With the rise in popularity of the spoken word movement and slam competitions, open mics showcasing various forms of poetry have become a constant in Philadelphia's entertainment scene. Yet, in Germantown, home to four of Philadelphia's seven poet laureates, a regular open mic solely dedicated to poetry has been noticeably absent.
That will change on Sept. 15 when the Wild Indigo Poetry Series debuts in Germantown with guest poets and an open mic. On every third Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., you will be able to hear the richness, rhythm and wisdom of poets known and unknown at Young American Hard Cider and Tasting Room at 6350 Germantown Ave. You might even be one of them.
According to Germantown resident and poetry fan Seth Anderson-Oberman, the new executive director of Reclaim Philadelphia, the series is "the brainchild" of the Northwest neighborhood chapter of Reclaim. "We hope the series will feed our spirits and souls and provide a different kind of community space for our neighbors."
The heavy lifting of organizing, curating and hosting the monthly series is shared by Chestnut Hill residents and Reclaim members Raina J. León and Sarah Browning. Both are nationally recognized poets with backgrounds in teaching, social activism and programming poetry forums where inclusiveness, building community and social justice are front and center.
A diverse group of acclaimed poets - two per event, from Philadelphia and beyond - are booked through December. Appearing at September's launch are Denice Frohman and Gabriel Ramirez, Philadelphia residents originally from New York.
Frohman, a former Women of the World Poetry Slam champion, has appeared on stages from The Apollo to the White House. Her current project "Esto No Tiene Nombre" centers on oral histories of Latina lesbian elders.
Ramirez, a queer Afro-Caribbean poet, activist and teaching artist, writes and performs on mental health, self-care, masculinity and social change.
"I'm so excited that they are the first ones for the series," said co-curator León "They both live at this intersection of arts and activism. Both are so committed to caring for people and helping make way for young people's stories."
Three of the nine poets in the fall lineup include well-known Germantown artists Ursula Rucker, Nzadi Keita and Sonia Sanchez, Philadelphia's first poet laureate who celebrated her 90th birthday Sept. 9.
Sanchez, with poets Carmen Calatayud and Roberto Carlos Garcia, will be featured at Wild Indigo on Sunday, Oct. 20. This program will be on the outdoor patio of Young American.
Following the guest performers, an open mic will take place every month but October. Anyone present will have an opportunity to share their work. Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis.
"There's great vulnerability from the poets who are featured, but also the folks on the open mic, sharing their stories and their experiences," said León. "That is transformative, because what is possible when we listen to one another, when we care about one another, when we're invested in one another's stories."
León, 41, an Afro-Latina, wife and mother to three children under 6, returned to her hometown of Philadelphia in 2020 to be closer to family. This followed years of study, multiple degrees, fellowships and teaching in far-flung places from San Francisco to Germany to Ireland and publishing four books of poetry. León is co-founder and editor of Acentos Review, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.
Co-curator Sarah Browning, 61, grew up in Chicago. Before moving to Philadelphia in 2019 to attend a master's program, Browning "co-founded Split This Rock, a social justice poetry organization based in DC" which she ran for a decade. She has authored two collections of poems with a third book imminent.
Concerning the name of the series, Browning explained, "Wild Indigo is a plant indigenous to Southeast Pennsylvania. So, it helped us ground the series in place, in the place of Philadelphia, the Germantown - Mount Airy border, Northwest Philly. It's a beautiful name. Raina suggested that we look at the local flora."
Both curators are determined to have Wild Indigo be accessible and welcoming. That's why they chose Young American Cider who is also a partner in the project. According to Browning, "We are committed to building the kind of space where everyone feels welcome, invited and embraced. That way we model the kind of world we want to build, one that is beautiful with our variety and community."
This commitment is why donations are optional and low; $5 is suggested. There will be a ramp for accessibility and León has arranged for live streaming on Instagram and Facebook.
Reflecting on Wild Indigo's goal to promote social change and build a multi-racial community, León said: "There's an old belief that says kings fear philosophers and poets. The reason those in power fear philosophers is that philosophers spark ideas. They interrogate, ask questions about the way things are, and think about what is possible. And poets bring heart to that. Poets say things can be different, not just in thoughts but a poem can spark people to think about the next step."
Reclaim is the permanent sponsor of Wild Indigo; Acentos Review and the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) are co-sponsors for September and October.
At each Wild Indigo event, attendees can order food and beverages if desired. Reclaim will have an informational table for voter registration and volunteering. Poetry books of guest poets, when available, will also be sold.
Look for more information on Instagram at wildindigo.poetry.
