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POSITIV CHAINGE, a poetry group
dedicated to preserving & promoting the
spoken word in the greater Baltimore
area. Founded by BLEEK, lead host, the
former co-host of poetry nite at Essence
of Thoughts-the Bookstore, teamed with
Lyrical Conscious to form POZATIV
CHAINGE. Co-founder Lyrical Conscious,
former co-host of Cades Restaurant
poetry nite, had the idea of the hosts
coming together to keep poetry alive in
the greater Baltimore area since venues
were closing; for example Larry
Stewarts, Cades & Essence of Thoughts
-the Bookstore. This venture began in
the summer of 1999, while contemplating
where poetry would be held in the fall,
especially, since Lyrical Conscious &
the Cades' poets began holding open mic
poetry in the open air, in the inner
harbor pavilion in front of the Science
Center. After deciding to form a union,
Bleek & Lyrical set out to find a new
venue for poetry, just one look across
the harbor & a possible solution was
found. POZATIV CHAINGE became a
collaboration of former hosts of poetry
venues around Baltimore City. A meeting
with Barnes & Noble's Community
Representative, Parissa Snider, gave
POZATIV CHAINGE a venue to hold open mic
poetry, monthly - every last Tuesday.
Then, in the same month, POZATIV CHAINGE
secured a second venue in the Woodlawn
area that held open mic poetry monthly -
every second Saturday. The following
month another venue was secured, Les
Nubian, in Reservoir Hill, with open mic
poetry - every second Tuesday of the
month. So, in the span of 60-days,
POZATIV CHAINGE, had accomplished its
goal, and provided a poetry venue for
youth at Sibanye's - African American
bookstore on Rogers Avenue.
Prior to opening a poetry series at
Barnes & Noble - Inner Harbor (the power
plant) in September of 1999 with an
attendance of nearly 100 patrons, BLEEK
was commissioned by the Baltimore Office
of Promotions to host & organize the
Baltimore Book Festival's Poetry Slam
contest in September of 1999, 2000 &
2001. The event, ironically, was held in
the Barnes & Noble Coffee Bar tent in
1999. Each event was a hugely
successful.
POSITIV CHAINGE, a non -profit
organization, also held a very
successful fundraiser at Uncle Lee's Szechuan Restaurant in October 1999 &
2000. The program was an open mic poetry
event with a published featured poet & a
live jazz band: UNIT ONE. Them in
October 2002 held a fourth anniversary
show with Temika Moore (vocalist) at
Howard County Arts Center sponsored by
Harmony of the Sol, Inc.
Then, with the same speed that venues
were obtained, POZATIV CHAINGE,
increased its membership from two to
four. The members are as follows: BLEEK,
Lyrical Conscious, Mel Brooks & Romelle
Johnson. Later in September 2002 added
new members: Sara Heilbron, Towanda
Parker (of
www.Towandaparker.com)
& Terressa McCree.
POSITIV CHAINGE was responsible for
hosting & organizing the year 2000
ARTSCAPE Poetry Slam contest on Sunday,
July 23; sponsored by the Mayor's
Advisory Committee on Art & Culture.
Also, POZATIV CHAINGE made an appearance
on the local WJZ-TV talk show "On Time"
to promote the poetry slam for ARTSCAPE.
Also, on Sunday, July 28, 2002, POSITIV
CHAINGE was responsible for hosting the
first ARTSCAPE Teen Poetry Slam;
sponsored by the Maryland State Poetry &
Literary Society and the Baltimore
Office of Promotions and the Arts. Also,
POSITIV CHAINGE was responsible for the
second ARTSCAPE Teen Slam on 2003.
POSITIV CHAINGE has appeared numerous
times on the radio station of Morgan
State University's WEAA 88.9 FM
programs: Sandy Mallory Show (the
Station Director), The Back Page Talk
Show with Craig Thompson, Friday Night
Jazz Club with Angel, and several
appearances on The Magic Bird Show with
Lasana Bill Harvey. POZATIV CHAINGE were
featured poets at Essex Community
College's Poetry Month Program in April
2000. POZATIV CHAINGE featured at
Clifton T. Perkins - Correctional
facility in April 2000 & 2001. |
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