Mazi Mutafa / Words Beats & Life – Slamtastic
Grantee: Mazi Mutafa / Words Beats & Life
Project: Slamtastic Open Mic & Poetry Slam
Grant Month: June 2026
Impact Area: Youth & Education / Spoken Word / Creative Confidence / Community Belonging
What the Grant Made Possible
TDF’s June 2026 grant fully funded Slamtastic’s April quarter-finals, May semi-finals and June grand finals, covering hosts, featured artists, audio engineering, photography, video documentation and promotion. At Busboys and Poets on 14th and V, young poets, emcees and spoken-word artists shared original work before live audiences in a series centred on creative confidence and performance. Slamtastic also serves as a qualifying competition for the DMV Youth Slam Team, connecting these public performances with further opportunities for young artists.
TDF’s June material identifies Words Beats & Life and Slamtastic as the month’s principal grantee story and describes it as a supportive live performance space for young artists.
Young Voices on the Slamtastic Stage
About Mazi Mutafa, Words Beats & Life and Slamtastic
Words Beats & Life is a Washington, DC arts and education nonprofit that works with young people through workshops, classes, performances, murals and youth programs rooted in Hip-Hop culture. Mazi Mutafa and the Words Beats & Life team created Slamtastic as a recurring public stage for emerging poets, emcees and spoken-word artists, as well as a pathway toward the DMV Youth Slam Team.