“Poetry is not a luxury,” Audre Lorde once wrote. “It is a vital necessity of our existence.”
100 Thousand Poets for Change, which started last year as the brainchild of Guerneville-based poets Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion (pictured), takes Lorde’s words to heart. Spanning the globe and transcending cultural boundaries, the second annual event brings together poets, musicians and artists across the world for a simultaneous demonstration of “poetry, music and art to promote social, environmental and political change.”
Thus far. 800 events and 115 countries have been confirmed for happenings all over the world on Sept. 29. In New York, there will be an Occupy Wall Street poetry reading at St. Mark’s Place. Greece, Afghanistan, Egypt, England and Jamaica are among the participating countries.
The headquarters in Santa Rosa is the Arlene Francis Center. Running all weekend, the festival features a mix of poetry and live performance from the likes of Dubtown Dread, Jim Corbett, iHOP Slam poets, Sol Flamenco, Steve Pile Band, Moss Henry, the Crux, Ed Coletti and the Hubbub Club. There will be group meditations, workshops, and hip-hop flamenco, salsa and folk dancing. 100 Thousand Poets for Change happens Sept. 28–Sept.30 at the Arlene Francis Center. 99 Sixth St., Santa Rosa. Free. 305.753.4569. For a full list of events, see www.100TPC.org.
