Thank you for your consideration in sponsoring the Petals and Thorns Film Screening and Poetry Showcase that will happen on Friday, August 16th beginning at 7 PM. This event will take place at the Alberta Abbey, which has a capacity of nearly 400 seats.

Artist/Organization Mission:

The mission of The Poet Lady Rose: To provide education, empowerment and community services through literature and performance arts.

THE EVENT:

The event will be a combination of a film screening and spoken word poetry showcase. The film--my very first effort as a filmmaker is called Petals and Thorns: A Spoken Word Journey, which tells the story of four Black Portland teens' experience in an intensive writing and spoken word camp. It follows their journey from novice writers at the beginning of the camp to their performance of their very own pieces to the public on the last day of the one-week camp. The film is 30 minutes and there will be a short artist talkback and Q&A.

The second half will be a spoken word showcase featuring both youth and adults. There will be a few featured performers, as well as a curated open mic. From the start of the screening through the performances will be about 2.5 to 3 hours. The poetry showcase will be split into two sets--a youth set and an adult set, featuring a variety of performers, including headliners for each set. Four distinguished Black Portland poets who will be featuring during the showcase. Their bios can be found later in this form. There will also be opportunities for artists to be vendors at the event.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What are the goals of the event?

1) Showcase Black Excellence in Arts: Highlight the creative talents and storytelling abilities of Black Portland youth and adults through film and spoken word poetry.

2) Empowerment and Self-Expression: Provide a platform for young poets and young poets at heart to express themselves, use their voice to spark change and positive impacts in their communities, as well as highlight writing and spoken word as a vehicle for self-care and a tool for mental health.

3) Community Engagement: Foster a sense of community and connection among attendees by creating opportunities for artistic exchange, vending, and meet-and-greet sessions.

4) Support for Local Artists: Offer a venue for local artists to showcase and sell their works, thereby supporting their creative endeavors.

Who are the anticipated participants (i.e. who is this event/activity serving)?

1) Youth and Adults: The event will serve both youth and adults, with a focus on Black Portland teens who participated in the writing camp and local poets.

2) BIPOC Community: While the primary participants are Black youth and adults, the event is open to the broader BIPOC community and allies interested in supporting Black excellence in the arts.

3) Local Artists and Art Enthusiasts: Local poets, writers, and art enthusiasts will be key participants, both as performers and audience members.

What impact will this project or event have on the greater community?

1) Cultural Enrichment: The event will enrich the cultural landscape of the community by showcasing diverse voices and stories through film and spoken word performances.

2) Youth Empowerment: By highlighting the journeys of young Black poets, the event will inspire other youth to explore creative outlets and see the value in their own voices.

3) Community Building: Bringing together people from various backgrounds, the event will strengthen community ties and promote mutual understanding and support.

4) Economic Support for Artists: The vending opportunities will provide a platform for local artists to sell their creations, thus contributing to the local economy and supporting the livelihoods of artists.

In addition to the film screening that is central to the first half of the event, the headliners for the poetry showcase are:

• La Toya A. Hampton, MSW aka The Poet Lady Rose - Educator, Filmmaker and Spoken Word Artist (and this event producer)

• Brianna Renae - poet and founder of The People's Poets

• Judge Kemp - author of Live. Love. Leo.

• Qiana Woods - 2024 Grand Slam Champion of Verselandia! city-wide youth poetry slam competition

Poet Bios: Poet Bios Can Be Read Here

This event is a continuation of me platforming and highlighting our youth, as well as bringing people and organizations together who have an interest in investing in the youth and forming potential partnerships to do this work. There is also a link to a recent appearance on the local morning program Hello, Rose City, with poets La Toya A Hampton aka The Poet Lady Rose, Brianna Renae and Judge Kemp: