A PUBLIC HEALTH OF HEALING, RESISTANCE, & RESURGENCE

“against the relentless laughter of evil
there is less and less living room
and where are my loved ones?

It is time to make our way home.”

– June Jordan, moving towards home (1982)

In our ever-present moment of continued state-sanctioned violence – from anti-trans violence and erasure, to racialized pol-ICE violence, to ongoing settler-colonial violence in Palestine, to [insert], to [insert], to [insert] – what does it mean to have/find living room? As home, as homeplace, as belonging. Living room as a place – the sanctuary of sofa, being held, heard, nurtured, loved on. Living room as space – to breathe, to be full, to be whole, to move freely, to unfold, to be allowed/aloud. Living room as invitation – to grow, to be seated, to rise-up, to move in solidarity. What does it take for public health and our communities to protect/preserve room to live / living room / our living rooms?

In a time when LOVE *and* RESISTANCE must be simultaneous acts, this event will illuminate the necessity of both STATS *and* STANZAS to create public health futures of radical possibility.

We invite you to join us for an evening of healing, resistance, and solidarity, featuring poetry readings from a lineup of poets whose work embodies the spirit of poetic health justice. Featured guests include:

• Poet Brianna Renae (2018 & 2026 Slamlandia Grand Slam Champion)
• Poet Henneh Kwaku Kyereh
• DJ SoundsByDontā
• Music artist Nafisaria Mathews
• Photographer Sai Stone (ShotsBySai)

Friday April 24th
6:00 – 9:00p (open mic 6:00-7:00p)

The Skyline Room
Hilton Portland Downtown
921 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97204

Bring the fam. Bring the homies. Bring the kids. Bring the notepads. Bring the love.