Humanities Amped

On April 30, over 130 Humanities Amped students, family, educators, and community members gathered together to amplify youth voice in the name of justice. This youth action research conference, Humanities Amped’s first since 2019, was a long time coming, and it was inevitable. As the school year comes to a close, we are proud to share these reflections with you!
humanitiesamped.org/spotlights/deep-conversations-confidence-reflections-on-the-2026-journeying-to-justice-conference

Congratulations, Tara High Class of 2026!! We are honored to be a part of your story 💛❤️

Read all about the 20-year legacy of Fresh Heat here, and don't forget to RSVP for the Journeying to Justice Youth Action Research Conference to catch up with our current youth poets at the the Fresh Heat panel! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/journeying-to-justice-youth-action-research-conference-tickets-1982296969598

Thank you for helping us celebrate 20 years of Fresh Heat, 225 Magazine!

Fresh Heat celebrates 20 years of amplifying Baton Rouge youth voices Fresh Heat, a youth spoken word poetry program, has been giving students moments to build confidence and inspire themselves since 2005.

Next week! On Thursday, April 30, from 9:30 - 1:30, more than 70 Humanities Amped students from Tara High School will present action, research, and performance projects across 11 different sessions. The Journeying to Justice Conference is a community-wide convening for anyone who wants to join us in amplifying youth voice, whether for part of the day, or all of it!

RSVP today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/journeying-to-justice-youth-action-research-conference-tickets-1982296969598

Opening: 9:30 - 10:00
Session 1: 10:05 - 10:55
Session 2: 11:00 - 11:50
Session 3: 12:25 - 1:15

Calling all parents and educators--please join us on Friday, March 27, for a youth-designed and facilitated workshop on offering effective emotional support to young people. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP at forms.gle/zdu8CEKifuYmZDMh8!

We've got two huge opportunities to celebrate youth voice with us coming up!

The FINAL Fresh Heat of the semester is on Thurs, March 19 at 6:00PM! Don't miss your chance to celebrate 20 years of Fresh Heat with the whole Fresh Heat family!

Make sure you mark your calendars for April 30, when 70+ Amped Youth from Tara High School will be presenting original research and action projects at the Journeying to Justice Conference! RSVP here: eventbrite.com/e/journeying-to-justice-youth-action-research-conference-tickets-1982296969598

You can learn more about both of these events at humanitiesamped.org/spotlights/the-amped-conference-is-back-come-celebrate-youth-voice-with-us-at-fresh-heat

Fresh Heat Teen Open Mic is TONIGHT, and we have not one but TWO outstanding featured artists joining us! Doors open at 5:45PM.

Alejandro is a vibrant presence in the Baton Rouge poetry scene. Since 2014, she has crafted verses that resonate with themes of identity and resilience. Beyond her writing, she nurtures the community by organizing the Baton Rouge Poetry and Music Open Mic Night, a platform for artists to share their work and connect. Her dedication to fostering a supportive environment has elevated the voices of emerging poets and musicians, making her a key figure in Baton Rouge's poetic landscape.

Jaidyn Amina Bryant is a poet, jeweler, and biomedical scientist located in New Orleans. She is originally from Baton Rouge and graduated from McKinley High School in 2019. She fondly remembers being part of Word Crew and competing in All City poetry slam in high school. Jaidyn is always very excited to share her work and support Forward Arts as they have been instrumental in her growth as an artist.

Are you or someone you know interested in having your writing published? Humanities Amped is now accepting submissions for our “Fresh Heat: Teen Zine” Spring 2026 edition. You can submit your work using the link below, and our team will get back with you regarding its fit for our spring release 💛.

www.humanitiesamped.org/fresh-heat

Also, if you hate that you missed out on the opportunity to secure one of our Fall 2025 copies end of year or at our last open-mic event, don’t fret—not only will we be selling some of our cool new merch on Thursday, but physical copies of our our fall teen zine edition will also be available for purchase during Fresh Heat!

The next Fresh Heat: Teen Open Mic is here 🔥! Next Thursday, Feb 26, we will be hosting our second open mic night of 2026 at Mid City Ballroom. If you are a lover of all things poetry and are looking to share, we invite all teen poets to come join us for another amazing open-mic experience—celebrating 20 years of Fresh Heat!

Check out these really cool photos from last month’s Fresh Heat open mic, captured and edited by Humanities Amped’s very own, Jasper Hills (IG) 📸.