars, and stars.

The Get Lit Players are Get Lit - Words Ignite’s performance troupe.

They’ve performed at the United Nations, Hollywood Bowl, The Ford, the Lincoln Center, and the White House. Over half of the Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureates have been Get Lit Poets. They have over 300 million views on social media performing both Classic & Response poetry.

Think you have what it takes to be the next GLP? We wanna hear what you have to say.

Sign up to audition today

The creative career lab

workforce training for young adults 18-28

Announcing the Creative Career Lab, Get Lit's year-long professional development program that runs from July 2025-May 2026. The Creative Career Lab prepares young professionals ages 18-28 to thrive in a full-time position in the creative and nonprofit sectors. Graduates will receive support finding–and the skills to excel at–a dream job!

Get Lit's Creative Career Lab is funded by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) through the California Community Reinvestment Grants Program (CalCRG). This program aims to create a bridge to success for young adults through critical professional training, connections, and paid job placement.

Welcome to Get Lit’s Creative Career Lab. Let’s get to work.

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ethnic studies curriculum!

Lausd-approved, standards aligned

Get Lit’s VOICES IN VERSE is one of only 11 Ethnic Studies curricula approved by LAUSD. Get the curricula that teachers love and students are constantly requesting!

  • Approved for use in LAUSD
  • Spoken word poetry-based lessons that excite and engage students
  • UC-approved, Common Core aligned
  • Packed with hundreds of peer-led video lessons and poems by BIPOC artists
  • Includes access to our online learning platform Uni(verse)
get the curriculum

FREE SUMMER CAMP FOR CREATIVE teens

This is your moment.

Get Lit, in partnership with Anderson .Paak's initiative .Paak House, is bringing young artists (age 12-19) opportunities to collab, learn, and grow with some of the top creative professionals in Los Angeles.  

Into poetry, performance, filmmaking, music production, and more? We got you.

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GET LIT's year in review

ANNUAL
REPORT

We've been busy. Check out everything we did over the past year.

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THE LATEST

GetLit Logo
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Feb 21, 2025
Special Thanks to the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation sponsored our Founder and Executive Director, Diane Luby Lane, to take three Harvard University courses.

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Dec 13, 2024
PBS Documentary Beyond Words: Verses of Change

We are thrilled to announce that our documentary Beyond Words: Verses of Change airs Friday, December 13th at 8PM PST!

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Apr 23, 2024
NEW: Los Angeles Times "‘Our Words Collide’ documents 5 L.A. teen poets testifying to spoken word’s transformative power"

The Los Angeles Times featured Get Lit in their recent article all about the 'Our Words Collide' documentary and the Classic Slam.

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Apr 15, 2024
NEW: EdSource article "LA arts education group fights falling literacy rates through poetry"

Get Lit was featured in a new article from national publication EdSource about our work in literacy education.

‍

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Mar 15, 2024
2023-2024 Annual Report

We are thrilled to share the details of the amazing year we had, all thanks to YOU: our community, our donors, and all of our awesome poets, educators, and volunteers.

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Dec 9, 2023
Young Hollywood: “Get Lit Is Changing The Game For Youth Creative Expression!"

Young Hollywood put the spotlight on Get Lit and our annual Gala, along with an interview of Get Lit's founder Diane Luby Lane and info about Get Lit's new Creative Lab!

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Nov 1, 2023
Get Lit Founder Travels to D.C. to Receive Award from the Library of Congress

Diane Luby Lane traveled to Washington D.C. to accept the Successful Practices Honoree Award from the Library of Congress on behalf of Get Lit.

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Oct 26, 2023
Get Lit’s Voices in Verse is 1 of only 11 LAUSD-approved Ethnic Studies courses!

This year, Ethnic Studies is becoming a graduation requirement for LAUSD – and Get Lit’s Voices in Verse curriculum is leading the charge!

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Sep 8, 2023
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards

Get Lit was just honored with the Library of Congress Literacy Award for our implementation of successful practices in literacy promotion through the Uni(verse) platform!

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Aug 19, 2022
ABC 7 News Featuring Get Lit

In the second of ABC 7's two-part series on Get Lit, reporter Anabel Munoz interviews founder Diane Luby Lane, student poets, teacher Jeanetta Wolfe and poet Luis Rodriguez about the transformative power of poetry and Uni(verse).

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Breathing fire

Check out the archive of our monthly newsletter.

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Support our work

Because of generous donors like you, we're able to provide vital literacy education, boost self-confidence, and offer work opportunities to youth.

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