Jazzy Colbert Presents - A Poetry Open Mic for Underrepresented Voices

Have you ever felt that your voice is not represented enough in our Ventura County community? My name is Jazzy Colbert, and I am a Cal Lutheran student with an interdisciplinary major called Psychology for Writing and Communicating. As a mental health advocate, I would love to witness the poetic expression of your story in my upcoming Poetry Open Mic on March 30, 2024 at Diversity Collective Ventura County from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The evening will feature poems from my independent study project that acts as my capstone for my senior year. It is my first ever poetry book called “Spiral Bound: Diving into the Doubting Disorder” about my journey of living with OCD for over 20 years. My goal is for this evening to not only be a launch for my book coming to Amazon in March, but also an opportunity for fellow poets and audience members to find community and validation for their struggles, whether that be mental illness, LGBT+ issues, racism, or any other cause that impacts your quality of life. The DCVC space will be full of art, from poems, to displayed OCD-related illustrations (which will act as chapter dividers within Spiral Bound) that were created by my dear friend Cia Atkins, to the opportunity to purchase handmade, one of a kind jewelry from by business Jazzories that benefits the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Free admission, free snacks, and a safe space to be our truest selves provided. If you would like to perform your poetry, DM @spiralboundbook on Instagram with a short bio and 1-2 pieces that you would like added to the set list. Time may allow for extra spontaneous readings, but I want to plan an itinerary that allows for everyone to be heard.

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This event is part of the Pride series.