2020 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate: Greer Nakadegawa-Lee to Perform at the Virtual Potluck 7/24

For those of you who may not be aware of this event, Genesis is having a Virtual Potluck on July 24th from 7-8:30PM over Zoom. We will be connecting with each other and our speakers through food stories and words of inspiration as we fundraise for the Genesis Voter Engagement program. This week, I would like to share more about the amazing speakers we have gathered for the event and hopefully their work will really wow you! Introducing Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, the 2020 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate and a guest speaker at the Genesis Virtual Potluck.

Greer is a 16 year old rising junior at Oakland Technical High School. Greer writes poems on her deepest thoughts and experiences and asks readers to examine the world around them. She has written a poem everyday for the past two years!

As I have read a few of Greer's poems and seen a few of her performances, I have noticed what a powerful voice Greer has as a youth activist. Greer inspires youth like her and myself to change social and political systems into spaces that value all human life. She encourages all youth to get involved and take an active role in their community because youth voices matter.

In Greer's poem "2020" she calls us to unite to create a nation where all life is valued and respected. Powerfully, she brings to light our individual capability to join with others in times of distress and loss. Greer is able to capture her audience with her words. As her voice pushes us to look at the reality of our justice system, her voice also comforts us knowing that we can come together as we mourn and create change. I encourage you to watch Greer perform "2020" below and leave a comment here on the blog about what hopes she inspired in you.

To support Greer and her work, check out her first chapbook "A Heart Full of Hallways" out now with Nomadic Press.

Please join Genesis for our Virtual Potluck to hear Greer perform one of her poems. We are grateful to have such an inspirational young leader and hope she can motivate our community and other youth activists to share their voice and take part in creating a positive change.

To learn more and RSVP for the Virtual Potluck, visit our Genesis FB Event Page. Hope to see you there!