Movement 515 Mixtape Released Today for 10th Anniversary
Ten years ago some common words with different meanings – like slam or snap – entered the lexicon at Des Moines Public Schools. They were being heard here and there around the school district in relation to a new program: RunDSM + Movement 515.
RunDSM + Movement 515 began with a lofty vision which, over the years, has come into a clear focus: “To shift the perception of youth by fighting illiteracy, discrimination, and silence, allowing them a greater part in the conversation for change.”
Founded by teachers Emily Lang and Kristopher Rollins, the early days of the program centered largely around spoken word poetry. By the way, “slam” is a poetry competition and “snap” is how the audience shows their appreciation.
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the program holding its first event at the Ritual Café in downtown Des Moines. Since then RunDSM + Movement 515 has grown in size, both in participants as well as its portfolio, from supporting students wanting to explore other art forms as well as opportunities for community engagement and activism.
In short, helping students find their voice and joining in on that conversation for change.
“For 10 years this has been a space of expression, unlearning, and healing for young people, but also those who surround them: the mentors, the teaching artists, the audience members,” said Lang. “When we started RunDSM + Movement 515 we basically had met a bunch of brilliant and creative kids who had a lot to say but didn’t have a lot of spaces to get free.”
To mark the anniversary, the Movement 515 Mixtape is being released today. It is a compilation of spoken word poems, songs, and candid conversations with more than 40 artists who have been a part of the program over the years. It was produced by local artist and Movement 515 teaching artist Teller Bank$ and is available on both Apple Music and Spotify.
“What began with one kid in the library at Central Campus has turned into a literal family that extends far beyond the classroom,” added Lang. “We think it’s beautiful when youth walk away as better poets but what’s most important to us is that we are all working to be better people.”
Top 10 lists can be a little passé. But, for a 10-year anniversary, noting ten accomplishments by RunDSM + Movement 515 gives at least some notion of the program’s growth and scope over the years:
- Movement 515 has donated over $15,000 to local non-profit organizations via our annual Share the Mic: Community Voices Creating Change show;
- Spoken word poetry programs (Movement 515, MidPoints Poetry, Half-Pints Poetry) are in 30 DMPS elementary, middle, and high schools, with alumni teaching artists leading weekly workshops;
- For the past 8 years, Movement 515 students have represented Des Moines at Brave New Voices, the largest poetry slam for teenagers in the world
- The program employs 30 DMPS alumni as program coordinators, artists in residence, and teaching artists, creating a sustainable system for mentorship;
- More than $50,000 has been awarded via the RunDSM Scholarship to young artists and activists who have been involved throughout their educational career in DMPS;
- Movement 515 has produced over 75 events, including annual events such as Teen Summit, Des Moines Teen Poetry Slam, and Summer Fam Jam;
- The Urban Leadership program at Central Campus was established, a 2-year program that provides high school students leadership opportunities around issues the matter to them;
- Movement 515 partnered with Good Vibes Movement to provide in-person workshops in spoken word poetry, music production, photography, sustainable fashion, and service to youth during the COVID-19 pandemic;
- The first-ever Midwest poetry festival is being organized for this summer, bringing together youth poets from across Iowa to create and slam with their words;
- Movement 515 now has a new home at Mainframe Studios, and will be offering district-wide elementary, middle, and high school workshops for free in the fall, providing more students with a space to express themselves.
Our communications team wasn’t at that first Share the Mic event 10 years ago, but we’ve covered a number of RunDSM + Movement 515 events over the years and share several photo albums below:
