Street Roots poets held a reading of their original work Aug. 18 as part of the Old Town Chinatown Community Association’s Art in the Open festival. The hourlong reading featured 10 Street Roots vendors. Many of their poems had previously been published in Street Roots’ weekly newspaper or biannual zines.
“This was my first-ever poetry reading,” Street Roots vendor Aileen McPherson said. “I’ve done school readings, which is completely different. I think Street Roots helped to nurture the writer in me, giving me that voice so I could finally share that voice.”
Aileen said she wasn’t as nervous this time, with the reading on the sidewalk outside Street Roots’ Old Town office.
“These are going to be really emotional for me because there’s a lot of power behind the words,” she said. “My writing causes me lots of nervous anxiety because I’m sharing things that I haven’t shared in years because I wasn’t allowed to. Street Roots gave me that voice. People listen.”
Art in the Open, a two-day art celebration, was organized by the Old Town Chinatown Community Association. The weekend celebration included music, karaoke and sidewalk chalk art in front of local businesses and nonprofits.
