I had the absolute pleasure of hosting my third Open Mic Night in the Taylor Memorial Library on April 2, 2024.

Since the first event this past fall, the Open Mic Night has garnered a dedicated and compassionate community of performers, audience members, and supporters. There were many familiar faces at the most recent showcase, including alumni, students from other local universities, and my sixth grade English teacher! 

As always, we welcomed a wide array of acts; writers, poets, storytellers, comedians, orators, photographers, and musicians took to the spotlight to share their work. 

One of the most rewarding aspects of the evening for me was the opportunity to read two of my students’ poems. My students are enthusiastic writers who shine during the mini open mics we have in class, and many are eager to pursue writing and become published. Given that they are incarcerated, their opportunities to reach a larger audience are limited, and they were excited to connect with others by anonymously sharing their work about their experiences behind bars. 

I would like to thank the staff of the Taylor Memorial Library, chiefly Nick Ferrelli, and Professor Janet Zatta for their constant support of the Open Mic Night program, and all of the talented creatives who joined us. You’re all stars.

Whether you have a skill you’d like to share or just want to come hang and enjoy some snacks, be sure to join us next fall! I’m looking forward to seeing you there.