Gigs in the New Year 2011

SAT - Dec 12 – Outside the Box @ Humphreys
New Haven CT 8PM

Thurs, Dec 17 - SWAP '09 @ West 78th Street Theatre
NYC, NY 7pm


THURS - Jan 7 – Bluestockings Bookstore
NYC, NY 7pm

Sat – Jan 23 – Girls Aloud,
Detroit, MI

Fri – Jan 29 – Poetraits @ Nuyorican Poets Cafe
NYC, NY 7pm

Wed – Feb 24 – Evergreen Community College
San Jose, CA 11am

Wed – Feb 24 – Bezerkeley Slam
Berkeley, CA 8pm

Thurs – Feb 25 - LACC
LA, CA 11am

Fri – Feb 26 - LACC – Regional Showcase
LA, CA 11am

Sun – Feb 28 – March 1 – Mentoring Literacy Seminar
Nashville, TN

Penmanship Books: Bklyn Bookstore Reading, TONITE! 8pm

Penmanship Books:
Brooklyn Bookstore Reading Series
w/open mic

Featuring Pemanship Authors:
Adam Falkner (Barbershop Chronicles)
Falu (His Rib & 10 Things I Want To Say To A Black Man)
Eden Connelly (Static & Other Lungless Things)

Thurs, November 19, 2009
8pm
@
Unnameable Bookstore
600 Vanderbilt Ave., bet. Prospect Pl./. St. Marks Ave
(2,3 Train to Grand Army Plaza or D/Q Train to 7th Ave)
FREE
hosted by Mahogany L. Browne


Come witness the literary movement where the artist convinces the page to swag on stage.

Limited seating!
RSVP suggested...

Monday @ Nuyorican Poets Cafe: Asha Bandele, Rosa Clemente & Iyeoka Okoawo

Destroy Rebuild & Other Reconstructions Book Review

Review By
C. O. Aptowicz (NYC, NY) -

In her latest small book (4" x 4"), New York City poetry Mahogany Browne proves her skill at mixing together seemingly disparate elements -- the poetic and the conversational, the public and the private, the heart-breaking and the hilarious, the enduring and the fleeting. Written during an election year, the book in unafraid to reference politics in numerous ways -- both overt & subtle. In "Sweet Potato Pie," Browne swears she sees Obama "boarding the A-train in Brooklyn" with his "swagger and caesar haircut." Later, she addresses poems to Michelle Obama, to Hilary Clinton and to a voter who said "I'd rather vote for a McCain than a Terrorist Lover." Not afraid to speak her mind, Browne further addresses poems to cab drivers who won't stop to pick her up, to the girl on MTV's "The Real World" who said "I don't care if you are the ghettoist person in the blackest part of Blackety Black Black Blackville," and to her ex who lingers and burns -- in part because they share a child.

But make no mistake, these aren't dismissable rants -- Browne's poems are thoughtful, engaged and honest. She writes tenderly about her daughter, her grandmother and the children she teaches. She shares both her greatest hopes and her greatest fears about what her past, present and future. She is a smart, informed writer living and working in New York City, and this pocket-sized collection is a celebration of that, and then some.

Upcoming Gigs Fall 2009

Sept 17, 2009
Adelphi University
7pm
Long Island, NY

Sept 21, 2009
Motherhood, Art & Activism w/
Asha Bandele, Rosa Clemente, Falu & MoBrowne
7pm
Nuyorican Poets Cafe (http://www.nuyorican.org/)
NYC, NY

Sept 28, 2009
Nuyorican Grand Slam Revival
Featuring: Regie Cabico, Andrew Tyree, Jamaal St. John, Ion, Aja Monet & More
7pm
Nuyorican Poets Cafe (http://www.nuyorican.org/)
NYC, NY

Oct 4, 2009
PoetCD Presents: JW BAZ One Man Show: No One Can Fix You
Special Guests: Jeanann Verlee, Adam Falkner & MoBrowne
7pm
Nuyorican Poets Cafe (http://www.nuyorican.org/)
NYC, NY

Oct 10, 2009
PoetCD Showcase
4pm - 6pm
http://www.westoaklandhostel.com/
Oakland, CA

Oct 24 2009
12:00PM
ETTYC Conference @ Hilton Pasadena
Pasadena, California

Nov 17, 2009
American Jazz Museum
Kansas City, MO

Mercury Retrograde According to CafeAstrology...

here's whats scary -- this is right now -- happening to me.

