Providence, RI: April 17, 2006 -- PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 17, 2006) – Day One in conjunction with Black Repertory Theater will present Activate the Activist, a poetry slam to generate awareness about sexual
assault. This all-ages featured event is scheduled for tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the Providence Black Repertory Company, 276 Westminster Street, Providence. The cost is $5 and a portion of proceeds will benefit Day One.
April is both Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Poetry Month. Activate the Activist: Poetry for Social Change offers open mic and planned performances centered on stopping sexual assault, supporting
victims, and eradicating the culture of violence in which we live.
"Art, in its many forms, serves as a powerful vehicle to awaken the masses to the many social ills of our
culture," says Lauren Bedard, slam coordinator and rural outreach child abuse intervention specialist at the Day One. "The words of lyrical artists have the power to activate the activist dormant within so many,
inspiring them to take a proactive stance and join the movement to eradicate sexual violence."
As part of the event, the AS220 National Youth Slam Team will perform followed by featured performance
by Mahogany Browne, from New York. Browne is nationally acclaimed and has been performing intensely creative performance poetry scene since early 1998. As a member of the highly regarded safe sex crew,
The Punany Poets (as seen on HBO's Real Sex 24 & 26), Browne aspires to alert the Hip-Hop generation with safer sex methods and currently spearheads the educational program Hip-Hop Poetry as New
Professional Theatre's Educational Director.
The evening will close out with the Adult Slam, featuring talented poets from across R.I. A poetry slam is a
three-round competition in which poets are scored on a scale of one to ten. Poets must have three prepared poems relating to sexual violence, and poets are invited to submit a written copy for publication
by Day One. Poems must be performed in under three minutes; one-point deduction for every 10 seconds over the three-minute time limit. Parents of younger children should be cautioned that this is an intense, uncensored experience.
Poets will create awareness by speaking to the following issues:
- What makes a sexually violent culture: factors, ideas, behaviors, environments
- An expression of a personal encounter with sexual violence as a victim, bystander, or loved one or a tribute to victim/survivor
- To my sons: what would you tell a young man about respect for self, for life and for women?
"Poetry is a perfect opportunity to illuminate problem sexual violence," says Chris Johnson, coordinator of
Virtuosity Poetry Night at the Providence Black Repertory Company. "The Black Rep routinely draws a large crowd for our slams, and we find great peace in raising awareness and getting more people involved to
help end sexual violence."
Powerful and personal works from the Clotheslines Project of the YMCA, will be on display showing
survivors' expressions of their pain and healing. Volunteer advocates from the Victims of Crime Helpline will be available throughout the performances to provide information and referrals.
Day One is sponsoring a number of events throughout the month of April. To learn more visit
