Student Speakers Take 2nd in Oratorical Contest

Oakland’s annual Martin Luther King Oratorical Fest features hundreds of students from schools across the city taking the stage for a fiery (but friendly) spoken-word competition.

The atmosphere — heightened by a full crowd of classmates, families, teachers, and community members — would test anyone’s nerves, and PLACE @ Prescott’s 4th-grade competitors faced an even tougher challenge. Their preparations had gotten off to a late start, so with less than two weeks to get ready they put in overtime to master their chosen material: PLACE's “morning affirmation” that students and staff recite before the first bell each day.

With the help of Librarian Asase Omowale, the group of five took it further, ambitiously adding a new section to the piece. When they took the stage and gazed out at the rows of filled seats in Acts Full Gospel Church, the young speakers rose to the occasion with a rousing rendition, taking home the second place medal! Not to be outdone, a group of our bilingual kindergarten and 1st-grade students took home 3rd place in their age group.

“It was fun!” reflects Xavier. “I had stage fright, but Ms. Omowale told me to take deep breaths and just say the words and that took my fears away from me. We did good, we got second place, and it felt great.” The experience has motivated him to be a more outspoken student leader on and off campus. “I plan to do more speaking for Prescott, for my school,” says Xavier.

Below, watch some of PLACE's inspiring orators speak from the heart.