Deluxe Assemblies bring radical vulnerability, high-energy story telling, and entertainment to the stage for entire school populations. Members of The Diatribe share their stories and poetry, talking about how writing helps them cope with difficult issues and about the value and power of sharing your own voice. After these intimate performances, The Diatribe asks students to take a moment to be open and vulnerable as well. With all eyes closed and heads lowered, a series of situations or struggles are raised and students are encouraged to raise a finger for each one that applies to them. Students then look up at all of the fingers held up and The Diatribe leads a discussion about unity, the importance lifting one another up, and opening the door to conversations about difficult topics. The auditorium or gymnasium or media center is then turned into a concert hall as local hip hop artists and musicians light up the stage. The ultimate goal and the result seen time and time again is that students leave The Diatribe’s Deluxe Assemblies feeling empowered and inspired, and with a new understanding that their voice matters and that someone is listening.