Following the success of its Black diasporic poetry workshop, Montgomery County Community College is continuing its year-long celebration of African American poetry by hosting an online community poetry reading, featuring two special guest poet laureates. 

“Amplifying Our Voices through Black Diasporic Poetry” begins online Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 6-7 p.m. 

Celebrate an evening of poetry with poetry readings by Montgomery County Poet Laureate David Gaines and Philadelphia Poet Laureate Trapeta B. Mayson. Each will read original works of poetry.

The event is free and open to the community.  

Dr. Fran Lassiter, English Associate Professor and Amanda M. Leftwich, Student Success Librarian, won grant funding last fall from the Library of America’s “Lift Every Voice: Why African American Poetry Matters,” initiative, allowing them to host programming at the College dedicated to enhancing appreciation of the extraordinary range and richness of the 250-year-long African American poetic tradition. 

Lassiter and Leftwich said Gaines and Mayson were selected because they were esteemed poets from the area. Gaines is the Montgomery County 2020-2021 Poet Laureate. He is a writer, actor and educator born and raised in uptown Philadelphia.

As a product of a traditional Baptist household and a child of hip-hop culture, Gaines uses his poetry to analyze and unpack how the performance of religion and gender intersect within his personal life and the greater Black community. 

Mayson is the city of Philadelphia 2020-2021 Poet Laureate. Her work sheds light on and honors the immigrant experience as well as amplifies the stories of everyday people.

Her writing primarily centers on the experiences of immigrants to the United States, the struggles of people dealing with conflict in Liberia, and the daily lives of average people, especially women and girls. 

“We wanted to have individuals with a connection to the community who were established poets,” said Lassiter. “They are known in the poetry community, so we are thrilled they’ll share their work with us on the event on 17th.” 

“We’re honored to have them and thrilled they were able to make the time for us as poet laureates, said Leftwich. “One is a poet laureate for Philadelphia, the other is the poet laureate for Montco. It’s an honor to have them both here.”

Additionally, the winning poem of the College’s “Lift Every Voice” Poetry Contest will be presented, and the unveiling of the original art commissioned for the event.

The two hosted “Creating Black Diasporic Poetry: A Workshop” on Feb. 3, featuring artist and poet, Sonsiris Tamayo, this past week.

MCCC celebrates African American culture and history annually during the Pan African Festival hosted by the Black Student Union.

MCCC was selected as one of 49 libraries in 24 states to receive the Library of America’s “Lift Every Voice: Why African American Poetry Matters” grant,  supporting public programs centered on a core selection of poems that illustrate five humanities themes at the heart of the project.

For more information, email Fran Lassiter or email Amanda Leftwich.

For more information on Montgomery County Community College , visit here.