Skip to main content

Ohio Underground Railroad Whistle-Stop Poetry Tour Culminates in Capstone Celebration

By

 Poetry and performance to highlight historical significance in freedom movement

The Ohio Poetry Association (OPA) and Poets Against Racism & Hate (PARH) USA will partner with the Ohio History Connection to present a very special celebration of Ohio’s role in the Underground Railroad on December 7, 2024. The Capstone Celebration will be the culminating event of the Ohio Underground Railroad Whistle-Stop Poetry Tour, a series of special poetry and history events held at various locations throughout the state this year.

The Capstone Celebration will feature live poetry readings, music and dance, film, and a special panel discussion featuring local historians. Additionally, representatives from various whistle-stop sites will have exhibit tables to interact with visitors and tell them more about some of Ohio’s important Underground Railroad sites and educational resources.

“This whole project has endeavored to draw inspiration from the unifying spirit behind the Underground Railroad,” said Chuck Salmons, past president of OPA, who originally conceived of the project.

The Capstone Celebration will be free and open to the public and will serve as a great opportunity for the community, including families, educators, and students, to engage with the intersection of art and history to honor this important period of our nation’s history.

“We hope to make progress on human rights and social justice issues that persist today, reflecting the concept encapsulated by our slogan: ‘Poetry Moves Us Beyond’,” said Debbie Allen, cofounder of PARH USA and project director.

The event will take place on Saturday, December 7, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave, Columbus, OH 43211. Directions, parking, and other facility information is available at ohiohistory.org.

For complete information about OPA and the event, including a list of poets, performers, and historians, visit ohiopoetryassn.org. For information about PARH USA, go to poetsagainstracism-usa.org.

OPA and PARH USA are grateful to receive financial support for the project from the America 250-OH Commission and the Ohio Arts Council.

Media Inquiries:

team@ohiopoetryassn.org

Labels:
Location: Ohio History Connection

Popular posts from this blog

Casting a Line for Susan Glassmeyer's 'Invisible Fish'

By
by Chuck Salmons If you haven’t heard by now, OPA member and Cincinnati poet Susan Glassmeyer is the winner the Ohio Poetry Day Association’s 2018 Poet of the Year award, for her first full-length collection, Invisible Fish  (Dos Madres Press, 2018). On the heels of her winning, I corresponded with her to find out more about the collection and her writing process.  CS: First of all, congratulations on the award! Having read Invisible Fish, I know this is an honor that is well-deserved. How does it feel to have your name among past winners such as Mary Oliver, David Baker, and David Citino? SG: I was truly surprised to win this award, Chuck. I did some research after the fact and learned about the history of the award. What an honor to be part of this venerable Ohio poet lineage! I already own a few of the books on the list, not realizing the authors had previously won the award. And although I have many of Mary Oliver’s books, Twelve Moons (winner in 1980) was not among
Read more

Ohio Underground Railroad Whistle-Stop Poetry Tour Kicks Off in Portsmouth

By
The Ohio Poetry Association (OPA) in partnership with Poets Against Racism & Hate USA (PARH USA) will conduct a whistle-stop poetry tour of historic Underground Railroad stations throughout Ohio. The inaugural program takes place from 10 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturday, February 24, at the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center , 825 Gallia Street, Portsmouth. With the help of the organizations’ members and community partners, OPA and PARH USA will present a series of poetry readings at historic sites throughout 2024. Each site will feature poets and poems that honor Ohio’s legacy on the Underground Railroad and that raise awareness of issues of social justice, hate, and prejudice. A special capstone event will take place on December 7 at the Ohio History Connection in Columbus. The event will include morning poetry workshops for adults and children, followed by poetry readings and a presentation on the history of Portsmouth’s role in the Underground Railroad. A walking tour of se
Post a Comment
Read more

Odes of October Contest 2023 Winners Announced

By
Ohio Poetry Association is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Odes of October contest, as judged by esteemed poet, Paula J. Lambert. First prize goes to Nancy McDermott of Chardon, Ohio, for her poem “The Quilt Show.” First prize includes an award of $65 and inclusion in the 2024 Common Threads, as well being published below. Second prize goes to Timothy J. Richards of Olmstead Twp., Ohio, for his poem “Warlock’s Culinary Concoction.” This prize includes an award of $25 and appears below. Third prize goes to Daniel Moreschi of Neath, Vale of Glamorgan, in the U.K. for his poem “A Fitful Veil.” This prize includes an award of $10 and ppears below. The judge also chose two Honorable Mentions: “Caulk,” by Anthony Wyatt, Dayton, Ohio “October Friendship,” by David Lee Garrison, Dayton, Ohio  A total  54 poems were submitted for this contest. We are deeply indebted to judge Paula J. Lambert, ( paulajlambert.weebly.com ) author of “The Ghost of Every Feathered Thi
Read more