Open Mic

Celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Awareness Month at the Hull-House Historic Residents’ Dining Hall with an open mic night April 17 from 4-6 p.m. This evening will feature a local Chicagoan Native Hawaiian poet, Hannah Kolopuaokalani Ii-Epstein. The evening will begin with a few words from guest poet Hannah, whose spoken word poetry style is modeled by Hawaiian Pidgin, the local creole language central to Hawai’i. The evening will alternate between the guest and the public so the floor will open up to the attendees and all are encouraged to speak their own original works or published pieces that they admire.

Artists of all styles are encouraged to come with works that will celebrate the night’s theme: “To create in order to preserve.” Ask yourself: How do we use our creativity to preserve our traditions, relationships, and identity? How do we create relationships that are self-sustaining and restorative to our community? How does our love for creativity/artistic expression extend to our love in relationships and community building?

This event is free and open to the public, just make sure to RSVP. Free food and drinks provided.

Please contact emcfay2@uic.edu for your questions and concerns.

This event is sponsored by the UIC AANAPISI Initiative, which is fully funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions program.