words save lives

share your words
because the life you save
may be hers or mine
theirs or his
or yours
~ me

Spoken word poetry slipped into my life thanks to Shane Koyczan, a poet from Canada, whose words “Instructions For A Bad Day” crossed my monitor.  What he says!  His messages resonate with me personally & with the counseling I’ve provided all my adult life.  And so I began the quest to find the spoken word poetry community in my hometown.  And, the rest, as we say, is not yet history.

A bit of what IS history:

Annual Words Save Lives on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10
tradition started in 2014
Words Save Lives V.9.10.2015
https://www.facebook.com/events/501661989996172/
“Words Save Lives” in The Greater Kansas City online magazine:
http://thegreaterkansascity.org/?p=1960
Words Save Lives 9.10.2016
Words Save Lives 9.10.2017
Words Save Lives 9.10.2018
with more to come

Follow Voice of Lawrence Poetry page on Facebook
~ Voice of Lawrence Poetry Slam & Readings, May 7, 2014:
in the Big 6 Room, of the Eldridge Hotel in downtown Lawrence, KS with 75 people of diverse backgrounds in the audience & performing original work, ranging from classical to spoken word, from angry to poignant to hilarious.
~ Poetry at Lawrence’s 4th of July 2014 community festival
~ Poetry Alley at Lawrence Busker Festivals in 2014, 2015, & 2016
~ It’s a Poetry Thing, during April/ National Poetry Month
~ Words Save Lives, annually on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10
~ and the rest is not yet history

And I do my part, by:
~ featuring poets regularly on Talk With ME
~ buying books, especially from small presses, by local poets and other poets I’ve met
~ joining with the poetry community to help bring more awareness of the essential communication provided through poetry
~ encouraging connections between poets & people of different ages & backgrounds for whom speaking their words could be life saving
~ sharing my Faves

More Lawrence & Topeka, Kansas, USA area poetry groups on facebook:
~ Kansas Open Mic Poetry Network for Topeka area
~ Speak Easy Poets for Topeka area
~ Taproom Poetry Series monthly readings by featured poets plus limited open mic at 8th Street Taproom in downtown Lawrence

Also:
~ Kansas Authors Club, with Ronda Miller managing their poetry contest(s)
~ Poets are encouraged to perform during Lawrence, KS Final Friday Art Walks, especially at Lawrence Creates Makerspace
~ Raven Book Store in downtown Lawrence, KS frequently hosts readings by poets

contact: M.Epstein.LMSW@gmail.com