A young poet reads her poem to the audience at the Kent
State University Wick Poetry Center's annual Giving Voice
event. The 14th annual Giving Voice performance, which
features original poetry by local students (grades 3-12),
international scholars and Kent State undergraduate
students, will take place on April 29 in the Kent Student
Center Ballroom.

Kent State University’s Wick Poetry Center presents the 14th annual Giving Voice performance on Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom, featuring original poetry by local students (grades 3-12), international scholars and Kent State undergraduate students.

This year’s performance is part of the Presidential Inauguration Week. Kent State President Beverly Warren will participate in the performance by reading her original poem, “Praise Song for Kent State.” Additionally, local children from the Holden Elementary Writer’s Club will read a group poem, "The Torch," in honor of Warren’s inauguration.

The Holden Elementary Writer’s Club met with Warren in early March on the Kent Campus to share their individual inauguration poems with her and to hear the president read her poem.

“It was an exciting, intergenerational conversation between town and gown through the intimate and inclusive voice of poetry,” says David Hassler, director of Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center. “We are thrilled to have President Warren’s creative involvement in this year’s Giving Voice.”

“Giving Voice allows all in attendance to hear the wisdom that shines through the poetry of youth from our community, Kent State students and international scholars,” says Nicole Robinson, outreach manager for the Wick Poetry Center. “Every poem shared began silently on the page, and after the Giving Voice, those poems have been heard and will change the lives of both the poets and the attendees.”

The Giving Voice performance showcases material created in the Wick Poetry Center’s outreach programs. These workshops are led by Kent State undergraduate students enrolled in the service-learning course, “Teaching Poetry in the Schools.”

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center, visit www.kent.edu/wick.