Date & Time
2:00pm PDT - 4:30pm PDT
About This Event
The afternoon will begin with a 30-minute musical program by guest artists, setting the tone for the gathering as sound and silence prepare the room for poetry. Following the music, our community open mic will invite poets to step forward and share their work in an atmosphere of attentive listening, warmth, and creative fellowship.
Scheduled to appear:
- Young People’s Symphony Orchestra- Ensemble Members
- Verna Lim and Guest, Cello & Piano performing original compositions
- Valdez Hill, Piano
- Valdez Hill & Chris Erwin, Piano Duets (4 hands, 1 piano)
Our featured guest poet is Stephen Sharpe.
Stephen Sharpe is the current, two-term Poet Laureate for the City of Richmond, CA. He’s a two-time author ("Defining Love" and "No Whiskey, No Tears") and also the owner of Afterword Press, a Richmond-based publishing company. He supports and organizes events, especially in Richmond, which address community needs and concerns such as literacy, gun violence, financial security, and equality. He has partnered with Barnes and Noble for their Local Author Showcase in the Bay Area. He's spoken at events and taught writing workshops organized by the Southside Church of Christ in Richmond, CA, the Richmond chapter of the NAACP, the Maya Angelou Library and Literacy Center, My Brother's Keeper Initiative, Richmond LEAP (Literacy for Every Adult Program), and the Oakland Unified School District to promote literacy and the importance of sharing your story. Stephen also partners with CoBiz to host an open mic at their Richmond location every third Thursday of the month, beginning in 2024.
Voices at the Table is an intimate, welcoming poetry open mic rooted in listening and shared presence. The intention is to create a space that feels less like a stage and more like a living room—where poets, writers, and listeners gather around language with care and attention.
Voices at the Table exists to strengthen community through poetry by creating a welcoming, intimate space grounded in listening, mutual respect, and shared presence. We host listening-centered gatherings that feature local poets, open-mic readings, and thoughtful collaborations between poetry and music.
Our mission is to build a sustainable literary community where both emerging and established voices are heard, supported, and valued, and where honest expression and meaningful connection are given the time and care they deserve.
About This Event
The afternoon will begin with a 30-minute musical program by guest artists, setting the tone for the gathering as sound and silence prepare the room for poetry. Following the music, our community open mic will invite poets to step forward and share their work in an atmosphere of attentive listening, warmth, and creative fellowship.
Scheduled to appear:
- Young People’s Symphony Orchestra- Ensemble Members
- Verna Lim and Guest, Cello & Piano performing original compositions
- Valdez Hill, Piano
- Valdez Hill & Chris Erwin, Piano Duets (4 hands, 1 piano)
Our featured guest poet is Stephen Sharpe.
Stephen Sharpe is the current, two-term Poet Laureate for the City of Richmond, CA. He’s a two-time author ("Defining Love" and "No Whiskey, No Tears") and also the owner of Afterword Press, a Richmond-based publishing company. He supports and organizes events, especially in Richmond, which address community needs and concerns such as literacy, gun violence, financial security, and equality. He has partnered with Barnes and Noble for their Local Author Showcase in the Bay Area. He's spoken at events and taught writing workshops organized by the Southside Church of Christ in Richmond, CA, the Richmond chapter of the NAACP, the Maya Angelou Library and Literacy Center, My Brother's Keeper Initiative, Richmond LEAP (Literacy for Every Adult Program), and the Oakland Unified School District to promote literacy and the importance of sharing your story. Stephen also partners with CoBiz to host an open mic at their Richmond location every third Thursday of the month, beginning in 2024.
Voices at the Table is an intimate, welcoming poetry open mic rooted in listening and shared presence. The intention is to create a space that feels less like a stage and more like a living room—where poets, writers, and listeners gather around language with care and attention.
Voices at the Table exists to strengthen community through poetry by creating a welcoming, intimate space grounded in listening, mutual respect, and shared presence. We host listening-centered gatherings that feature local poets, open-mic readings, and thoughtful collaborations between poetry and music.
Our mission is to build a sustainable literary community where both emerging and established voices are heard, supported, and valued, and where honest expression and meaningful connection are given the time and care they deserve.
Date & Time
2:00pm PDT - 4:30pm PDT