Mercury Retrograde through the Signs - September 7 to 29, 2009

Some people are more sensitive to Mercury retrograde cycles than others. Mercury-ruled Gemini and Virgo natives are likely to be particularly sensitive to the effects of Mercury Retrograde in general. This applies to anyone who has a number of planets in either sign. Also, check to see where Gemini and Virgo are found in your natal chart. If Virgo is on the third house cusp, for example, (which is often the case for Cancer Ascendant natives) communication issues may be especially strong. If either of these signs is on the fifth house, then we can expect some communication problems with people associated with the fifth house--lovers and children, for example.

Aries and Aries Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications in general and job or health-related communications because Mercury rules these areas of your life. Occurring in your solar sixth and seventh houses this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to negotiations, work, and one-on-one communications. Be as non-judgmental as you can with a partner and with co-workers. There may be the need to revisit old issues in a partnership, or there could be some communication problems with a partner. An ex-partner may resurface during this cycle. Misunderstandings with your partner now can do serious damage if you (or your partner) focus on words said instead of meanings behind the words. If you need to talk through problems, do your best to be as non-judgmental as possible, and don't over-react to what your partner has to say either. Mixed messages coming from a partner, or a disappointment, could occur now. You may not be as good at mediating disputes for the time being, but it's a good cycle in which to improve your negotiation skills. Re-thinking a partnership or a job is possible now, but you should avoid jumping to any premature decisions. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with partners, co-workers, and superiors, or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Taurus and Taurus Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications with lovers or children, and regarding financial affairs, because Mercury rules these areas of your life. Your judgment with regards to personal finances (Gemini-ruled for you) as well as romantic partners and creative endeavors may not be up to par just now, so do avoid "signing on the dotted line". Speculation is not advised during this cycle. Occurring in your solar fifth and sixth houses this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to romance, children, creativity, work, and daily routines. Be as non-judgmental as you can with co-workers, romantic partners, and your children. Re-thinking the suitability of your job and/or romantic relationships is possible now, but you should avoid jumping to any premature decisions. Work-related mess-ups can frustrate you. Double-check your work. There may be the need to revisit old issues with your children or lover, or there could be some communication problems with the same. Arguments with a lover may be blown out of proportion far too easily. Both you and your lover should avoid harping on the words used and try to get to the meaning behind the words instead. Or, a romance may not be moving forward in obvious ways. It might seem like stagnation, but it's actually a period of review and rest. Other possibilities include calls that are not returned, a lover is late for a date, or dates get cancelled. Speculation and gambling are not advised right now. Things will change once Mercury turns direct, so you might decide to try to keep status quo for the time being. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with co-workers, professors, lawyers, romantic partners, and children, or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Gemini and Gemini Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of your personal presentation or image to others and communications with family because Mercury rules these areas of your life. Because Mercury is your sign's ruler, all of the Mercury Retrograde issues outlined above apply. Put off making important decisions with regards to family and domestic matters (Virgo-ruled for you) just now, and take care when it comes to communicating with family members. Occurring in your solar fourth and fifth houses this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to family relations, romance, children, and creativity. Be as non-judgmental as you can with family members. New initiatives surrounding home and property are best left for a better time. Re-thinking your romantic relationships or creative projects is possible now, but you should avoid jumping to any premature decisions. There may also be the need to revisit old, nagging issues with family members, or there could be some communication problems with them. Family members may be on edge. Try to hold off on household repairs if you can. Put off decision-making with regards to home improvement, moving, and family matters for the time being. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with friends, groups, intimate partners, family members, romantic partners, and children, or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Cancer and Cancer Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of personal communications in general as well as communications about the past because Mercury rules these areas of your life. Your intuition usually serves you very well, but may not be up to par for the time being. Take care when it comes to presenting ideas, writing letters, and any detail work. You may not be seeing the whole picture. Occurring in your solar third and fourth houses this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to composing letters, emails, phone calls, and family relations. Be as non-judgmental as you can with family members. New initiatives surrounding home and property are best left for a better time. There may be the need to revisit old, nagging issues with siblings or neighbors, errands could go wrong, you might have trouble getting from point A to point B (example, transportation problems), emails or letters get lost, and so forth. Idle chit-chatting during this period may have repercussions! People might be misunderstanding your words. You may be forgetful during this cycle, and it makes sense to allow yourself extra time to get to appointments, if they are not cancelled in the first place! It would also be wise to double-check your work and communications before sending them off.

