9th Hour Poetry Slam hosted by Charity Blackwell
Date and Time
Aug 12, 2022 9:00 pm
Location
14th & V
2021 14th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009
Aug 12, 2022 9:00 pm
14th & V
A Busboys and Poetry Event hosted this week by Charity Blackwell, featuring Shelby Birch
A poetry slam is a competitive event in which poets perform their work and are judged by members of the audience. Typically, the host or another organizer selects the judges, who are instructed to give numerical scores (on a zero to 10 or one to 10 scale) based on the poets' content and performance.
This is an opportunity for poetry lovers to enjoy the competitive art of late-night performance poetry!
Enjoy two rounds of high intensity poetry, with the audience choosing a winner.
1st Place Winner Takes ALL - $100
The Rules:
Partial funds raised for this event will support Busboys and Poets DC Representative for the Women of the World Poetry Slam!
Masks must also be worn properly (covering nose and mouth) at all times inside of Busboys and Poets when not actively eating or drinking.
HOSTED BY: the D.O.P.E - CHARITY BLACKWELL
Charity Blackwell (She/Hers) is a spoken word artist, host, emcee, and poetry specialist who has spent several years contributing to the arts scene in DC and across national platforms. She is a Trinity University graduate, where she received her B.A and M.A, for Communications. She is the Director of Creative Arts and Education at the arts and sports nonprofit DC SCORES and the D.O.P.E (Director of Poetry Events) at the well renowned DC arts cultural hub, Busboys and Poets. Since her early college days, Charity’s natural stage presence and charm have led her to many hosting opportunities, including events such as the Poetry SLAMS Poetry OUT LOUD National competition, Busboys and Poets, and many more. She has performed her original work on international networks such as BBC News, DC United Audi Field for the game opener, the Woman’s Sports Foundation, Major League Soccer Network, The Lincoln Theater, The Kennedy Center, The Hirshhorn Museum, Dock 5, and numerous stages across Washington D.C. and the east coast.
FEATURING: SHELBY BIRCH
Shelby Birch (she/her) is a Black queer femme who is a lifelong champion for artistic expression and social justice advocacy. Since 2010, she’s been a featured poet across the U.S. and competed in national and international competitions, including Brave New Voices, CUPSI (The College Union Poetry Slam Invitational), and Southern Fried. In 2017, Shelby published her first poetry book Lit: A Spokenword Anthology of Identity and Love. An intimate exploration of self-love through adulthood, her work grapples with themes of gender, sexuality, race, vulnerability, love, and heartbreak.
A scholar and public servant, Shelby’s service work and research sit at the intersections of education, gender & racial equity, and social policy. She served as an educator in Washington, DC, South Africa, and engages in policy analysis research to advance racial equity for Black communities.
An Orlando, FL native, Shelby earned her B.A. from the University of Central Florida and Master of Public Policy from Georgia State University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and a podcast enthusiast.
