Toronto Media Arts Centre
Voices of Today is a four day festival with workshops, open mics, and showcases run by youth for youth. It is the newest addition to the set of festivals run by Spoken Word Canada, and its goal is to bring together youth poets from all across this colonial nation to learn from community leaders and each other.
Voices of Today is scheduled to take place August 20th - 24th, 2019 in the Dish with One Spoon, or Many (Toronto). This festival takes place on the traditional territories of the original caretakers, who on this land are the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Petun, and Huron-Wendat. This land is governed by the Toronto Purchase between the Mississaugas of New Credit and the federal government. It is also governed by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Convenant between the Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee.
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Poetry as Knowledge Translation: This workshop will focus on writing poetry with the goals of clarity and translating emotions and events across many contexts and experiences. We will briefly discuss accessibility in writing as it relates to self- and world-awareness, participate in a few writing exercises, and spend some time at the end to edit if time allows. Please bring writing materials (if you have extra, consider bringing some for your neighbour, as they might not have any). All ages and levels of experience are welcome.
Inali Barger is a spoken word artist, educator, community advocate, activist, and has a habit of turning false dichotomies into biodegradable confetti. He has coached individuals and teams of poets to help them breathe into their own truths, locate their own experiences, and edit (self/others/the world, through words). Inali addresses intersectionality through the context of addiction, poverty, homelessness, mental illness, physical illness, queerness, research for advocacy on behalf of himself and others, and his nearly 11 years of dedication to the London Poetry Slam and Canadian spoken word community. He has competed nationally five times, placing 2nd nationally on the London Poetry Slam team in 2016, and was Underground Indies champ in 2017. He has performed, offered workshops, and spoken on panels at international and national conferences, universities, high schools, public schools, libraries, drop-in centres, living rooms and in conversations with strangers.