Wednesday: Mothertongue

Mothertongue celebrates its 9th birthday this Wednesday. From their press release:

Celebrate mothertongue's 9 Lives at the Black Cat October 24 with special guests Karen Taggart (co-founder, mothertongue) and Sini Anderson (co-founder, Sister Spit)

Safe. Empowered. Creative. Heard. Since October 1998, mothertongue has encouraged women in the Washington, DC area to share their voices. mothertongue is a community-based organization that works to create a safe space where all women may speak freely and powerfully and have their creative and artistic voices heard. Through monthly women's spoken word events and writing/performance workshops, mothertongue encourages women to use their voices, art, talents, and skills to build just and inclusive communities.


This October, mothertongue will celebrate its 9th anniversary on October 24th with a slam-style event. mothertongue's organizers' drew the idea from their popular Anti-Valentine's Day Slam, which occurs in February. Instead of an anti-sentimental theme, slammers are asked to bring poems that are either inspired and empowering, or ones that are challenging or at risk of not being heard, similar to mothertongue's mission.

Like all the organization's slams, there will be community judges and a $150 cash prize to the winner and a $50 prize to the runner up. In addition, mothertongue will have a community raffle with fabulous prizes going at a song. To donate items, contact Meagan at mothertonguelibrarian@gmail.com

Sini Anderson will be joining us from Brooklyn, NY, and helping mothertongue celebrate by co-hosting the evening and as well as performing a set of poetry. A longtime supporter of mothertongue's mission, Sini is excited to bring works that are in honor of the evening's slam theme.

mothertongue will also honor the life and the recent passing of community activist, mothertongue friend and legend, Cheryl Ann Spector. Come join mothertongue as we celebrate where we have been and where we are going as we plan for our 10 year retrospective.

Got something to slam? Contact Michelle Sewell at msewell@mothertonguedc.org

When: October 24, 2007 Doors 8:00/Show 9:00 pm
Where: The Black Cat (1811 14th St, NW)
Cost: $8 (proceeds to benefit mothertongue programming)

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/sinianderson and www.myspace.com/mothertonguedc