September 24th, 2011 ~ BRAND NEW SEASON!!! Mass LEAP presents The 2011/2012 Season Kickoff Worcester Youth / Clark University “UNIFIED” Poetry Slam Series!!! Special Guest Performer TARA HARDY!!! From Seattle, WA

Saturday, September 24th, 2011 7pm-10pm / Kick-Off Event for the 2011/2012 Worcester Youth & Clark University “Unified” Poetry Slam Season!!!

Razzo Hall / Traina Center For the Arts. A beautiful 190 seat theater, located at 92 Downing Street, (towards Peppercorns on Park Avenue.) This is our first event in this beautiful hall, help us fill it!!!

7pm – Slam Sign-Up & Short Mini Spoken Word Showcase
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7:30 – Mass L.E.A.P. presents the first qualifying youth poetry slam for Worcester Area Teens (13-19 years of age) to earn points towards qualifying for the 2012 Worcester Youth Poetry Slam Team, slated to compete at the inaugural LOUDER THAN A BOMB / Massachusetts next spring! Poets need to bring two poems, 3 minutes in length or less and must not use music, props or costumes. Judges will be chosen randomly from the audience. Poets receive a ranking depending on their cumulative score. Mass L.E.A.P. (Literary Education & Performance) is a new state wide collective, working to increase opportunities for youth to share their writing statewide! The Worcester Youth Poetry Slam is teaming up to engage with other local Massachusetts Communities.

8:30 – Featured Performer – TARA HARDY – 7 Time Finalist at National Poetry Slam  Tournaments, 3 time Seattle Poetry Grand Slam Champ. Working class queer femme poet on a North East Book Tour in support of her latest full length collection, “Bring Down the Chandeliers,” out on Write Bloody Press. She’s Founder of the BENT Writing Institute in Seattle. Current Writer in residence at the Richard Hugo House in Seattle. She currently tours the United States as a poet, keynote speaker and teaching artist. She’s one of the fiercest and most respected performance poets working today!!! Visit her at www.tarahardy.net

“Her poems are hard at work, constantly seeing and telling. There is no death in her work. Only resurrection… she risks more than anyone, but expects no accolades. Instead, she does it to promote the sort of compassion and respect that everyone deserves, no matter where they come from.” – Rachel McKibbens, author of Pink Elephant
9:00 – Clark University Poetry Slam Qualifier – Open to all Clark University Students and Employees. 2 round poetry slam, same rules apply. Point system also in place to help select finalists for the 2012 Clark University Poetry Slam Team, looking to compete at the College Union Poetry Slam Invitational Tournament next spring.
This event is generously being co-sponsored by Clark OPEN club (LGBTQ group on Clark Campus). There will also be an opportunity for students to participate in a writing workshop, with Artist Q&A
the following Sunday Afternoon. Please email Clark Poetry Slam Co-Chair, Eric Devenney for more information.
Hosted by Youth Slam Director Alex Charalambides

$5-10 Suggested donation. This event is free and open to the public, but we ask for community support to help raise funds for both Clark Poetry Slam & OPEN Clubs.

Please help us spread the word and make this night one to remember! You can help by forwarding this invite to all those who are inspired by performance poetry and wish to support the next generation of amazing writers!

Video of our featured artist!