October 23, 2013: Ellena Schoop presents “NU GRIOT’s Gumbo Revolution” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
October 15, 2013
The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the first in its 2013–2014 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota's capital city and the widely-popular genre of Spoken Word. Meet writers from the Givens Foundation for African American Literature's Black Writers Collaborative Retreat Program—activists and community artist—as they share their fierce, unapologetic, bold, spicy and healing works. Stirring DNA threads plucked from the bayous of America, Haiti, Nigeria, Brazil, North Minneapolis, and around the globe, into a seasoned and savory word soup, sprinkled with sound and movement.
Photostory: Mizna at the Lowertown Reading Jam
May 23, 2013
Mizna brought a diverse group of established and emerging writers and performers to the Lowertown Reading Jam stage. With that Homeland Security dictum "if you see something, say something" ringing in their ears, Mizna’s group of Arab American and Muslim writers gave voice to their own experience of diverse homelands. The evening was hosted by performance artist and Mizna rep Moheb Soliman, who presented his own work along with the work of Robert Farid Karimi, Kathryn Haddad, Nimo Farah, Willie Nour, Niny Salem, Jna Shelomith, Sarah Thamer and percussionist Khaldoun Samman.
June 26th, 2013: Marcie Rendon presents “Anishinaabe Song/Poems for the New Millennium” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
May 21, 2013
"Back at the turn of the last century there were folks who traveled around this country documenting Native people's demise. They took photos, painted pictures and recorded our songs. This evening is about Us singing our songs/reading our poems at the beginning of this new millennium to be recorded by Us for future generations. We continue to live. We continue to create." The "Anishinaabe Song/Poems for the New Millennium" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, June 26th, 2013 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series is hosted by Marcie Rendon.
May 22nd, 2013: Mizna presents “If You See Something, Say Something” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
April 27, 2013
This presentation of the popular and eclectic series is hosted by Mizna, the Twin Cities’ own nationally-recognized Arab literary arts organization, who will bring a diverse group of established and emerging writers and performers to the Lowertown Reading Jam stage. With that Homeland Security dictum "if you see something, say something" ringing in their ears, Mizna’s group of Arab American and Muslim writers will give voice to their own experience of diverse homelands. The evening will be hosted by performance artist and Mizna rep Moheb Soliman, who will present his own work along with other amazing artists of spoken word, performance, and straight-up poetry coming out of Mizna’s Silaat writing workshop series. All ages, no cover, donations accepted. Food and beverages for sale.
April 24th, 2013: TruArtSpeaks presents the (K.)N.E.W. MN Youth Poetry Slam Team at the Lowertown Reading Jam
April 10, 2013
TruArtSpeaks has been an active organization in the Twin Cities since 2006. TruArtSpeaks utilizes elements of hip-hop, spoken word, and the arts, to encourage literacy and develop leadership in the communities we serve, supporting a generation of vibrant young voices as they make their claim on the world. The (K.)N.E.W. MN Youth Poetry Slam Series is a program that seeks to identify six youth poets between the ages of 13-19 to represent Minnesota in the annual international Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Slam Festival. Come meet them!
March 27th, 2013: Sha Cage presents “The Blacker The Berry” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
March 12, 2013
The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the sixth in its 2012–2013 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota's capital city. This long-anticipated reading by 25+ of some of the most prolific women of color in the Twin Cities is curated by Shá Cage. Cage has traveled widely to areas such as Canada, England, Africa, New York, Bosnia, France, and more, teaching and performing her work that largely centers around topics of identity, class, cultural celebration, and home. Cage has invited the women to speak around a shared theme, "The Blacker the Berry." Expect laughter, deep thought, community engagement, knee-slapping, and finger-snapping.
February 27th, 2013: Saymoukda Vongsay presents “When Poets Found Bass” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
February 4, 2013
The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the fifth in its 2012–2013 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. The "When Poets Found Bass" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series, curated by Saymoukda Vongsay, features performances by Fres Thao, Desdamona, Truthmaze and Saymoukda Vongsay, with music by DJ Kool Akiem.
January 23rd, 2013: Louis Alemayehu presents “Nuevo Mestizos” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
January 12, 2013
The "Nuevo Mestizos" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series, curated by Louis Alemayehu, features performances by Emmanuel Ortiz, Leo Lara and Louis Alemayehu. "We will explore through song, story and spoken word some of the ideas of Gloria Anzuldua as to what it means to live in the border lands of culture, race, sex, class and nationality. There is a visionary identity that connects us to the world, ecologically, spiritually, politically, culturally in a new way... Nuevo Mestizos."
December 26th, 2012: Aimee Renaud presents “By Chance By Choice: Radical Writings on Family” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
December 4, 2012
The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the third in its 2012–2013 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. The "By Chance By Choice: Radical Writings on Family" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, December 26th, 2012 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series, curated by Aimee Renaud, features performances by Danez Smith, Laura Nuckols, Hieu Nguyen, Melinda Lee, Chantz Erolin and Aimee Renaud.
November 28th, 2012: J. Otis Powell‽ presents “Three Artists, Three Themes” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
October 29, 2012
The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the second in its 2012–2013 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. The "Three Artists, Three Themes" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, November 28th, 2012 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series, curated by J. Otis Powell‽, features performances by Shá Cage, Tish Jones, and J. Otis Powell‽
October 24th, 2012: Bao Phi presents “Where No Brown Has Gone Before” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
October 9, 2012
The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the first in its 2012–2013 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. The "Where No Brown Has Gone Before: Nerds Of Color Read Nerdy Works" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, October 24th, 2012 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series, curated by Bao Phi, features performances by Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria, Shannon Gibney, R. Vincent Moniz Jr. and May Lee-Yang.
July 25th, 2012: Katie Ka Vang presents “Many Hats” at the Lowertown Reading Jam
June 25, 2012
The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the final in its 2011–2012 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. The "Many Hats" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, July 25th, 2012 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series, curated by Katie Ka Vang, features performances by Joua Lee, Katie Hae Leo, Sai Chang, Linda Nguyễn, Kathy Mouacheupao, Iris Shiraishi and Simi Kang.