Leo and Leo Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of personal finances, as well as communications with friends or groups, because Mercury rules these areas of your life. Major financial initiatives should be avoided. Remember that friends don't mean what they say and don't say what they mean, and take what you hear with a grain of salt. Group meetings may be delayed or cancelled. Occurring in your solar second and third houses this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to new financial initiatives, composing letters, emails, and phone calls, as well as communicating with neighbors and siblings. Back up your computer and allow sufficient time for delays or transportation mishaps when going for appointments. As well, it would be wise to choose your words carefully. What you say or write can too easily be misinterpreted during this period. There may be the need to revisit old, nagging issues regarding personal finances. Take this time to re-budget instead of making premature purchases. Hold off on decision-making regarding money. Instead, take the time to re-think your sources of income and how you spend your cash during this period, but put off finalizing anything important for the time being. In fact, some money-making ideas or ventures may be put on hold due to circumstances beyond your control. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with co-workers, neighbors, and acquaintances, or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Virgo and Virgo Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of your own body language and personal manner (you may feel that others misunderstand you), as well as communications involving the career or public, because Mercury rules these areas of your life. You are ruled by Mercury, so the likelihood of being misunderstood, in general, is high. Put off career decisions as well, as career matters are Gemini-ruled for you. Occurring in your solar first and second houses this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to new financial initiatives and body language. Reviewing your budget rather than jumping into new purchases is in order now. Go over any financial documents carefully. Others may misinterpret your body language, and you should be aware of a tendency to give off mixed signals. People in your life may complain that you seem emotionally distant. You may appear uncommunicative and hard to reach, or what you say comes out wrong. Don't worry too much if others aren't quite "getting" you for the time being. Things will change once Mercury turns direct, so you might decide to try to keep status quo for the time being. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with co-workers, lawyers, and professors; or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Libra and Libra Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications involving legal affairs, travel, and education, as well as communications about the past, because Mercury rules these areas of your life. With Virgo ruling your twelfth house sector, somebody might be deceiving you or working against you, or nagging issues from the past may crop up and demand attention. Put off making solid travel plans if possible. Occurring in your solar twelfth and first houses this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to body language and intuition. Others may misinterpret your body language, and you should be aware of a tendency to give off mixed signals. People in your life may complain that you seem emotionally distant. This is a time to review the manner in which you come across to others--not so much whether it truly reflects your nature, but more in terms of whether it is working for or against you. You may find that you are less able to rely on your intuition. Perhaps you're picking up the wrong cues or reading too much into situations. Whatever the case may be, for the time being, you may not feel that your intuition is serving you well. Be as non-judgmental as you can, but do keep an eye out for deceptiveness and falseness in others. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with close partners and family members; or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Scorpio and Scorpio Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications with friends or groups, as well as intimate communications and shared financial resources, because Mercury rules these areas of your life. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to financial transactions and personal communications with friends, or, better yet, take this time to re-budget or rethink your plans instead of taking premature action. Group meetings may be postponed or cancelled, and friends may seem distant or confused. Occurring in your solar eleventh and twelfth houses this time, your instinctual judgment may be compromised, and extra care should be used when communicating with friends. You may find that communications with friends or with groups can easily get sticky. Group meetings may be postponed or cancelled, and friends may be uncommunicative or giving off mixed signals. On the other hand, old acquaintances may appear during this cycle. You may find that you are less able to rely on your intuition. Perhaps you're picking up the wrong cues or reading too much into situations. Whatever the case may be, for the time being, you may not feel that your intuition is serving you well. Be as non-judgmental as you can, but do keep an eye out for deceptiveness and falseness in others. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with friends and co-workers during this cycle; or, better yet, take this time to rethink concerns and grievances before talking about them prematurely.

