Phonetic Spit creates brave spaces for young people to find, develop, & publicly present their voices.
Our Impact
Phonetic Spit was founded on a simple belief: when young people are given the tools and space to express themselves meaningfully, they begin to see themselves differently—and discover new possibilities for who they can become.
Since 2008, Phonetic Spit has partnered with schools, community organizations, and public institutions across Arizona to support young people—especially those navigating foster care, detention, and other systems—in finding, developing, and publicly sharing their voices through creative writing and performance.
What begins as poetry quickly becomes something deeper.
Through spoken word, hip-hop, storytelling, and public presentation, students strengthen academic literacy, build social and emotional awareness, and develop the confidence to communicate their ideas, experiences, and identities. Our programs create brave spaces where young people are invited not just to participate, but to develop and share their ideas, stories, and perspectives with confidence.
Each year, Phonetic Spit reaches more than 5,000 youth through in-school residencies, system-involved youth programs, and community events. Many of the students we work with enter our programs hesitant to speak, disengaged from traditional literacy, or uncertain that their stories matter. By the end, students are writing with purpose, reading aloud with courage, and recognizing their voice as something worth sharing.
100+
SCHOOLS IMPACTED
We’ve partnered with middle and high schools across the state of Arizona and beyond.
75K+
CHILDREN TRANSFORMED
We operate programs in schools, group homes, shelters, and Juvenile detention centers.
10+ YEARS SERVING COMMUNITIES
Phonetic Spit began as a youth poetry movement and gained its non profit status in 2016.
Our Programs
Phonetic Spit facilitates creative literacy programming in schools, community spaces, and institutional settings across Arizona. We work primarily with young people from historically underserved communities, including youth navigating foster care, secure care facilities, shelters, and other systems of support.
Through spoken word poetry, hip-hop, creative writing, and performance-based learning, our programs support young people in developing academic skills, social and emotional awareness, and confidence in self-expression. Students are encouraged to write from their lived experience, practice public speaking, and engage critically with language as a tool for communication and self-understanding.
Grounded in our core values—courage, resilience, creativity, and meaningful expression—Phonetic Spit’s teaching artists create structured, supportive environments where young people can take risks, build skills, and practice expressing their ideas with clarity and confidence.
Each year, Phonetic Spit facilitates more than 400 hours of direct programming, reaching thousands of youth through in-school residencies, system-involved youth programs, and community-based workshops and events.
“Phonetic Spit creates an environment where students feel safe to speak, reflect, and connect. I watched students who are usually quiet step forward with confidence and engage in meaningful self-expression. This work has a real impact on how young people see themselves and their ability to communicate.”
— Ginette Rossi, Educator
Alhambra High School