Stamford, CT - Literacy Volunteers - Stamford & Greenwich, Inc. hosts the first Rhythm & Rhyme Slam/Jam festival to be held in Stamford on Thursday, December 8 from 6-9 p.m. at One Harbor Point Square. The event benefits Literacy Volunteers’ job training, English language and financial literacy education programs provided free of charge for lower-income young adults, adults and families with limited education in our community.
Over 150 guests are expected to enjoy the artistry of recently announced featured spoken word and music performers including Stamford native and award-winning playwright Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, sensational members of One Word, Connecticut’s youth poetry slam team, Evan Knoll and Maggie Kearney, and rising hip-hop artist Andre “Noodle” Rainey. Dick Allen, Connecticut State Poet Laureate, one of America’s leading poets will read a selection of his poems. Richard “Cookie” Thomas will complement the poetry with his distinct musical sound.
Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, artist, poet, painter, playwright and actor is described as "a tour de force...poetry, painting and beguiling recitations are the hallmark of this gifted artist." Iyaba, a two-time Connecticut Grand Slam champion appears regularly as a performance poet in venues across the United States and abroad, including Nuyorican Poetry Café, Brooklyn Moon, and Next Door Café.
Evan Knoll, an up and coming youth poet is a two time competitor at Brave New Voices, where he represented the One Word Connecticut’s Youth Poetry Team, has also competed in the Nuyorican Summer Slam and Wesleyan Weslam Poetry Series.
Maggie Kearney started slamming in high school and earned a spot on One Word to compete in California at Brave New Voices 2011
Andre Rainey, better known as Noodle the Innocent Child, is sparking a much-needed resurrection for positive and inspirational hip hop. Born in New York, “Noodle” has graced countless clubs in New York, Las Vegas and California, and supported the likes of KRS One, Joe Budden and Immortal Technique.
“What’s exciting about this event is the focus on language and music as sources of expression and inspiration and that is what Literacy Volunteers is all about – helping people find their voices while pursuing an a better life through education. The arts truly are the universal language,” says LVSG executive director Diane Rosenthal.
The event features music, poetry, dinner and a silent auction. General Admission Tickets for the event are $50 or VIP tickets for $100. Sponsorships are available ranging from $250-$5000 which include blocks of tickets. For more information call 203.324.5214 or visit www.lvsg.org.