Sagittarius and Sagittarius Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications with bosses or in your career in general, as well as communications with a close partner, because Mercury rules these areas of your life. An argument over joint finances can also get you into hot water. Hold back. Because Virgo and Gemini are on the angles of your chart, you may be especially sensitive to all of the Mercury Retrograde issues outlined above. Occurring in your solar tenth and eleventh houses this time, extra care should be exercised when communicating with friends, superiors, and co-workers. You may find that communications with bosses and co-workers, and other professional matters, can be tricky. Strive to be as clear as possible so that you are not misunderstood when dealing with the public. Put off making career decisions as much as possible for the time being. You may be re-thinking things regarding your life path, but it's best to think rather than act for now, as your judgment may be compromised. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with authority figures, children, and intimate partners during this cycle; or, better yet, take this time to rethink concerns and grievances before talking about them prematurely.

Capricorn and Capricorn Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications regarding travels, legal matters, or opinions, as well as communications on the job and with co-workers, because Mercury rules these areas of your life. It's best not to sign on the dotted line for the time being, especially when it comes to making travel plans or any legal contracts. There could be irritating mess-ups on the job. You might be inclined to miss important details in your paperwork, or might experience frustrating delays that result from co-workers' errors. Travel plans may go awry, or you may have a change of heart. Occurring in your solar ninth and tenth houses this time, extra care should be used when communicating with superiors and co-workers, and regarding travel or education plans. Delays are very possible. You may be re-thinking things regarding your life path, but it's best to think rather than act for now, as your judgment may be compromised. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with co-workers, professors, lawyers, and family members, or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Aquarius and Aquarius Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications regarding intimate and financial matters, as well as communications with children or romantic partners, because Mercury rules these areas of your life. It's not a good time to file your taxes or apply for a loan. Instead, take the time to re-think your sources of income and how you spend your cash during this period, but put off finalizing anything for the time being. Speculation and gambling are not advised right now either. Occurring in your solar eighth and ninth houses this time, extra care should be exercised regarding travel or education plans, and with any financial initiatives that involve shared resources. Delays are very possible when it comes to transportation, receiving support, loans, and taxes. There may be delays regarding financial support, loans, or taxes. It may be better to side-step arguments with loved ones that revolve around intimacy and sexuality. Investments made now may not go the way you want them to, particularly those involving joint finances. It may be hard to rely on the input of your partner now, and money you were counting on may not be forthcoming. It's best to budget rather than spend. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with professors, lawyers, acquaintances, and intimate partners, or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Pisces and Pisces Ascendant: All Mercury retrograde cycles particularly affect you in terms of communications with or about partnerships, as well as communications with or about family and home, because Mercury rules these areas of your life. It will be important to avoid signing any contracts or making important partnership or family/home decisions during this cycle. Occurring in your solar seventh and eighth houses this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to negotiations, one-on-one communications, and any financial initiatives that involve shared resources. Be as non-judgmental as you can with a partner. There may be the need to revisit old issues in a partnership, or there could be some communication problems with a partner. An ex-partner may resurface during this cycle. Delays are very possible when it comes to receiving support, loans, and taxes. It may be better to side-step arguments with loved ones that revolve around intimacy and sexuality. Investments made now may not go the way you want them to, particularly those involving joint finances. It may be hard to rely on the input of your partner now, and money you were counting on may not be forthcoming. It's best to budget rather than spend.　 Misunderstandings with your partner now can do some damage if you (or your partner) focus on words said instead of the meanings behind the words. If you need to talk through problems, do your best to be as non-judgmental as possible, and don't over-react to what your partner has to say either. Mixed messages coming from a partner, or a disappointment, could occur now. You may not be as adept at mediating disputes for the time being, but it's a good cycle in which to improve your negotiation skills. Re-thinking a partnership arrangement is possible now, but you should avoid jumping to any premature decisions. It would be wise to be especially clear when it comes to communicating with partners; or take this time to re-examine issues rather than communicating about them prematurely.

Womanizer - The Lily Allen Version - My Joint...

New Blog: Black Girl in Paris

Mahogany in Paris

www.mahoganyinparis.blogspot.com

de-con-struct

Your thoughts...

