Tonight: Mothertongue's 10th Anniversary

There are a lot of birthdays this week. TNG is turning 1, and tonight mothertongue celebrates its 10th anniversary at the Black Cat. The community-based organization works to create safe spaces where women can speak freely. Through its open mic events and workshops, mothertongue encourages local women to share their creative and artistic voices.

Details: Tonight (Wednesday, October 15), Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW, show starts at 9 p.m., $8-$10 (proceeds benefit mothertongue's future programming), all ages.

Read on for more information about tonight's celebration from mothertongue's press release.

Mothertongue celebrates its tenth birthday on October 15 at the Black Cat, featuring spokenword performances by mothertongue co-founders Karen Taggart and Ruth Dickey, mothertongue collective members, and a splash of new voices.

After the open mic, the anniversary celebration will continue with local up-and-coming folksinger Nancy Eddy and the punk rock duo Trophy Wife.

The event will also showcase a screening of The Coat Hanger Project (2008) directed by mothertongue alumna Angie Young.

Unlike any other spokenword organization, the proceeds of each mothertongue show goes to a local beneficiary. Mothertongue is proud to have supported a diverse group of local DC organizations, including the Black Lesbian Support Group, Dinner Program for Homeless Women, DC Rape Crisis Center, Hannah House, Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive, Lesbian Services at Whitman Walker, Tahireh, Ophelia's House, Visions in Feminism, Girls Rock! DC, DC Kings, The Rainbow History Project, and Phasefest 2008.

Mothertongue calls upon readers from across the DC metro area to share their original spokenword on the celebrate 10 years of mothertongue with original spokenword performances. Natalie E. Illum, mothertongue's current president and longest-running board member, will also be stepping down at this herstoric event. She looks forward to being an inspired audience member at future mothertongue events.

Got something to read? Contact Michelle Sewell at msewell@mothertonguedc.org or Danielle Evennou at dmevennou@gmail.com.