The Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network allows students across South Florida to truly be the center of the educational process and express themselves through the art of spoken word poetry. Students in grades K-12 are exposed to the transformative power of poetry through teacher and student-led workshops, virtual poetry readings, regional conferences, and more.
The bluapple curriculum is aligned with all of the latest educational standards, but it is designed to make the focal point of the program true artistic expression. The ability to articulately and creatively express oneself with words is an essential tool for success that is cultivated with the assistance of teachers and teaching artists throughout the Network.
Everyone wants to be heard. Everyone wants to feel like their life, their story, is important, and that someone is listening. Oftentimes, children feel that no one is listening. They are taught to be the listeners and to regurgitate the information presented to them. But today’s youth are filled with concerns, emotions, and thoughtful perspectives.
Students have thoughts that breathe, and the Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network gives them platforms to let their words burn.
The bluapple Teaching Artists are experienced poets who partner with teachers in the bluapple Poetry Network to help students develop their skills in writing, storytelling, and performing through weekly school visits. They also play a large role in facilitating annual events such as the Poetry and Leadership Conference and Louder Than A Bomb Florida Festival.
Working closely with these students, the teaching artists mentor and develop relationships with the poets in the network. To find out more about teaching artists or how to become one, contact info@jasontaylorfoundation.com.
Inspired by the Chicago poetry festival created by Kevin Coval and Anna West, Louder Than A Bomb Florida works to build upon the impact of the bluapple network with a thirteen-day festival that facilitates poetry slams between schools from Homestead to Port St. Lucie. Dubbed the Super Bowl of poetry, LTABFLA is designed to empower young poets through the art of spoken word performance. With multiple slams and community events, students can connect with other poets both in and out of the network.
Although individual and team winners are named yearly, participants are always reminded of the legendary LTAB mantra: the point is not the points, the point is the poetry. To learn more about Louder Than A Bomb Florida, click here.
LTABFLA is one of many opportunities for students in the bluapple network to perform and connect. Bluapple also hosts two open mic nights each month, known as Lyrical Lounge. Currently held at the City of Sunrise Civic Center, respectively, each of these open mics is free to attend, allowing students to practice their skills and connect with their fellow poets. Like LTABFLA or any other bluapple event, Lyrical Lounge has a “clean” mic, meaning poets must refrain from using profanity or offensive language. To find out more about bluapple open mic nights, click here.
Throughout the year, bluapple also creates and facilitates workshops and conferences for the poets within the network. Two of the largest of these events include the Poetry and Leadership Conference (PLC) and The Lab. PLC is a comprehensive conference with varying workshops created by professional playwrights, poets, and teaching artists to help guide students through their journey as artists, storytellers, and even business professionals. Topics of workshops range from how to create a brand on social media to performance techniques in poetry. The Lab is a series of workshops held through the summer, in collaboration with Nova Southeastern University, that features guest teaching artists and covers a variety of topics.
bluapple Poetry Summer Workshop Series For many young writers, summer is more than a break from school. It is finally a chance to breathe, create, reflect, and reconnect with themselves outside of grades, deadlines, and expectations. The Lab is a summer poetry and creative writing workshop se
Open Mics Monthly open mics give young poets an opportunity to flex their creative muscles in front of a supportive group of their peers. Lyrical Lounge is hosted by the City of Sunrise Civic Center. No registration necessary: sign up at the door.
SOUTH FLORIDA YOUTH POET LAUREATE • • The Jason Taylor Foundation has selected a winner in its South Florida Youth Poet Laureate program on April 30, 2026. Well known for being one of the leading ways of identifying powerful youth poets, the competition looks to give young minds a mea
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW! Our annual bluapple Poetry & Leadership Conference is for passionate wordsmiths, soulful singers, songwriters, and storytellers in alliance with professional poets coming from South Florida. Come join us and students from across the state on November 1st for a
>> Register Now For Louder Than A Bomb Florida! << >> Click Here for LTABFLA Rules & Guidelines! << Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB) was founded in 2001, through the Young Chicago Authors, by Kevin Coval and Anna West and went on to become the largest youth poet
Urban Air Adventure Park and The Jason Taylor Foundation announce the 2024-2025 “blu is For Apples” Poetry Contest as part of its Louder Than A Bomb Florida poetry festival. In partnering with Broward and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, we are inviting your school to parti
The South Florida Youth Poet Laureate competition is a collaboration between the Jason Taylor Foundation’s Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, and Urban Word, a New York-based literary arts education and youth development organization that facilitates the National Youth Poet Laureate co
The Jason Taylor Foundation’s Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, in partnership with the NHL’s Florida Panthers Hockey Club, announces the 2025-2026 Panthers’ Poetry Project Contest. The contest window is September 26, 2025 to December 12, 2025. If you wish for your class or sc
bluapple Poetry Network Teaching Artist Juliana is a writer and poet. A Charles W. Flanagan School graduate, she has been a stand-out poet during Louder Than a Bomb Florida festivals, including as a two-time Team Champion
bluapple Poetry Network Teaching Artist Juliana is a writer and poet. A Charles W. Flanagan School graduate, she has been a stand-out poet during Louder Than a Bomb Florida festivals, including as a two-time Team Champion
bluapple Poetry Network Teaching Artist Ashley Matos is a writer and bluapple alum who wants to help others find their passion for poetry as she did. This is her first year as a teaching artist and she is super excited to share my passion! She has
bluapple Poetry Network Teaching Artist Nick Jentsch is a poet and graduate of Hollywood Hills High School. His entry into the spoken word world began in 2017, and his appreciation for the craft as well as its community has only deepened over time.
