New Spire Arts and AARCH Present POETRY SLAM WITH SONYA RENEE TAYLOR

New Spire Arts, in partnership with the African American Cultural and Heritage Society (AARCH), presents Poetry Slam with Sonya Renee Taylor on September 27, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

At times revealing, at times mysterious, but always, always speaking her truth without apology, her words take seed and continue to blossom in your mind long after their utterance." Daniel Singh, Managing Director, shares "It is a pleasure to bring an artist of her caliber to Frederick. She is one of those artists who intentionally works to break down the false dichotomies between how one functions in life versus how an artist is expected to be portrayed. It feels as if Ms. Taylor is giving us permission to question ourselves, laugh at ourselves, and challenge ourselves-all while we are marveling at the power of her uncanny ability to hook you with every word she utters."

Sonya Renee Taylor has been widely recognized for her work as a change agent. In 2016, she was named a Champion of Women's Health by Planned Parenthood and was commissioned to write the official poem for Planned Parenthood's 100-year centennial celebration. Sonya was also invited to the Obama White House to speak at their forum on the intersection of LGBTQIAA and Disability issues. She was named one of Planned Parenthood's 99 Dream Keepers in 2015 as well as a Planned Parenthood Generation Action's 2015 Outstanding Partner awardee. Bustle Magazine named her one of the 12 Women Who Paved the Way for Body Positivity and in September 2015, she was honored as a YBCA 100, an annual compilation of creative minds, makers, and pioneers who are asking the questions and making the provocations that will shape the future of American culture; an honor she shared alongside author Ta'Nahesi Coates, artist Kara Walker, filmmaker Ava DuVernay and many more.

Join New Spire Arts and AARCH for an exciting even of Poetry Slam. Members of the audience are welcome to participate. All tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased at www.newspirearts.org. Suggested Age: 12 and over. Please note there will be pay-what-you-can pricing at the door for students of Frederick County Public Schools, Hood College, and Frederick Community College. Student ID required.

NEW SPIRE ARTS' mission is to provide unique performing arts opportunities to people of all ages and abilities through our presenting wing at New Spire Stages and our education wing at New Spire Studios.

AARCH is devoted to preserving and disseminating the history and culture of African Americans living in Frederick County, Maryland. Our members work to identify, collect, and exhibit artifacts that tell the unique story of African Americans from our area, and travel throughout the region to share first-person and historical accounts. Our work facilitates an understanding of how the past shapes and enriches the present and the future of all citizens.

SONYA Renee Taylor was an invited speaker at the Obama White House. She is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology, a digital media and education company promoting radical self-love and body empowerment as the foundational tool for social justice and global transformation. Sonya's work as a highly sought-after award-winning Performance Poet, activist, and transformational leader continues to have global reach. Sonya is a former National and International poetry slam champion, author of two books, including The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love (Berrett-Koehler Feb 2018), educator and thought leader who has enlightened and inspired organizations, audiences and individuals from board rooms to prisons, universities to homeless shelters, elementary schools to some of the biggest stages in the world.