The First Wave Pre-Collegiate Program is a partnership based program with Madison Metropolitan School District providing after school and during school based Spoken Word Clubs and Workshops to Madison East, West, LaFollette, Memorial, and Shabazz High Schools. The First Wave Pre-Collegiate clubs meet 1-2 times per week and are part-writing circle, part-freestyle cypher, and part-vibe session which focus on building literacy across the school district through Spoken Word. Facilitated by a teacher and a First Wave poet-mentor, the spoken word groups are an avenue for artistic self-expression and academic growth. Student poets speak their truth about the world around them and discover the power of intersecting language, history, and the arts.