Young Identity
A spoken word and writing collective for young people formed in Manchester and hosted in venues throughout the city.
Young Identity was founded by Shirley May and Ali Gadema in 2006, following the development of a Manchester team for a Warwickshire-based Apples and Snakes’ WORDCUP youth poetry slam event.
Young Identity runs creative workshops with writers aged 13-25 in a range of arts venues including Contact Theatre and HOME, as well as on a community level – with workshops taking place at Longsight Community Library, for example.
Young Identity runs the popular poetry showcase event ‘One Mic Stand’ and has worked with a number of eminent poets including Lemn Sissay, Saul Williams and Kate Tempest.
Young Identity poets and performers have been involved in events across the UK,in venues such as the Southbank in London and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Associated writers include Reece Williams, Nasima Begum and Isaiah Hull.