Write from Wrong Workshop w/Mahogany L. Browne

June 29, 2009
7-8:30pm
Urban Spirit Coffee Shop (Loft)
893 E Long St, Columbus, OH 43203

Writing and editing the page.
Poetry techniques and performance
tips for the slam saavy.

for more information:
http://www.myspace.com/writingwrongspoetry

The Newness

The newest lady edition, Ms. Tracy Soren... As well as the newest lady edition of my family:




Enjoy...

next step

there are so many pots on the stove. summer is near and my daughter is
preparing for summer in california. and i'm preparing a team for NPS in
Florida and i'm finishing up the overview for a new project. the collabo
is a bit insane -- i never saw it coming.





i'm also really excited about being able to bring my grandmother's legacy
to the forefront. penmanship books is awarding three young women with a published
book with all the fat lovely trimmings. i am happy to be able to do this. its
been a long road coming, but i'm here. i feel like ms celie on most days. like
the world is calling me and all my efforts ugly.

but then i remember i am breathing. i am alive. i am writing. even if all i do is write for myself - i am writing. and that in itself is beautiful. bitten tongue was picked up for the Underground Zero Theatre Festival @ PS122 in NYC (produced by TerraNova Collective) for the several dates in July and I bought my tix to Paris... but not before i visit SF for the poetry production culminating the ASA Conference. see. beautiful.

WHEN YOU WRITE

this is a blog. an attempt to stop the madness from crawling under your skin and living. forever. the poetry movement is maddening. the hbo special for youth poetry nationals. then the poetry slam @ the white house. it is ever changing and moving. one might forget the struggle is still alive and present. with the idea of michelle and barack clapping enthusitically for spoken word - you might ignore the promoter's that refuse to pay poets, though they have a door charge. or the non-profits selling poetry workshops for million dollar funding but neglecting their teaching artists by offering less than minimum wage.

the wheels are turning, but no one is holding on to the handlebars. that would mean we are responsible for our actions. so everyone mills around as if we are paying attention to the little details, like smiles and breath and life. human life. yet, we are worried about our 401K's and if we are PC in this "post racial" econonmy. but this is only a blog. an attempt to stop the madness from crawling under your skin and festering.

maybe now i'll be able to write a poem. i have shows to prepare for. and a president to uplift with my words.

SIDENOTE: SHOES

I want these. Am finishing a poem. Packing for Women of the World Poetry Slam & Slammaster's Meeting. Completing an anthology, Starting another anthology, outlining the bi-monthly poetry blog for new simmon's site and placing PoetCD orders in the mail. But I couldn' ignore the beauty of these shoes... Again. Rihanna. Pop star turned poetry muse turned shoe stopper.

Oprah: Love doesn't hurt

A lil' more

what is our responsibility.
Discuss

tragic wonders

sometimes life happens around you
and all you want to do is crawl up and
hide.

i've been running around like there is nothing
bothering me, like life is good, like my heart
isn't shaking into pieces every moment that i breathe.

i don't know how long this will work. atleast that is
what i think. until i see something like this. and
i think -- its bigger than me and my broken parts.
our world is broken. and we're just running around
with loose pieces...

the chris brown and rihanna situation was sad to
see. even sadder that i've seen it before. so when
she went back to him - i wasn't necessarily surprised.
more saddened than anything. but nothing compares
to the sadness of a silent and cold community.

check the video below to see how funny it is for a
woman to sustain injuries from her lover. how big
of a joke it is to be labeled the new ike and tina.
we've evolved into something so tragic...i wonder
what god thinks about us.

What Brooklyn Looks Like on This Side of Heartache

Hey Family.

Its been awhile. I've tried to keep you up to date as much as possible on the Facebook/Twitter thing. I hope that has helped. So to keep it brief - I'll shovel some bullet points your way:

• just got back from north carolina for almost a week of family time and relaxation. there are days when i didnt remember what Brooklyn smelled like - let alone look like.
• show in Richmond, VA. it was cool. big crowd. great fun. drove home same night, had amari with me, so it was all good. even though i pulled over and got an hour nap
• did a lot of shopping. and some pretty good cooking!
• published Sean Conlon's new book: The Pornography Diaries
• published Jive Poetic's new book: Typeface: Poems & Other Random What Not
• published my own book: Destroy Rebuild & Other Reconsructions of the Human Muscle
• preparing for SoundBites $1000 Team Slam (April 11 & 12th @ Roy Arias Theatre)
• preparing for SoundBites $100 Indie Slam (March 9 th @ Nuyorican)
• had the punany show in Brooklyn. looks like i'll be doing the other one in detroit in April. that was fun. the nostalgia made me feel like MO again.
• i fell in love with washington state. tacoma and seattle were magnificent.
• went to vancouver. got awfully sick. got to run into my peoples shaun scheme -- mr attorney street is still holding it down.
• headed back to tacoma for the women's empowerment symposium. UW of Tacoma - come thru
• found my heart on the sidewalk of Fort Greene Brooklyn, then Williamsburg Brooklyn. its pieces are still scurrying around like loose change
• more gigs to come -- check me if you can:

