19th Annual Poetry Slam Returning To Cleveland Heights

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — On Jan. 19, high school students from around the Heights area will gather at the Lee Road library and share their slam poetry. The event will give students a space to read their work out loud and engage their peers while doing so.

The event has been going on for 19 years and is open to all high school students. There will be food and drinks at the event, and prizes for winning poets.

This year's event is designed to tie-into a county-wide literacy effort.

"It is supposed to complement our participation in the county-wide One Community Reads project, in partnership with the City Club and the other eight library systems in the county," said Sheryl Banks, communications manager for Heights Libraries. "The chosen book is “Evicted.” We’re hoping some of the kids will have poetry related to the idea of “home.”

"Evicted" is by Matthew Desmond and discusses poverty and its role in the development of the concept of home. The county-wide effort to create conversation around the book will culminate with a reading from Desmond on March 15 at the Ohio Theater.

Students that want to take part in the upcoming poetry slam can register for the event by clicking here. Audience members can just show up on Jan. 18 and enjoy the show.

Photo from Heights Libraries