Commemorating the inaugural Philly Loves Poetry Festival as a celebration of Philadelphia's vibrant poetry scene.

WHEREAS, This April 14th to 17th, the Moonstone Arts Center will host its inaugural Philly Loves Poetry Festival. The festival will include four days of readings, workshops, films and performances; and

WHEREAS, Each day of the Philly Loves Poetry Festival will have its own theme. April 14th will be Women’s Day, which will honor the legacies of Lorraine Hansberry, Sonia Sanchez, Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba. April 15th will be Sonia Sanchez Day, in honor of Philadelphia’s first Poet Laureate. April 16th will feature workshops related to the theme of Poetry as Personal History. April 17th will be the annual

Poetry Ink: 100 Poets Reading

event; and

WHEREAS, Notable performers at the Philly Loves Poetry Festival include Sonia Sanchez, Afaa M. Weaver, Gregory Corbin, Amy Small-McKinney and John Balaban; and

WHEREAS, This year marks the 20th Anniversary of

Poetry Ink: 100 Poets Reading

, which is a seven-hour poetry reading extravaganza in which poets read their work back to back. Each reader is given three minutes. The event is a community-building event in addition to a performance, as it has a potluck as well as a poetry reading; and

WHEREAS, The Moonstone Arts Center’s mission is to “promote creative exchange through diverse cultural programs”. Since its founding in 1983, it has adopted the motto,

Education through the Arts from the

Cradle to the Grave

. Moonstone produces over 100 events per year in the Greater Philadelphia Area, including poetry readings, author events and history programs; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia is home to over 60 different poetry organizations, including the Moonstone Arts Center. These organizations span the City’s neighborhoods, ages and walks of life, providing outlets of expression for numerous Philadelphians; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia recognizes the importance of poetry to a thriving arts and cultural scene, which is key to a growing sector of Philadelphia’s creative economy; and

WHEREAS, Poetry is a reflection of the openness of democracy; as the Moonstone Art Center writes, “We embrace the concept that Poetry is for everyone and takes many forms.” Furthermore, in the words of Sonia Sanchez, who will be recognized at the Philly Loves Poetry Festival, “All poets, all writers are political. They either maintain the status quo, or they say, ‘Something’s wrong; let’s change it for the better’”; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,That we hereby commemorate the inaugural Philly Loves Poetry Festival as a celebration of Philadelphia’s vibrant poetry scene.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Moonstone Arts Center, evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.

End