“Scrape your identity off of bedroom sheets/plant your feet firm and affirm/wear battle scars like hieroglyphics permanently etched in your soul/paint them vividly/a reminder of the war that has become your personal revolution/bury your broken spirit woman/resurrect a Warrior.” – Poet, Writer, Author, Bloggist, Maria Rodriguez-Morales (excerpt from “Lessons” in her poetry book Brooklyn’s Daughter – bkwrita.wordpress.com – https://twitter.com/bkwrita)
IF YOU’RE GOING TO SHARE YOUR STORY, let thine own words BE TRUE.
OWN your words. Express your true self and let the world relate. There is no shame in hurt, depression, violation, low-income, ignorance, struggle…
Your truth could be the comfort, the reassurance, the inspiration, the empowerment, the healing someone has been searching for. And like your favorite song, it could be the light that helps someone get through.
“Because our stories are necessary and important. Word!“ – Writer, Author, Educator, Vanessa Mártir
(vanessamatir.wordpress.com)
“…on the evening of the New York blackout, July 13… As fires burned and the sound of shattered glass echoed in the streets of the Bronx, we could literally feel the community’s anger: a hot soup of poverty, racism, and hunger boiling over. Nobody seemed interested in turning down the flame on the stove.” – Artist, Writer, Maria Aponte-Gonzales/Latina 50 Plus Founder (excerpt from her book The Gift of Loss – mariaaponte.com)
“I try to make art that disrupts things”– Artist, Playwright, Rock WILK (http://brooklynquartet.com)
“I represent an intellectual property style of music. My voice is stifled here in America, but to my surprise I hear people in Uganda or Australia telling me how much love they have for me and that they know my work! That’s a great feeling.” – Spoken Word/Hip-Hop Artist NeNe Ali (https://www.facebook.com/pages/NeNe-Ali-Poet/158818860094?fref=ts)
“Make sure that the future of people, regardless of gender, culture or race, are secure and with knowledge; that they never go without a meal, clothing or a place to lay their head.” – Raul K. Rios/Founder of LatinosNYC (http://latinosnyc.org/)
LatinosNYC (501c(3) non-profit) always offers a monthly event (days differ each month) that includes an Open Mic with Features from 7pm to 9pm; always held at the NuyoRican Poets’ Café. How does LatinosNYC’s events and Open Mics differ from the other Open Mics in NYC? They offer shows to benefit the needy of NYC and all around. The monies collected (what comes in from the door and donations from the audience), from their events, go towards serving the community: feeding the homeless, supporting the needy (children and adults), and growing the community. JOIN the organization that helps the less-fortunate in every way possible.
“Friday (1/06) is my 11 Year Anniversary @ the Nuyorican Poets’ Café! I can’t believe it either. And trust me — they grey hairs on fleek because of my love for the community, the people and the legacy of Miguel Algarin. I decided I would reach out to folks because I remember what the darkness looked like. Being a poet and unwelcome. Being a woman and unwelcome. At the Cafe I was able to stretch and grow and learn how to better be the woman I wanted my daughter to look up to. I wrote and mentored and opened up space and had difficult conversations and crossed state lines for poets, poetry & family. So this Friday (1/06), Same good time and crazy line, I would be honored to see you there.” – Poet, Activist, Mahogany L. Brown (read more about Friday Night Poetry Slam @ The Nuyorican Poets’ Café. and be there this Friday (1/06), 10:00pm, to celebrate Mahogany’s anniversary! Happy Anniversary, Mo!)
What are YOU DOING with your craft to CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE in the world?
Art, NYC, NYC Artists, NYC Poets, Poetry, Poets, Spoken Word, Spoken Word Artists, Writers