Advocate of Wordz Show - Featuring: MoBrowne, Jive Poetic & More...
108 East 108 Street & 2nd Ave Bronx, New York
Feb 21 2009
7:00P
Hip Hop Poetry's Advocate of Wordz B-Day Bash

Feb 24 2009
7:00P
MIllennium Poets @ Nuyorican Poets Cafe
NY, New York

Feb 26 2009
8:00P
Sessions - Feature
Long Island, New York

Feb 28 2009
6:00P
Binghamton University
Binghamton, New York

Mar 4, 2009
11:00A
University of Washington Tacoma - Women’s Symposium
Tacoma, Washington

Mar 5 2009
8:00P
BITTEN TONGUE @ AS220
Providence, Rhode Island

Mar 8 2009
9:30P
Lizard Lounge
Boston

Mar 9 2009
7:00P
SoundBites $100 Indie Slam
Manhattan, New York

Mar 21 2009
10:00P
BITTEN TONGUE @ NUYORICAN
Manhattan, New York

Apr 1 2009
8:00P
BAM
Brooklyn, New York

Apr 2 2009
8:00P
BAM Brooklyn, New York

Apr 3 2009
8:00P
BAM
Brooklyn, New York

Apr 11 2009
5:00P
SoundBites Team Slam
Roy Arias Theatre - 300 West 43rd Street NY, New York

Apr 12 2009
7:00P
SoundBites Team Slam Finals
Roy Arias Theatre - 300 West 43rd Street NY, New York

Apr 18 2009
6:00P
Plattsburg
Rochester, New York

April 18, 2009

9pm

PUNANY - Detroit

Apr 25 2009
8:00P
Utica College - AIM Fundraiser
Utica, New York

May 12 2009
8:00P
Writing Wrongs Poetry Slam
Columbus, Ohio

Oct 24 2009
12:00P
ECCTYC Conference - Hilton Pasadena
Pasadena, California

Women's History is Right Around the Corner

Need us for your women's appreciation show!?

Only a couple of dates left in March though.
This promises to be the BEST showcase that happens

to be headed by 4 brilliant women voices of our generation!

SoundBites is Back! 2009

In April 2009 SoundBites Poetry Festival will return with writing and performing workshops (sponsored by Poets and Writers), an Off Broadway Showcase and a $1000 Team Slam.

Showcase & Workshops feature:

Dasha Kelly

Ken Arkind

Alvin Lau

Grace Kimbalay

The team slam will be a 4 round event for 4-5 person teams. BRING YOUR A GAME! Anything goes including: group pieces, choreagraphy, props and animal acts! Ok, maybe no props and animal acts -- but anything that can be done with the poet and the mic is all clear.

Early registration is now open.This slam will only host 12 teams. The top two teams from the two bouts will go head to head to find out who gets the $ and the title. This is the time to finally work with your friends and your favorite poets!

Confirmed Teams:

1. TEAM AIN'T NEVER SCARED, NY

2. TEAM CHAMP CAMP, NY

3. TEAM INDELIBLE, NY

4. TEAM DICTION YOUR MOUTH, NY

5. TEAM RASCAL, NY

6. TEAM CONCRETE, NC

7. BLOOD IS COLD GANG, NY

8. MINORA TEAM, FL

9. TEAM NAHUATL, VA

10. TEAM INTANGIBLE NEW PALTZ, NY

11. Team (Name Released @ Later Date)

12. OPEN SLOT

http://www.soundbitesnyc.com/

keep an eye on us!

