This special evening features poet, author, editor and publisher of Third World Press, Dr. Haki Madhubuti, who’ll read from and discuss his newest book, Taught By Women: Poems as Resistance Language. Madhubuti will read and be joined in conversation by Dr. Romi Crawford from the Art Institute of Chicago. In these new and selected poems, prolific artist and activist Haki Madhubuti pays homage to the many women who have influenced him and contributed to his unique worldview, with warm verses and timeless reverence. Each poem is a vivid portraiture of the “magnificent energy” emanating from a rainbow of Black women. 

Pitt Jazz presents a two day event on life after incarceration. (One time registration grants access to both evenings.) Feb. 4th 7:00 PM Film Screening “The Honest Struggle: Living as a Target” Feb. 5th 7:00 PM Film discussion on the role of institutional racism in the prison industrial complex and the challenges of re-entry after incarceration. Live Panel The Pitt Jazz program of the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Music in collaboration with City of Asylum presents a two day event that includes a live screening of the film “The Honest Struggle” by filmmaker Justin Mashouf and a panel discussion followed by a musical performance of original music by vocalist/pianist Sadiq Davis and vocalist Aquilla Sadalla. 

Pitt Jazz presents a two day event on life after incarceration. (One time registration grants access to both evenings.) Feb. 4th 7:00 PM Film Screening “The Honest Struggle: Living as a Target” Feb. 5th 7:00 PM Film discussion on the role of institutional racism in the prison industrial complex and the challenges of re-entry after incarceration. Live Panel The Pitt Jazz program of the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Music in collaboration with City of Asylum presents a two day event that includes a live screening of the film “The Honest Struggle” by filmmaker Justin Mashouf and a panel discussion followed by a musical performance of original music by vocalist/pianist Sadiq Davis and vocalist Aquilla Sadalla. 

An intimate evening of live readings with exceptional Pittsburgh writers co-curated by Pat Hart and Marc Nieson of the Free Association Reading Series. Founded in May of 2016, Free Association Reading Series is for established and emerging Pittsburgh writers of prose, poetry, and non-fiction. Not affiliated with any formal writing programs, FARS is ‘non denominational’ and draws writers from universities, workshops, and those toiling away alone in their garrets.

Join us for the regional premier and unreleased screening of “The Many Lives of Kojin” hosted by ReelQ. This program includes an exclusive interview with director Diako Yazdani. With a great sense of humor, Filmmaker Diako Yazdani, a political refugee in France, returns to see his family in Iraqi Kurdistan and introduces them to Kojin, a young 23-year-old homosexual who seeks to exist in a society where he seems unable to find his place. A look at the endless struggle of a minority within a minority.

Bridge & Tunnel Books and City of Asylum are proud to present In the Shadow of the Mic Showcase! Featuring some of the best spoken word poets the Steel City has to offer in a live virtual reading peppered with archived footage of past Slam Poetry competitions, bringing you a unique hybrid program! In the Shadow of the Mic: Three Decades of Slam Poetry in Pittsburgh celebrates the history, culture, and community of the Steel City Slam, from its founding in the early ’90s to present day.

Live interactive workshop held via Zoom. (run time: 90 minutes) Let’s breathe together. Then write. Then breathe again. This space is for what we have lost in human connection. There are others here who see in you the potential, the always potent potential, for painting the world with story–for reclaiming of your voice, your words, and your story through poetry. This online workshop led by Anya Pearson is designed to help you generate new material, refine an existing draft of a poem, or simply discover the permission to call yourself a writer. 

In the early 1950’s, The Modern Jazz Quartet was on the cutting edge of American musical innovation as they were one of the primary groups involved in the fusing of European classical music and American Jazz music known as Third Stream music. In addition, they introduced the classical concert world to Jazz in earnest. As Black Americans, they also integrated the American concert stage paving the way for greater appreciation of American music in that world.

Live interactive workshop held via Zoom. (run time: 90 minutes)How can visual design and motion enhance, augment, or reinterpret poetry? What do we gain, lose, or change when we move poetry from a written to audio/visual medium? In this workshop led by Remy Davison, we’ll explore different visual design techniques and how they intersect with animating poetry. This workshop focuses on the tactile process of creating visual narratives. While it’s tempting to start working digitally, we’ll get back to basics using storyboarding, color, typography, and timing to create new worlds within familiar poems. Participants will bring a poem by another writer to experiment with during the workshop. 

Join us for an evening of original music broadcasted from the Alphabet City stage with Hugo Cruz and Caminos! Sans a live audience, you can still give the band your energy by clicking the free registration button! Hugo Cruz and Caminos is a Cuban-fusion band led by Hugo Cruz Machado, an award-winning composer, percussionist, and graduate of the Instituto Superior des Artes of Havana, Cuba. Caminos’ rhythms and melodies combine Cuban, Afro-Cuban, African, and American jazz sounds to form a unique style that aims to unify the world’s music expressions in one experience. Tune in and experience their sound!