​What is Spoken Word?

Spoken Word is a verbally based performance art that incorporates elements of music, art, and dance to tell the story of the speaker.  The Art of Spoken word dates back to Ancient Greece, as spoken word poetry was included in the original Olympic Games.  Modern spoken word made a comeback in the 1960's during the Harlem Renaissance, paralleling the beatnik style also popular in the 60's.  More recently, Def Poetry revitalized Spoken Word's presence in the modern media through the series "Brave New Voices", which highlighted modern youth's involvement with the art.



How can Spoken Word help veterans returning with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Much like many traditional forms of music therapy, Spoken Word provides a powerful outlet for veterans to vent the feelings and emotions associated with experiences at war.  As well, family members of veterans and active duty service men and women have been forced into a great deal of stress through the recent series of wars, and can participate in the Spoken Word project.  We have found that storytelling through Spoken Word is an effective tool to make breakthroughs in a therapeutic manner, to the root feelings that cause symptoms of PTSD, and helps veterans and families come to peace with these symptom-causing emotions.

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What do we hope to provide for Veterans, their families, and their communities?​

As the team moves forward with development of the Harvesting Happiness through Spoken Word program we aim to bring this experience to a much larger group of people, the ones who need it most.  In the coming months, we are planning a tour of military bases, where we can bring this experience of Art Therapy in person to our active duty service men and women, as well as their families.  As well, we are in the process of developing an online network of veterans, service people, and families, using learning management systems, social media, Web 2.0 tools and all of the other powerful tools of the internet to connect the people who deserve a voice, and help them to express their emotions through this unique interpersonal Artistic Experience.  Overall, we hope to take this program as far as we can, to reach as many of the people whose voices truly need to be heard the most.

The Project