Governor Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine have released a plan to reopen PA on a red-yellow-green traffic light system.  For now, Allegheny county remains red.  We have taken the steps to move all of our May events to our Zoom room, generously provided by community member Torrey.  Thank you Torrey!!  The events calendar has been updated to reflect this change.

We have had a virtual event in place of pretty much all our scheduled in-person events.  These have mostly consisted of checking in with each other, reading some poems, comparing our currently-watching shows, show-and-tell, and just making a little space for our community.  On Tuesday, May 12 we have an open mic and hangout in place of the slam, and on Tuesday May 19 we are going to have an ekphrastic workshop – virtually visit a museum and write on a piece of art you see there!!  Thanks to James Croal Jackson for the great idea!!  If you have an idea for something new we could try virtually during this weird time, please let us know.  We’re game!!

The Pittsburgh Poetry Calendar Facebook Group is still a great place for our events and for those of friends near and far.  Tonight Scott Woods is hosting a live broadcast of Prince-themed quilts at Streetlight Guild AND The New Hazlett Theater is broadcasting Brittany Chantele’s A Fire on Venus on City of Asylum’s ‘The Show Must Go On(line) Pittsburgh’ channel.  Saturday May 16 is Art All Night online AND a League of Legends online poetry slam featuring ten spoken word artists with ten(plus) years of experience playing our favorite ridiculous art game.  I put all these in the Facebook group this morning.

We’ve all had good days and bad days.  We’re trying to help in our own ways individually and as an organization.  Please feel free to write us with your ideas.  We miss you.