This past Thursday, Podium hosted an Open Mic Night for our high school youth, and without trying to sound overly enthusiastic, it was was a smashing success! Throughout the two-hour program, Podium youth truly showcased their creative caliber by sharing pieces ranging from commentary on social movements, to politics, to love, and even narrating a knock-down-drag-out space war between different colored narwhals. Youth from each of our six high school program sites attended, and in true Podium fashion they not only illustrated their unique creative energies, but also immediately established community with one another. When it gets down to brass tacks, that community is ultimately my favorite part of programs like Open Mic Nights.
One of the biggest requests we get from our youth is to give them as many opportunities as possible for them to interact with youth from other sites. As one might imagine, with all the different schedules our youth have on top of transportation challenges, these meetings can be a little bit challenging. When the stars align and they do happen, however, there is little that our youth do not connect over. Nights like last Thursday have the capacity to show both the connective power of language and the strength the Richmond’s youth community.
If you weren’t able to make it to this past Open Mic, never fear! Pics and videos have been posted on our Instagram @podiumrva and at Podium’s Facebook page. We will also be hosting another Open Mic sometime around mid-May.