February 19th!!! Worcester Youth / Clark U. UNIFIED Poetry Slam #4 w/ Special Guest JARED PAUL!!!

The Worcester Youth Poetry Slam & Clark University Poetry Slam Club are Proud to present:

THE “UNIFIED SLAM” Prelim #4

February 19th, 2010 7pm – “The Grind” at Higgins Student Center Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610

hosted by Alex Charalambides & Tak Mogel

We’re super excited to welcome special guest feature…

Strange Famous Recording Artist

JARED PAUL – poet, organizer, independent journalist, and social worker from Providence, Rhode Island. Known for thoroughly researched work, poignant presentation, and dedication to craft, Jared is also widely recognized as one of the top spoken word artists in the country.  His performance accolades include nation wide tours with world-renowned poet and Epitaph Recording artist Sage Francis, featuring at the 2007 Green-Build World Expo, and advancing to the Individual World Poetry Slam Final’s (click for video) in both 2006 and 2007. Explosive delivery and intense politics have made Jared a stand out on the mic, but nearly a decade of matching those words with constant involvement in direct action off stage, has made him nearly legendary in the world of performance poetry.  Jared has helped organize, and participated in, countless social forums, indy-media fundraisers, electoral campaigns for progressive candidates, street theater actions, block letter writing/phone banking endeavors, anti-war protests, labor rallies, and extensive working class lobbies throughout the United States, Canada, & England.  Jared covered the 2004 Democratic and Republican National Conventions for 90.3FM WRIU News, and both the DNC and the RNC in 2008 for the Rhode Island publication, “The Agenda.” Throughout national performance tours spanning over 150 cities and more than 20 National Poetry Slam tournaments, Jared’s versatility as a writer, vocalist, speaker, and emcee have allowed his work to thrive where many solo performers cannot.  Whether Training School, University, coffee shop, conference, lecture hall, street corner, festival, classroom, protest, or center stage in front of 2,000 Roaring Hip Hop fans with just a mic and his voice, Jared is a rare performer with the ability to captivate and inspire in any setting. Jared is also the founder and coach of the Providence National Youth Slam Team, assisting & encouraging Rhode Island youth to seize the reins of performance art as an outlet for both un-refined creative expression, and as a means of specific artistic statement as well.  Under Jared’s direction Team Providence has advanced to the national Final’s Stage at The Brave New Voices Festival in 2004, 2006, and 2007 (placing 2nd in the nation in 2007.) Jared has participated in and run workshops, slams, and open mics in youth correctional facilities, high schools, community colleges, writer’s groups, and universities across America. To see more of Jared online check out this VIDEO or go to www.myspace.com/jaredpaul for more on him and his band, Prayers for Atheists.

THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE WORCESTER CULTURAL COMMISSION, A LOCAL AGENCY WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL, A STATE AGENCY

THIS IS GONNA BE ANOTHER JAM-PACKED 2 HOUR SHOW!!! Preliminary Youth Slam #4, top three teen poets will earn points that will land them into the final Grand Slam which will determine the 2010 Worcester Youth Poetry Slam Team traveling to Los Angeles for the Brave New Voices Youth Festival.

There will also be a Clark University Poetry Slam Preliminary Match #4 to help determine their representatives for the College Union National Poetry Slam happening this spring in Boston! Winners of past slams include Tak, Eric and Sarah!

This event is free & open to the public. We will be asking for and accepting donations on behalf of the slam teams as we try to raise money for our travel and registration expenses. We will also have merchandise on hand, t-shirts, CD’s, books, etc. So stop by that ATM Machine and help support the spoken word movement in Worcester!!!