(Posted October 30, 2017)

Photo: Christine Reilly '18

Photo: Christine Reilly '18

Huntingdon, Pa. – Juniata College’s English Department will be hosting an annual poetry coffeehouse titled “Lift Ev’ry Voice: Call the Movement” in the Ellis Hall Ballroom on Nov. 2, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. The performance will include songs, prose, and poems by black artists, performed by Juniata College students and faculty. The event is free and open to the public.

The performances will include works by spoken-word artist StaceyAnn Chin, music artist Kaia Kater, hip-hop and rap artist Tupac Shakur, poet Maya Angelou, author Alice Walker and others.

Alex Bressler, a freshman, says, “I think this event really aids in literary education because more privileged voices are always discussed in English classes while other voices, like black voices, are often overlooked.”

Lift Ev’ry Voice performances are organized once every year by Amanda Page, assistant professor of English, and students in her Lift Ev’ry Voice course at the College, which is named for a James Weldon Johnson poem published in 1900 as part of a birthday celebration for Abraham Lincoln. Students in the class are responsible for heading teams of volunteers to produce all aspects of the show, as well as creating a theme each year. “Call the Movement” is an encouragement for the campus and community to be active in the continuous pursuit of equality.

Amily Buenrrostro, a sophomore, says, “As a POC [person of color] on campus, I enjoy this class because it allows black voices to be heard. I hope my participation in this class encourages more POCs to get involved with this event in the coming years.”

Tzipi Crandell, a senior, has participated in Lift Ev’ry Voice for the past three years. She says, “I love being part of a class that helps create such an impactful event on campus. It is so rewarding to watch the event unfold, and to see so many community members come out to support black artists.”

To hear the voices of black artists, attend the Lift Ev’ry Voice coffee house on Nov. 2, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

                 

--Written by Alex Bressler ’20, Taylor Smallwood ’19 and Allison Yearwood ’20 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.