CHECK OUT: in SUPPORT OF MICHELLE OBAMA www.secondladies.com

Welcome to the Second Ladies website! I have written this introductory note to tell you a little bit about who I am and how Second Ladies came to be. Renaissance, the name by which the Secret Service refers to Michelle Obama strikes me as a good place to start.
When the Secret Service revealed a few weeks ago that Michelle Obama's code name would be Renaissance, I thought, "That's interesting." Interesting that the Secret Service just told us what her code name is. Is that safe? Interesting that this particular moniker had been chosen for this phenomenal woman. How fitting for Michelle. Our First Lady is the ultimate multi-tasker, who manages to imbue each role that she undertakes with extraordinary dignity. But before I digress into a panegyric on the subject of Michelle Obama, I must go back to the beginning. And while I do not intend to tackle the whole Adam's Rib question in this missive, I must acknowledge that with respect to Michelle Obama and my awareness of her, Barack Obama came first.
Like so many Americans, I have been deeply moved by the candidacy and election of Barack Obama. As a mom with a few fancy degrees on my resume, I found myself at a crossroads on the night of November 4th when Barack Obama called all of us to service. I'd just returned to Brooklyn that morning from a weekend trip to Virginia, where I'd knocked on doors for the Obama/Biden campaign for several days with my husband, our two-year-old son and our four-year-old daughter. Indeed, I was so busy calling my father, a field organizer in Virginia, to celebrate Obama's win in the Old Dominion that I practically missed the announcement on the news when they called the overall election for Obama. What a night! My phone rang incessantly with calls from elated friends and family, all wanting to share the moment as my husband and I celebrated in our apartment's living room. The euphoria that night was extraordinary.

The party in our house was in full swing, and it was only 11:00... I could still hang out like a woman without a care in the world for another whole hour without being too tired in the morning to run the 7:00 AM drill of getting my kids dressed and ready for the morning's activities. Then, the president-elect began to speak. Barack Obama obviously did not realize how much fun I was having, because he got right down to brass tacks. His remarks that night were brilliant, but he wasn't exactly raising the roof. He was coming out of the gate with a new tone, a sober one. He signaled that he was going to be a healer, a uniter and a pragmatist. He reminded us that although we'd won an opportunity to realize the true greatness of our country, it was not going to come easy. We were going to have to get out there and keep on earning the right to more nights like this. We'd rolled up our sleeves to help Obama win, and he made it clear that night in Grant Park that our work was just beginning. His remarks sent me into a bit of a tailspin, and it wasn't just because he'd killed my buzz.

I'd recently resigned as general manager of a record label founded by John Legend. I'd spent the past few months savoring the extra free time with my children as I began to think about my new career path. I had my checklists organized. I'd brainstormed the pros and cons of various career opportunities. I'd even joined ladders.com, and now here in the middle of my methodical career search, Barack Obama was telling me to jump in the fray and make a difference. DO SOMETHING!! So, I did. Or at least, I tried. I went on a quest to find volunteer opportunities in my area that would be a match for my skills. It was harder than I thought to figure out which organizations were legit. It was harder still to find ways to volunteer in a hands-on way. I found that a lot of organizations preferred for me to make a financial contribution. I understood where they were coming from. The mission of these organizations was not to facilitate my desire to volunteer. Nonetheless, I was frustrated. I wondered how many other people with meaningful skills and good intentions had been discouraged after a few unsuccessful attempts to get involved. I began to mull this over in my head and thought about creating an organization to facilitate a volunteer matching service, but then I thought, "Why would anyone care? I'm no one." So, I moved the concept to the back burner and focused on a few short term consulting projects.

One night a few weeks later, I was singing my kids to sleep. "When the Saints go marching in, oh when the Saints go marching in." As my kids dozed off, I lay there and continued singing for a few more minutes to make sure they were sound asleep. I reflected on an email I'd received earlier in the day from a friend about some of the alleged threats against the president-elect. My friend was very upset in her email. She wanted to know what we could do to make sure that the Obama family was always safe. I lay there with my arms around my kids and thought about the vulnerability of the Obama family--not their physical vulnerability, but their exposure to all manner of painful and disruptive criticisms and attacks. I thought about the inevitable chaos of the public life that Michelle Obama would have to navigate for herself and her girls on the world stage. In that moment, I wanted to wrap my arms around this woman I'd never met to let her know that I was wishing her well. Then, I remembered my idea, my volunteer matching idea. I decided to bring the two impulses together. "Oh Lord, I want to be in that number, when the Saints go marching in." And it was then that Second Ladies was born.

