Verbal Blend, a spoken-word poetry program out of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and Nu Rho Poetic Society will co-host the annual Take the Mic Poetry Slam featuring Rudy Francisco on Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium, Newhouse 3.
Doors will open at 7:15 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
Rudy Francisco
Francisco combines activism and poetry to enlighten the minds of those who witness his performances. He eloquently absorbs the experiences of those around him, synthesizes them and converts their stories into poetry. Furthermore, he has made conscious efforts to cultivate young poets and expose youth to the genre of spoken word poetry through workshops and performances at schools and community centers. Francisco is the 2009 National Underground Poetry Slam Champion, the 2010 San Diego Grand Slam Champion, the 2010 San Francisco Grand Slam Champion and the 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion.
The poetry slam is a competition that includes students from Syracuse University, SUNY ESF and Onondaga Community College. The poets will recite original material up to three minutes. This competition is done in rounds and judged on originality, stage presence, content, delivery and time. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place.
“Take the Mic Poetry Slam has been a great space for students to be heard and recognized for their creativity,” says Cedric Bolton, coordinator of student engagement in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. “Students really look forward to the poetry slam each year.”
Joy Hutton will emcee the event, with music by DJ Zel.
For more information on Verbal Blend or the poetry slam, contact Bolton at 443-9676 or ctbolton@syr.edu.
