Event Toolkit

Music & Poetry Exchange: Voices of Brotherhood

Theme & Purpose

The Music & Poetry Exchange invites young men to share songs, poems, and spoken word as tools for connection and self-expression. Whether it’s a family lullaby, a piece of modern spoken word, or a favorite verse, participants bring their voices forward and listen to the voices of others.

This circle fosters mutual respect, celebrates diversity, and shows how young men’s stories — from their heritage and lived experience — add strength to their schools and communities. Paired with the #MillionMaskMovement, it also encourages deeper reflection: What’s the voice we share freely, and what’s the voice we usually don’t let others hear?

Benefits for Young Men

1. Self-Expression – Gain confidence in sharing their stories, cultures, and emotions through creative outlets.

2. Cultural Awareness – Learn from the traditions and experiences of peers, fostering respect and empathy.

3. Brotherhood & Connection – Strengthen bonds by linking artistic expression with authentic reflection through the #MillionMaskMovement.

Group Size

6–30 participants (plus audience if open to the public)..

Time Needed

60–90 minutes total.

STEP-BY-STEP Program

Our Family Tree, Our Many Masks

1. Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

Host Script:
“Welcome to the Music & Poetry Exchange. Music and poetry carry our cultures, our emotions, and our stories. Today we’ll share songs, poems, or sayings that matter to us — and listen to the voices of others. Together, we’ll discover connections across cultures, values, and hopes for the future. Along the way, we’ll also reflect through the #MillionMaskMovement, looking at the voices we share and the ones we usually don’t let others hear.”

2. Icebreaker (5 minutes)

• Their name and background.

• A favorite song, poem, or saying they connect with.

3. Create a Mask (15 minutes)

• Hand out mask cards.

• Invite participants to draw/write:

  • Front (outside): what they show the world.

  • Back (inside): what they don’t let others see about themselves.

• Mask Links:

  • Paper: millionmask.org

  • Digital: millionmask.org/drawboard

• Collect masks face down in a box, shuffle, and redistribute.

• Reflection: “Notice how each mask carries a different voice — yet many of us share the same struggles, fears, or hopes.”

4. Sharing Round (35–40 minutes)

Each participant performs or reads a short piece. It could be:

• Sung, played on an instrument, spoken, or read aloud.

• Explained in context: cultural background, when it’s used, and why it matters personally.

• (If in another language, provide a short translation or explanation.)

Encourage variety — from folk songs to rap, traditional poetry to freestyles.

5. Reflection & Discussion (10–15 minutes)

Prompts:

• “What emotions did you feel during these performances?”

• “Did you notice similarities between cultures or personal stories?”

• “How does hearing what others usually don’t let people see about themselves change how you see them?”

• “How can music and poetry help us build brotherhood and connection?”

6. Closing & Positive Action (5–10 minutes)

Reflection Notes:

• Write down one song, poem, or saying you learned today.

• Write one insight from the mask activity.

• Note how these connect to your own experience or values.

7. SHARE MASKS POST EVENT (10 minutes)

Take pictures of each mask and email them to millionmask@everforwardclub.org to join our #MillionMaskMovement and help us reach 100,000 people by this November!

Optional Add-Ons

• Translation Challenge: Pair participants to translate each other’s piece into their own language.

• Joint Performance: End with a group performance blending different cultures/styles.

• Youth Feature: Spotlight modern pieces (rap, slam poetry, freestyles) inspired by traditional ones.

• Recording Archive: Record and save pieces to create a digital library of young men’s voices.

For any questions, please contact millionmask@everforwardclub.org