I have summoned everything that I am and everything that I know how to do to build this community. I am calling on all of my friends across a wide range of backgrounds to help me in creating a safe haven for the incredible woman who will support our president. I am urging every American who has been inspired by the Obamas' call to service to get involved, not with Second Ladies necessarily, but in your community. Second Ladies is a conduit. This site is meant to be a gathering place, the Grand Central Station of the volunteer movement inspired by Michelle Obama. Like any transportation hub, we'll have lots of fun chatter and information, but we are also here to help you get someplace. We want to get you out into the world where you can make a difference. In answer to the Obamas' clarion call, I am asking you to join me in this movement. Become one of the First Lady's Foot Soldiers. Put your boots (or stilettos) on the ground for a good cause. Michelle Obama has identified a number of causes that are close to her heart, but she has also indicated that the most important thing that any of us can do is to get out there and DO SOMETHING. HELP SOMEBODY. So whatever the causes may be that inspire you to action, I encourage you to join this community in order to find like-minded individuals motivated to serve with you.

It is my hope that Second Ladies will help us to help others, but even more than that, I envision a community that will empower us to help ourselves. By coming together in the course of our busy lives to exchange opinions, we will create a support network for each other. We will liberate ourselves from the isolation of our busy modern lives, and hopefully we will give each other ideas about how we can manage all the balls that we have in the air. Whether you are in your twenties or your sixties, married or single, working at a job or working in your home, a parent or an adult without kids, I am certain that you have a lot on your plate. By following Michelle Obama's example and by supporting her and offering her advice in her complex role as First Lady and Mom-In-Chief, we too can learn to multi-task with greater personal fulfillment, to become more balanced. As we help Michelle Obama succeed in realizing her vision as First Lady, she will help us to do the same in our own lives. Michelle Obama's code name is particularly apt, because with her example and her charge, she has ushered in a renaissance for all of us. Second Ladies is my humble attempt to capture this lightning in a jar, to turn it into a movement that will carry on even when the posters and the buttons (and my "Obama Mama" t-shirts) are put away, and to give it a name.

I hope you will join us,
Drew Dixon Williams Founder, Second Ladies

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Mahogany featured in: WWW.UPUNDERTHESTAIRCASE.ORG

We are pleased to announce that the Winter issue of Up the Staircase is now officially live!
We hope that everyone enjoys the new issue along with a few changes that we have made. This issue contains a note from the editors, as well as a special feature from co-editor Stephanie Anderson called "On Winter." Our "Up the Staircase In..." article features the southern town of Clarksville, TN this quarter. We hope everyone stops by Carolyn Ferrell's section to hear about her novel on Clarksville.
Our Literary Reviews page and our Back Issues page have been changed to include all past contributors! We hope you check out these rejuvenated sections.
As usual we have some seriously high quality writing in our poetry and fiction sections:
FEATURED WRITER: Nanette Rayman Rivera

Poetry by:

Mahogany L. Browne
Jane Crown
Amy L. George
Mary Johnston
Jennifer LeBlanc
Sandee Lyles
Corey Mesler
Renata McCormish
Benjamin Stainton Shawn
Nacona Stroud
S. Thomas Summers

Fiction by:
Grace Andreacchi
Kori E. Frazier
Dennis Hiatt
Miriam Matzeder
Michelle Reale
Elaine Rosenberg
MillerMeg Pokrass
Paula Ray

We are also featuring a book review of Rowena Cherry's "Knight's Fork",
Anthony Pritchard's book of poems "Mirror Realms", and Oneal Walters' "The Age Begins."

Also, check out our new contest winner!
Thank you to everyone, we hope you enjoy!
your editors,
April Michelle Bratten
and Stephanie Anderson.
www.upthestaircase.org

Mahogany Performs with BITTEN TONGUE

ONE NIGHT ONLY:

Bitten Tongue is comprised of Aja-Monet, Eboni, Falu & Mahogany L. Browne. This firestorm is a testament to the fearlessness of mothers; the beauty of sisters and the spellbinding wonder of poets with a mean stare and a hate of fashion faux pas. They have united to fight against people that wear they're sweaters tucked into their pants and wack pick up lines.Bring your girlfriends, your neices, your daughters and your mothers foran evening of pretty drinks and pretty shoes.Please join NYC's first ladies of poetry in their first theatrical production.