The Texas Youth Word Collective is a non-profit organization that promotes writing and literacy skills through monthly city-wide youth poetry slam competitions – They Speak Youth Poetry Slam. Students between the ages of 13-19 compete for a spot on the team that will represent Austin at the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Competition in San Francisco this summer. Poetry slams are open to the general public and students throughout Central Texas are invited to compete. They Speak Youth Poetry Slams take place on the second Saturday of each month. Free writing workshops take place prior to the slam.