HomePublicationPasadenaPoetry Workshop Enriches Five Acres Youth

Poetry Workshop Enriches Five Acres Youth

Matt Lillard and Five Acres CEO Chanel Boutakidis
Matt Lillard and Five Acres CEO Chanel Boutakidis

5JammaSlamma, the foster youth slam poetry workshop hosted by actor Matt Lillard (“Scooby Doo,” “Good Girls”) enjoyed a great turnout at its second annual celebration recently. Accompanied by Hawaii’s poet laureate Kealoha and other notable artists, foster youth from Five Acres performed original works of poetry before 150 guests at Werkartz in downtown Los Angeles.
5JammaSlamma began in 2017 as Lillard’s weeklong workshop to teach foster youth the power of creative writing, bringing in poets and musicians to work with the children. With the support of Engaging the Senses and Say Word, the workshop expanded to a six-month program and will continue to serve children living in residential foster care at Five Acres, one of L.A.’s oldest child and family services nonprofits.
“5JammaSlamma asks for no money from the friends who attend,” said Lillard about the celebration. “We only ask that we as a community stand as witness to the beauty our young poets find in themselves.”
With LA’s foster care crisis continuing to grow, 5JammaSlamma exemplifies the level of supportive advocacy needed to help foster youth thrive.
“Five Acres’ mission is permanency for every child, whether that be through preventing kids from entering foster care, reunification with a biological family or through foster-adoption,” said Five Acres CEO Chanel Boutakidis. “5JammaSlamma provides a necessary life-enriching experience to children who are navigating very adult challenges, and we’re so thankful to Matt, Engaging the Senses and Say Word for giving them the opportunity share their stories.”
To learn more about future events supporting foster youth, contact Five Acres at events@5acres.org.

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