Get Lit Players Publish Their First Book - Get Lit Rising - and Go On Tour

Words Ignite, the organization dedicated to engaging diverse youth in literature and increasing literacy through the power of classic and street poetry, today released its first book of poems and personal narratives, Get Lit Rising.

Penned by nineteen diverse young poets from the organization known as the Get Lit Players, and in collaboration with their mentor, Get Lit Founder and Executive Director Diane Luby Lane, the book features groundbreaking life stories; classic works by Langston Hughes, Leonard Cohen, Walt Whitman, Sonia Sanchez and more; and original poems inspired by the Players' life experiences.

Each chapter of Get Lit Rising focuses on a different Get Lit Player, including the poet's backstory, the classic poem that inspired them, an original work penned in response, and a reflection question or writing prompt designed to engage readers and empower them to find their voice. In confronting issues ranging from poverty and depression to mental illness and racial tension, the Get Lit Players demonstrate the power of finding their voice and spreading social consciousness through poetry and performance.

"We felt compelled to create Get Lit Rising to acknowledge the power of youth, beyond barriers and labels," said Diane Luby Lane. "I hope the book will help young people uncover their own yearnings and truths."

Get Lit Rising poet Marquesha Babers insists, "Get Lit has saved my life. It's an honor to be part of this book and see how far the movement has come."

The Get Lit Players serve as Get Lit's professional performance troupe and as global ambassadors for teen literacy, performing for over 50,000 peers annually and igniting a passion for literacy and social consciousness in schools and communities across the globe. The Players have collaborated with and performed at the United Nations, the White House, the Kennedy Center, and have been featured alongside the likes of John Legend, Gloria Steinem, and Questlove. GOOD Magazine has called them "the teen spoken word poets that enchanted the internet."

In 2017, the poets of Get Lit Rising will embark on a "Lit for Literacy" tour across America to ignite students with the power of education and language. The organization's movement, known as a "Literary Riot" aims to ignite young hearts and minds and foster them to engage in their educations and their lives. Get Lit Rising is a true example of what inspiration and action can ignite from a pen and a voice. Some conversations can change the world.

About Get Lit – Words Ignite

Get Lit – Words Ignite fuses classic and spoken word poetry to increase teen literacy and cultivate enthusiastic learners emboldened to inspire social consciousness in diverse communities. "Claim your poem. Claim your life." Join the #LiteraryRiot at getlit.org.

About Diane Luby Lane

Diane Luby Lane is the founder and executive director of Get Lit–Words Ignite and a leader in creative education in Los Angeles. She is a recognized author, playwright, and performer. For speaking engagements, visit http://www.dianelubylane.com.

Get Lit Rising (Sale Date: TODAY, October 18, 2016, Simon Pulse/Beyond Words, ISBN: 978-158270-577-4).