The event highlights 20 student poets who will perform their work before peers and supporters. It’s always a moving event, filled with teenage honesty, vulnerability, and empowerment. The slam is a culmination of the Aspen Words Poetry Project, which has grown steadily—from several hundred students in 2014 to over 4,000 in 2019. For two weeks each February, Aspen Words brings four teaching artists to the Roaring Fork Valley to conduct 85 workshops across 17 schools. These professional poets help students find their voice, coach them in spoken-word delivery, and empower them to stand up and speak their truth. The visiting artists will also perform their work on the evening of February 11 in Aspen. The best part of the project is seeing the joy and surprise on students’ faces when they realize they can and have written something brave and beautiful.