Instagram story viewer> @speakupyyc> Posts

Speak Up YYC

@speakupyyc

339

followers

324

following

Speak Up is a literary community dedicated to expression; of speaking up, speaking out and speaking truth to power. Hosted by @melveex

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

by @speakupyyc

8

0

5 days ago

Come see the champ on Oct 29, @oma_is_loud

We are so excited to feature Oma is Loud!!! She is a powerhouse and a national slam champion. Sneak a peak at her incredible bio:

Oma is Loud is the 2026 Canadian Poetry Slam Nationals Champ and winner of the 2026 Evaristo Prize for Poetry. She is a Poetry Translation Centre (UK) Undertow Fellow. Her poetry-theatre production, Pretty Dangerous: Four Acts on Womanhood, premiered at the Calgary Central Library in March 2026. A stark raving mad poet, she stays wild in her musings until 9 pm or so

Hosted by MelVee X @melveex

Speak Up is made possible through the generosity of our friends at the Writers' Guild of Alberta @writersguildab and San<K>tjuri Buks @sanktjuri

Did we mention we're live!? We'll be streamlining live to our YouTube channel for those who cannot join us in person. Link to our livestream in our bio by @speakupyyc

53

4

8 days ago

JUST DROPPED 📢

Get acquainted with our champion feature, @oma_is_loud

Read Anti-intelligence by Nadine Dunseith @dunspeare

Learn about our special edition of Speak Up Press!!!

Got work you're itching to share? Apply to perform at the Calgary Justice Film Festival @calgaryjusticefilm

This and more in our October edition of Speak Up Press

Link in our bio and below 👇🏽
https://speakupyyc.substack.com/p/speak-up-press-october-edition by @speakupyyc

20

3

9 days ago

Come see the champ on Oct 29, Oma is Loud @oma_is_loud 📢🙌🏽

We are so excited to feature Oma is Loud!!! She is a powerhouse and a national slam champion. Sneak a peak at her incredible bio:

Oma is Loud is the 2026 Canadian Poetry Slam Nationals Champ and winner of the 2026 Evaristo Prize for Poetry. She is a Poetry Translation Centre (UK) Undertow Fellow. Her poetry-theatre production, Pretty Dangerous: Four Acts on Womanhood, premiered at the Calgary Central Library in March 2026. A stark raving mad poet, she stays wild in her musings until 9 pm or so

Speak Up is made possible through the generosity of our friends at San<K>tjuri Buks @sanktjuri and The Writers' Guild of Alberta @writersguildab

Did we mention we're live!? We'll be streamlining live to our YouTube channel for those who cannot join us in person. Link to our livestream in our bio taken in Marlborough Mall by @speakupyyc

36

3

10 days ago

by @speakupyyc

7

0

12 days ago

What happens when a story crosses a border?
It changes.
It travels.
It survives.
Join us for a 90-minute online multidisciplinary experience featuring film, storytelling, poetry, spoken word, and community participation.
Featuring J. Nichole Noel, Stacy Dyson, and Gee, with a special presentation of Emí Laará: Little Stories to Dream, rooted in Afro-Cuban and Yoruba traditions.
And bring your story, poem, memory—or simply your voice—to VOICES UNBOUND, our storytelling and spoken-word open mic.
Stories cross borders. What will yours become?
JOIN THE EXPERIENCE
https://meet.google.com/wrw-oukm-tat by @speakupyyc

13

4

14 days ago

IT'S OFFICIAL!!! Our Patreon launches tomorrow 📣

We love the work that we do with Speak Up YYC and want to ensure this work continues in our community 💗

Please consider joining our Patreon, whether as a free member, a Friend ($2/mo) or Truth Speaker ($10/mo) or a one time donation. Your support is vital to the work Speak Up does.

Support unapologetic literary and multidisciplinary expression 🤗🫶🏽

Link in our bio and below
https://www.patreon.com/SpeakUpYYC

#spokenword #spokenwordpoetry #spokenwordyyc #spokenwordcalgary #literary taken in Calgary Alberta, Canada by @speakupyyc

36

3

18 days ago

It's Soulful Sunday beloveds

Today's poem is a classic, Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins

Today's prompt is: What does poetry mean to you, really?

Today's drink pairing is green tea, tried and true.

Did Soulful Sunday spark anything for you? If so, drop a comment and share by @speakupyyc

14

0

19 days ago

CALL FOR WRITING 📣

Hello beloveds, a reminder that we're looking for writing. The call is ongoing and we pay for accepted submissions 🙌🏽

Send your work to speakupyyc@gmail.com

500 words max. Attach your work as a doc. or .pdf by @speakupyyc

43

1

21 days ago

A recap of our radiant feature Gee @poet_gee 🌺

We journeyed through motherhood, war, love and politics. It was powerful, maternal, radiant and radical. We're planting seeds for something beautiful y'all 🌱

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our dear friends at San<K>tjuri Buks @sanktjuri and the Writers' Guild of Alberta @writersguildab. Speak Up truly couldn't exist without their continued support and dedication. A shout out to @meetmarlborough for their enthusiasm, support and hyping us up 🙌🏽

We have a couple of exciting announcements for you beloveds so stay tuned 🤗🫶🏽 taken in Marlborough Mall by @speakupyyc

41

4

21 days ago

TONIGHT!!!!!!!!

We are so thrilled to welcome the highly anticipated Gee @poet_gee to our Speak Up stage

Sign up for your spot on the open mic by using the link in our bio or registering in person

See you there beloveds 🤗

Speak Up is made possible by our dear friends San<k>tjuri Buks @sanktjuri, the Writers' Guild of Alberta @writersguildab and @meetmarlborough taken in Marlborough Mall by @speakupyyc

16

1

22 days ago

THIS THURSDAY!!!

We're so excited for our next featured poet, Gee @poet_gee

Gee is a poet from the Democratic Republic of Congo, whose journey began in an Ugandan refugee camp.

Her work explores her struggle for identity between African and French cultures, focusing on themes of belonging, self-love, and mental health 🫶🏽

We're also excited to have you wonderful poets share on the mic! Sign up in person or use the link in our bio

Thanks to our friends at San<K>tjuri Buks @sanktjuri and the Writers' Guild of Alberta @writersguildab

We'll also thank our friends at Marlborough Mall @meetmarlborough for being a home to poetry and community taken in Marlborough Mall by @speakupyyc

14

1

24 days ago